COMMENT/IN THIS ISSUE INDUSTRY NEWS Editorial comment A


ccording to the North American Wood Fiber Review, exports of wood pellets from the area reached a new record of over one million tons in 1Q/13 compared to annual shipments of 750,000 tons just four years ago. There has been a steady growth in shipments from both the US and Canada during the past few years, mainly as a result of the continued increase in demand for pellets in the UK.


Pellet exports from the two primary pellet-producing regions on the North American continent – the US South and British Columbia – showed no signs of slowing in early 2013, with the rate of growth likely to accelerate in the second half of the year. In the US South, pellet exports to Europe resumed their double- digit growth after a brief pause in 4Q/12. Export volumes, based on information from industry sources, as well as trade data in Europe and North America, showed exports in excess of 1.7 million tons in 2012. Canadian exports also rose to 1.5 million tons in 2012, but this increase was less than that seen in the US.


The UK continues to strengthen its claim as the top destination for North American pellets with over two-thirds of the export volume from the US and Canada in 1Q/13.


Plans by Drax at Selby, England, to transform itself into a predominantly biomass-fuelled power station continue to make news across North America. Production Director Peter Emery was also interviewed on this subject in issue 15 of FBR.


Earlier in the Spring, Drax Biomass International Inc (DBi), a US- based subsidiary of Drax Power, announced that it will develop, construct and manage two pellet plants, port storage and a loading facility in the US South, which will supply pellets to fuel the company’s UK facility.


In Eastern Canada, pellet producer Rentech has also announced an off-take agreement with Drax Biomass, which will result in new investment in ports to increase pellet-loading capacity and in rail transportation, along with the construction and operation of two pellet facilities of their own.


David Young Editor


FOREST BIOENERGY REVIEW Volume 3, Number 18 - September 2013 Contact information


PUBLISHER &


EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Vince Maynard KVJ Enterprises Tralee, Hillcrest Road, Edenbridge,


Kent, TN8 6JS, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1732 505724 Mobile: +44 (0) 7747 002286 Email:


pulppaperlogistics@virginmedia.com


EDITOR David Young


Tel: +44 (0) 1737 551687 Mobile: +44 (0) 7785 796826 ISSN 2045-8514


REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE Einar Johansson Tel: +46 8 540 255 15 Mobile: +46 70 234 80 85 Email: einar.johansson@telia.com


PRODUCTION Anthony Wiffen Anton Print Solutions Tel: +44 (0) 1622 850063 Mobile: +44 (0) 7557 280 769 Email: anton_print_1@mac.com


PRINTING Manor Creative Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK


Tel: +44 (0) 1323 514400 8 PRODUCTS


Introducing new equipment and services EVENTS


Conferences and exhibitions past and future


Front cover: CPV’s Hiline pre-insulated steel pipe system being installed in a large district heating distribution network – see page 7.


September 2013 1 1 10 13 BIOCOAL Revolutionary technology creates viable biofuels AEBIOM


Meeting the expectations of bioenergy DISTRICT HEATING


‘Heat Action for 2030 and Beyond’


In this issue INDUSTRY NEWS


What’s happening in the world of forest bioenergy?


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