Biomass fueled 101 MW of capacity completed in 2014 through Sept. 10, or just over 1% of the total utility-scale generation capacity that came online in the U.S. during that period. Of the total planned utility-scale capacity in the U.S., less than 1%, or 2,506 MW, consists of biomass capacity.

Biomass installations in 2014 have fallen off since the 550-MW spike at the end of 2013, which was driven by a few larger projects, including the 100-MW Gainesville Renewable Energy Center in Alachua County, Fla., owned by four parties and burns wood waste solids; and the 82-MW unit 7 at Covington Facility in Covington County, Va., owned by MeadWestvaco Corp., which also burns wood waste solids.

The largest biomass project that came online in the U.S. during 2014 through Sept. 10 was the 35-MW Rock-Tenn Mill steam turbine unit 4 in Marengo County, Ala. Owned by paper and packaging manufacturer Rock-Tenn Co., the whole plant has an operating capacity of 46 MW and burns primarily black liquor.

The 10-MW Uwharrie Landfill Gas to Energy Facility was the second-largest biomass project that came online during 2014 through Sept. 10. Located in Montgomery County, N.C., and owned by DTE Energy Co. subsidiary Uwharrie Mountain Renewable Energy, the project consists of six 1.6-MW internal combustion units primarily fueled by landfill gas. A seventh unit with a capacity of 6.4 MW is in development.

In Canada, Ontario officials announced Sept. 11 that two years to the day after Ontario Power Generation Inc.'s Atikokan plant burned its last coal, the 205-MW plant began operating again, now fueled by wood pellets.


Read the full report and analysis here: www.snl.com/InteractiveX/Article.aspx?cdid=A-29200681-13104

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