Question:  What’s green, grows on trees, creates jobs and supports healthier forests?

Answer: woody biomass.

If you are wondering what woody biomass is, it is generally the term used for the by-products created from forest management projects.  This biomass can include branches, tree tops, needles, leaves and bark.  Traditionally, this waste has been put into piles to rot or to be burned.

However, current trends are moving towards using this waste as a source of energy.  It holds the promise of job creation as well.  But this transition will take time.  And, while there are smart, clean energy options for the future, such as solar, wind, hydro and geothermal, woody biomass is a renewable resource which deserves to be considered.

According to Wood Resource Quarterly,Sweden’s biomass has surpassed oil as the top energy source, comprising 32 percent of the country’s total energy supply.

They have reduced their carbon dioxide output by 9 percent in recent years, while increasing their gross national product by 48 percent. The model has certainly worked there, where biomass energy has created 30,000 new jobs!

If you were thinking coal, you’d be correct.  On a global scale, while the United States’ share of electricity generation from coal has dropped significantly, the demand for it from other parts of the world has soared.  Demand for coal has grown 65% in India, 81% in South Korea, and 119% in Japan!  This year, the global consumption of coal is expected to reach six billion tons!  And, it’s anticipated that this figure will rise to over 10 billion tons by 2030.

The only way global demand will wane is if China and India grind to a halt.

But demand there — and elsewhere — is looking healthy…

Take a look at the graph showing the historic and projected use from the EIA:

Cost and efficiency have been the traditional key drivers behind capital investment considerations across all types of businesses.  However, today organizations are adding social responsibility and environmental sustainability to the mix.  This is particularly true with regard to electric power generation, both at public utility sites and industrial/commercial facilities considering onsite or captive power generation.

The burning of coal together with biomass feed stocks can supplement energy in high-efficiency boilers, while reducing emissions such as sulfur dioxide.

Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms.  As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel.  In the first sense, biomass is plant matter used to generate electricity with steam turbines & gasifiers or produce heat, usually by direct combustion.  Examples include forest residues (such as dead trees, branches and tree stumps), yard clippings, wood chips and even municipal solid waste.  In the second sense, biomass includes plant or animal matter that can be converted into fibers or other industrial chemicals, including biofuels. Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants,including miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane, and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm oil).

We strongly recommend stock piling to ensure no disruption with production due to delays wth loading road vehicles at the mines.  We suggest a minimum storage stockpile for three days coal usage.  Please place your orders without further delay.