As companies, policy makers and government agencies push for alternative energy sources to fossil fuels, biomass energy—sometimes fueled by scrap wood—has been among the emerging sectors.
At a 2010 C&D Recycling Forum session titled “The Energy Market—How Great is the Potential,” attendees heard updates and a local example of the wood-fueled portion of the biomass market.
Construction & Demolition Recycling magazine editor-in-chief Brian Taylor commented that an Energy Information Administration (EIA) study from 2002 appears to have underestimated biomass’ electrical energy market share, which as of 2009 had increased to 3 percent, surpassing hydroelectric power in production.
Wood pellets for small stoves have proven to be another winning market for wood recyclers, with Europe in particular being hungry for pellets. Taylor said producers in the United States have responded by making more than 6 million tons of pellets in 2009, up from slightly more than 1 million tons in 2003.
Troy Moon’s position with the City of Portland, Maine, has familiarized him with the city’s recycling programs and partners. The city collects yard waste and wood trimming that can amount to 20 percent of its total volume handled.
Recent market conditions in New England have been challenging, with government restrictions on some types of C&D wood and older boilers becoming increasingly unprofitable. Much of Portland’s wood-to-energy market currently resides in Canada, said Moon.
Bob Brickner of consulting firm Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc., Fairfax, Va., offered a history and overview of wood-to-energy markets, including recent federal government loans to large biomass projects.
Brickner identified 19 biomass projects that have received Department of Energy funding that will or may accept scrap wood as feedstock. According to Brickner, GBB has also identified 450 alternative energy/biomass facilities and demonstration projects in the United States, of which 300 have potential to accept wood from mixed C&D recyclers.
The C&D Recycling Forum was Oct. 3-5 at the Sheraton Inner Harbor in Baltimore.