Comments on: Will Biomass Power the Utilities of the Near Future? http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/17/will-biomass-power-the-utilities-of-the-near-future/ Business + Technology in the Exponential Economy Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:30:41 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Tony http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/17/will-biomass-power-the-utilities-of-the-near-future/comment-page-1/#comment-64603 Tony Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:43:05 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=6994#comment-64603 Seattle your leading the USA, Pls lead the US so it can help the world.Love U all Seattle your leading the USA, Pls lead the US so it can help the world.Love U all

]]> By: Tom Eckmann http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/17/will-biomass-power-the-utilities-of-the-near-future/comment-page-1/#comment-56036 Tom Eckmann Mon, 04 May 2009 17:50:33 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=6994#comment-56036 Casey, Good question. We're suffering through the difficult "chicken and egg" quandary that occurs whenever a new industry forms, i.e., a lot of work has been done to develop biomass fuels from various feedstocks, and a variety of fuels are available now. Unfortunately, we've yet to reach the critical mass of demand needed to justify further investment in scaled-up production facilities and delivery infrastructure. The good news is... there are many entrepreneurs working on the problem (my new company included). With new economic incentives (federal and state) and increased availability of clean-burning, high-efficiency combustion appliances, I believe both commercial and consumer demand will accelerate as part of the economic recovery process. Casey,

Good question. We’re suffering through the difficult “chicken and egg” quandary that occurs whenever a new industry forms, i.e., a lot of work has been done to develop biomass fuels from various feedstocks, and a variety of fuels are available now. Unfortunately, we’ve yet to reach the critical mass of demand needed to justify further investment in scaled-up production facilities and delivery infrastructure. The good news is… there are many entrepreneurs working on the problem (my new company included). With new economic incentives (federal and state) and increased availability of clean-burning, high-efficiency combustion appliances, I believe both commercial and consumer demand will accelerate as part of the economic recovery process.

]]> By: Casey Doyle http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/17/will-biomass-power-the-utilities-of-the-near-future/comment-page-1/#comment-55937 Casey Doyle Sun, 03 May 2009 21:16:00 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=6994#comment-55937 When will biomass energy be easily accessible to the general public? When will biomass energy be easily accessible to the general public?

]]> By: Tom Eckmann http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/17/will-biomass-power-the-utilities-of-the-near-future/comment-page-1/#comment-45715 Tom Eckmann Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:18:54 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=6994#comment-45715 Laurence, As the founder of a company that develops and manufactures biomass boilers, I have a large vested interest in the success of biomass. That said, I believe wind, solar, biomass, energy efficiency, and a growing list of other technologies will all play a role in moving us toward reduced carbon emissions and energy independence. I believe biomass will play a larger role than others because the fuel is cheap, carbon-neutral, renewable, and already available in some form in almost every community. Today, solar and wind combined provide less than 1% of the energy produced in the U.S. For that number to grow substantially, billions will have to be invested in solar and wind farms, and hundreds of billions in rebuilding the electrical grid to get the power to market. Biomass, on the other hand, fuels roughly 3% of today's energy production, and according to a recent USDA study, there is sufficient feedstock available in the U.S. to increase this to more than 30%. And since biomass energy is typically produced and consumed locally, we can benefit from it today, not in 10-20 years when a rebuilt grid is completed. So back to your question... if I were in the construction business, I'd keep my options open. Wind and solar may reap all the publicity but biomass will quietly play an ever-increasing role in energy production. I think you'll find a lot of work in all these areas. Laurence,
As the founder of a company that develops and manufactures biomass boilers, I have a large vested interest in the success of biomass. That said, I believe wind, solar, biomass, energy efficiency, and a growing list of other technologies will all play a role in moving us toward reduced carbon emissions and energy independence. I believe biomass will play a larger role than others because the fuel is cheap, carbon-neutral, renewable, and already available in some form in almost every community. Today, solar and wind combined provide less than 1% of the energy produced in the U.S. For that number to grow substantially, billions will have to be invested in solar and wind farms, and hundreds of billions in rebuilding the electrical grid to get the power to market. Biomass, on the other hand, fuels roughly 3% of today’s energy production, and according to a recent USDA study, there is sufficient feedstock available in the U.S. to increase this to more than 30%. And since biomass energy is typically produced and consumed locally, we can benefit from it today, not in 10-20 years when a rebuilt grid is completed. So back to your question… if I were in the construction business, I’d keep my options open. Wind and solar may reap all the publicity but biomass will quietly play an ever-increasing role in energy production. I think you’ll find a lot of work in all these areas.

]]> By: Laurence Harmon http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/17/will-biomass-power-the-utilities-of-the-near-future/comment-page-1/#comment-45356 Laurence Harmon Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:09:13 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=6994#comment-45356 What, in your opinion, is the likely long-term future of biomass? We're a big construction company in the Twin Cities, and we're considering extending our capabilities into the renewable energy market. Why would we consider biomass rather than, say, wind energy? What, in your opinion, is the likely long-term future of biomass? We’re a big construction company in the Twin Cities, and we’re considering extending our capabilities into the renewable energy market. Why would we consider biomass rather than, say, wind energy?

]]> By: Tom Eckmann http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/17/will-biomass-power-the-utilities-of-the-near-future/comment-page-1/#comment-44144 Tom Eckmann Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:33:14 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=6994#comment-44144 Thanks, Andy. Over 200 sites already use our Pelco commercial boilers to heat schools, greenhouses and other commercial structures with wood chips or agricultural waste, so we know the concept works on a small scale from both a technical and economic standpoint. With our next generation biomass boiler, we'd like to expand the list of fuels that can be used. Specifically, we'd like to leverage the work done at Syracuse ESF, Cornell and elsewhere to develop "purpose grown" crops. I think there's an exciting opportunity to create a demonstration project that shows how these fuels can be burned cleanly and efficiently, and in the process reduce the need for fossil fuels and create local "green collar" jobs. Early discussions have been encouraging. Stay tuned! Thanks, Andy. Over 200 sites already use our Pelco commercial boilers to heat schools, greenhouses and other commercial structures with wood chips or agricultural waste, so we know the concept works on a small scale from both a technical and economic standpoint. With our next generation biomass boiler, we’d like to expand the list of fuels that can be used. Specifically, we’d like to leverage the work done at Syracuse ESF, Cornell and elsewhere to develop “purpose grown” crops. I think there’s an exciting opportunity to create a demonstration project that shows how these fuels can be burned cleanly and efficiently, and in the process reduce the need for fossil fuels and create local “green collar” jobs. Early discussions have been encouraging. Stay tuned!

]]> By: Andy Bochman http://www.xconomy.com/seattle/2008/12/17/will-biomass-power-the-utilities-of-the-near-future/comment-page-1/#comment-44138 Andy Bochman Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:38:35 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=6994#comment-44138 Nice article Tom. In the way Shai Agassi and Better Place are targeting automotive "islands" like Israel and Hawaii, would it be possible to find a good biomass demo community for this capability to prove the utility of the approach for those who don't get it yet? ... Or have you done that already? Nice article Tom. In the way Shai Agassi and Better Place are targeting automotive “islands” like Israel and Hawaii, would it be possible to find a good biomass demo community for this capability to prove the utility of the approach for those who don’t get it yet? … Or have you done that already?

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