Vega Biofuels, based in London, has planned to deliver its bio-coal, a renewable energy product, to power generation companies in Europe during the 1Q of 2013. Recently, the company has made an announcement that it intends to construct a manufacturing facility in Cordele, Georgia.
The plant will produce bio-coal from timber waste using a unique process known as torrefaction. This partial carbonization process occurs at temperatures ranging from 475º to 575º and produces biomass that is almost comparable to traditional coal. Torrefaction reduces or eliminates unwanted volatile compounds such as sulfur dioxides and nitrous oxides.
Michael K. Molen, Chairman and CEO of the company, noted that there is high demand for the company’s product in Europe and the shipment plan is an important strategy for them. European power businesses have been ordered to reduce 20% of carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, and the ideal solution to achieve the target is bio-coal.
Biomass resources in Europe are considerably less and therefore, the businesses are unable to acquire the essential woody biomass to fulfill the mandate. North America is the primary source of renewable bio-coal.
The aim of Vega Biofuels is to install necessary equipment at the Cordele plant and test them before the end of 2012, which will enable the company to commence shipment as per the schedule. By maximizing the production capacity of the manufacturing plant, the company can rapidly become one of the major suppliers of bio-coal in the European market, concluded Molen.
Source: http://www.google.com/