BIOENERGY RIGHT NOW

New RISI Report Forecasts Bioenergy Industry to Create 19 Million Dry Tons of New Wood Biomass Demand by 2015
February 9, 2011 (PR Newswire)

"…North American Bioenergy Review [from RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry,] updates findings and provides expanded analysis from RISI's 2008 report…

"…The global recession has created a different environment from 2008, with renewable energy providers and suppliers seeing slowed demand growth and greater difficulty in accessing funding. In addition, the continuously changing policy and regulatory environment has created uncertainty among industry investors. Therefore, this updated analysis of the industry outlook is timely and even necessary. New for the 2011 study is an analysis of the cost structure and cost competitiveness of each industry sector. In addition to forecasting North American wood biomass supply, demand and pricing, this study also explores how international trade of biomass will affect North American biomass demand over the next five years…"

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[Anne Rahikainen, Director of Bioenergy Services, RISI:] "…We are currently in the process of building further on this analysis in 2011 by launching a North American Bioenergy Service that will provide regular updates on key areas such as biomass supply, pricing, industry capacity and output, international trade, policy and sector cost competiveness…"

"…[Included in the study are]…Demand and supply outlook for pellets, biopower and biofuels in North America to 2015 and analysis of key drivers of each industry sector…Projections on regional wood biomass availability including competing demand from traditional end-user industries and regional wood biomass prices to 2015…Analysis of bioenergy industry cost structures and competitiveness as a buyer for wood biomass, relative to traditional end-user industries…[and the] effect of subsidies on industry competitiveness and investments…Trends and outlook for international trade and market opportunities for wood biomass, including pellets…"

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"…The study is directed at]…Major forest owners seeking to understand the long-term demand for woody biomass energy, how quickly it will develop and how sustainable it will be…Forest products manufacturing companies looking at competition for fiber and/or possible benefit through government programs that give them credit for renewable energy production…Equipment suppliers wanting perspective on where and how much demand for specialized harvesting equipment, chippers, trucks, pelletizing equipment, etc. will develop…

"…Power companies developing or considering development of biomass power facilities…Banks, hedge funds and other investors needing perspective on biomass energy development…Transport companies – both rail companies looking at transporting pellets, chips and other biomass for energy within the USA and shipping companies looking to transport chips/pellets to Europe…[and]…Wood Pellet producers or companies looking to invest in large wood pellet plants."