New US wood pellet plant takes shape. Feb 17, 2020. Source: Bioenergy Insight .

British company Active Energy Group (AEG) has applied to the state Division of Air Quality to build and operate a wood pellet plant in Lumberton, North Carolina.

Work is progressing at AEG’s commercial hub at the Lumberton site to facilitate the commercial production of CoalSwitch^TM and second-generation biomass pellets. According to the company, during the last 90 days, the North Carolina Department of Air Quality (NCDAQ) has reviewed AEG’s application for the construction and air permit for the five tonne-per-hour plant in Lumberton. NCDAQ confirmed no further information is required by the administration regarding the project, however, it has requested a public information meeting to be held before issuing the permit, the date and venue of which have yet to be confirmed.

AEG is continuing to undertake engineering analysis for the plant and the company’s management teams are currently working to secure offtake agreements, both in the US and internationally. Active Energy CEO Michael Rowan said: “This is the first occasion where the CoalSwitch^TM production process has been analyses by relevant environmental authorities.

“I am pleased with the initial conclusions of the NCDAQ. AEG welcomes the opportunity to present its plans for the Lumberton site at a public meeting to demonstrate not only the environmental advantages AEG’s black pellets have against existing white pellet production but also the sustainable production processes that AEG intends to introduce at Lumberton.”

Robeson County manager Kellie Blue added: “North Carolina and Robeson County are committed to a sustainable future and welcome businesses with environmental goals, like AEG. We look forward to supporting AEG, its activities at the Lumberton Site and AEG’s aim of transforming residual biomass material into high-value carbon neutral fuels for the power industry. We continue to support AEG through the final stages of the permit approval process.”