Renewa-Blue™: Biomass-to-Natural Gas

GreatPoint Energy is commercializing a proprietary catalytic biomass gasification process that converts low-cost, abundant biomass into high-value, clean, pipeline quality, renewable natural gas (methane). GreatPoint Energy’s biomass-derived natural gas product, called renewa-blue™, is 99.5 percent methane, meets all natural gas purity requirements, can be transported by pipeline and is 100 percent renewable. In addition, biomass derived natural gas is cleaner than biomass combustion and the carbon emissions can be captured for sequestration.

GreatPoint Energy’s natural gas, which can used to generate electricity, will qualify in states such as Massachusetts (as well as many other states) for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) under state Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). Prices for RECs currently trade in the $50/MWh range and on this basis would add approximately $7/MMBtu to the delivered gas sales price, typically in the $7-12/MMBtu range in the New England market. Additional benefits from Federal biomass tax credits can also be realized for these projects making biomass-to-gas not only a highly profitable endeavor, but a cleaner, lower cost source of renewable electric power generation.