ECo Biomass, jointly owned by Enviva and ConocoPhillips, will use a combination of proprietary and acquired existing technologies to manufacture and sell renewable, torrefied wood pellets.
The torrefaction process involves superheating biomass to create a uniform, hydrophobic, dense, and highly efficient fuel akin to coal but with a superior environmental profile.
The initial facility is scheduled to be operational in 2013, and will produce wood pellets that will be sold under agreements with major utilities.
Enviva chairman and CEO John Keppler said the collaboration with ConocoPhillips is designed to bring this new, sustainable, renewable fuel to the power generation industry and enable the utility customers to reduce their environmental impact in a cost-competitive manner.
Enviva is manufacturer of processed biomass fuel in the US and Europe.
