VIASPACE Signs Agreement With World Leader in Biomass Power Plants
IRVINE, Calif. and BEIJING, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall
VIASPACE Inc. , a clean energy company growing Giant King Grass in China as a renewable and low carbon energy crop, today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Beijing-based DP CleanTech Company Limited. DP CleanTech is a world leader in design, manufacture and building of biomass power plants and the largest biomass electric power provider in China where it has already built 19 biomass power plants. DP CleanTech owns and operates these power plants with more than 400 MW of installed capacity through their operating subsidiary National Bio-Energy.
Biomass is a rapidly growing global market, because of the enormous potential to source biomass for power generation and the production of liquid biofuels. Large quantities of biomass are available from not only the waste products of agriculture and forestry, but also dedicated energy crops like Giant King Grass, many of which can be grown on marginal lands.
VIASPACE, having thoroughly investigated opportunities around the world, began talks with DP CleanTech in May 2009. DP CleanTech conducted an independent test of Giant King Grass which confirmed its suitability for burning using DP CleanTech's unique technology. This technology was originally developed and licensed from Denmark, and was improved through numerous projects on multiple fuel types in China.
The Giant King Grass energy content and ash properties are very close to that of the corn straw which is currently burned in four of DP CleanTech's 30MW power plants in China and therefore DP CleanTech is confident in the suitability of their boilers using Giant King Grass.
The next step included under the MOU will be to carry out a live trial to examine the efficiency of Giant King Grass in one of DP CleanTech's existing power plants by the end of 2009.
VIASPACE will deliver at least 300 tons of biomass every day to supplement the trial.
VIASPACE CEO Dr. Carl Kukkonen stated, "DP CleanTech is the largest player in the rapidly expanding biomass power business, and we are honored to be working with them. We believe that Giant King Grass will be a major source for the industry, because it has high energy content and much higher crop yield than competing grasses such as Switchgrass, Silvereed or Giant Reed. Biomass power plants are encouraged by the Chinese government and given subsidies because the biomass is locally grown, renewable and low-carbon. Growing and harvesting Giant King Grass will also provide jobs for Chinese farmers. The Chinese market is an important part of the VIASPACE strategy."
DP CleanTech reports, "We are pleased to be working with VIASPACE in China and elsewhere in the world to explore new and effective ways to expand the deployment of low carbon and renewable biomass power projects that will reduce the need for power plants fueled by fossil fuels as well as to develop rural communities."
Based on the Giant King Grass analysis to power just one 30-MW plant, would require about 600 tons of Giant King Grass per day, or 219,000 tons per year.
About VIASPACE Inc.: VIASPACE is an alternative energy company providing products and technology for renewable and clean energy that reduce or eliminate dependence on fossil and high-risk-pollutant energy sources. The Company provides raw material for cellulosic biofuels and develops and markets fuel cell cartridges, products and technology. VIASPACE subsidiary Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation owns a portfolio of fuel cell patents licensed from Pasadena-based California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which manages NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where the direct methanol fuel cell was invented. For more information, please see www.VIASPACE.com or contact Dr. Jan Vandersande, Director of Communications, at 800-517-8050 or IR@VIASPACE.com.
About DP CleanTech Limited.: DP CleanTech is a world leader in providing biomass power plant solutions in the rapidly growing global renewable energy industry. With centers of expertise in both Europe and China, DP CleanTech is a truly global business. The unique technology originated in Denmark has been constantly optimized and is now manufactured in multiple locations in Europe and China. DP CleanTech provides design, and engineering, procurement, & construction (EPC) services to deliver turnkey biomass power plants with 19 dedicated biomass power plants in operation. |
