Collaborations and Partnerships
RENEWABLE ENERGY
For decades Weyerhaeuser has used carbon-neutral biomass to provide a portion of the energy to run our manufacturing operations. We believe that forests and related biomass can be a prime source of raw material for a variety of products that will benefit a carbon-constrained economy. We're continuing our strong tradition of ingenuity, research and sustainability by exploring ways our assets can be used to generate renewable energy.
BIOFUELS JOINT VENTURE: CATCHLIGHT ENERGY
In February 2008, Chevron and Weyerhaeuser announced the creation of a 50-50 joint venture company, Catchlight Energy LLC. Catchlight Energy’s vision is to become a major integrated producer of biofuels derived from non-food sources and to deliver renewable transportation products produced from biomass in a manner that is scalable and sustainable – both environmentally and economically.
Catchlight Energy unites Weyerhaeuser’s expertise in innovative land stewardship, resource management and capacity to deliver sustainable cellulose-based feedstocks at scale with Chevron’s technology capabilities in molecular conversion, product engineering, advanced fuel manufacturing and fuels distribution.
The partnership reflects the view that cellulosic biofuels will fill an important role in diversifying the nation's energy sources and addressing global climate change by providing a source of low-carbon transportation fuel. Catchlight’s mission is to commercialize large scale production of liquid transportation fuels from sustainable forest-based resources.
Catchlight Energy aims to become a major integrated biofuels producer from non-food sources and deliver renewable transportation products from biomass in a manner that is scalable and sustainable — both environmentally and economically.
Testing is underway, across different growing regions and environments, for producing biomass from intercropped switchgrass and from other understory vegetation, along with existing forest residuals. For instance, a large pilot te st of 2000 acres of switchgrass is in progress on our timberland in Mississippi.
Independent experts are being engaged to verify that Catchlight Energy’s forest-to-fuel business model is environmentally sustainable. Many factors are being taken into consideration, including life cycle analysis, greenhouse gas emissions, water, wildlife, and soil erosion.
Sustainability in Action
Grant to help evaluate biomass feedstock sustainability
Using cellulosic biomass to generate energy is one option available to help reduce the use of fossil fuels and address climate change. Biomass production may be compatible with forest management in a variety of ways including:
- collecting residual biomass following timber harvest,
- periodically harvesting understory woody vegetation, or
- growing high-energy crops between rows of trees.
To ensure biomass as an energy crop is sustainable, we’re engaged in multi-stakeholder research on timberlands in the southeastern United States. In September 2010, we were awarded a U.S. Department of Energy biomass sustainability research grant, along with our partners North Carolina State University, Virginia Tech, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement. The $2.1 million five-year award was the largest granted under the program.
The grant extends an existing research project, sponsored by Catchlight Energy, LLC, and Weyerhaeuser, to evaluate the impacts of biomass feedstock cultivation on hydrology, water quality, wildlife, plant diversity, soil productivity, carbon life cycle analysis, economics, and safety. Watershed research sites are in Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina, and include treatments compatible with forestry, including switchgrass intercropping and residual removal.
"The outcomes of this research will be critical in informing both operational decisions and public policy," says Dr. Jami Nettles, Weyerhaeuser hydrology scientist. "These studies are on the forefront of research, and while our research focuses on water, we are integrating the work of scientists in several disciplines to give us information on a wide range of sustainability indicators for forest-based biofuel solutions."
In addition to the scientific data and analysis, research outcomes will include best management practices guidance and safety recommendations for biofuel operations in managed forests. These findings will be communicated through existing logger and forester training programs to ensure the research findings are shared and applied throughout the industry.
HARNESSING WIND POWER ON OUR LAND
In the fall of 2009, Weyerhaeuser entered into a 40-year lease agreement with EverPower, a New York-based developer of utility wind projects. EverPower plans to build 44 electricity-generating wind turbines on one of the company's tree farms in Southwest Washington state.
Since 2008, Weyerhaeuser has been actively evaluating our wind energy opportunities. Through lease/option agreements with multiple wind power developers, our wind resources are being evaluated for:
- Viability
- Fit with transmission availability
- Market opportunities; and
- State renewable energy portfolios.
By early 2011, Weyerhaeuser had nine wind-resource-development agreements in place with five separate wind-power developers. Projects are located in Washington, Oregon, Oklahoma and North Carolina. Potential estimated renewable energy power output from these projects is approximately 400 megawatts. Weyerhaeuser is currently negotiating agreements on additional properties in Washington and North Carolina with the potential for a further 400 megawatts of electrical power generation. We expect these projects to provide an additional stream of long-term revenue with minimal impact on core, timber business activities.
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
Alta Rock Energy continues to explore the potential for developing Engineered Geothermal System projects on approximately 340,000 acres of geothermal rights we own in Washington, Oregon and California. AltaRock retains the right to convert a portion of this acreage into geothermal development leases if a viable project is identified.
Many areas of the Western U.S. have high heat flow measurements that lie close enough to the earth’s surface to tap with conventional drilling techniques. Once a promising area is found and drilled, AltaRock plans to cycle water through a closed loop system to create steam that’s used to generate electricity. The water is recycled to continually capture more heat and produce more electricity. Once developed, such systems can produce electricity for decades and provide power on a twenty-four hour basis.
In 2011, Weyerhaeuser entered into a new geothermal option and lease agreement with Ormat Technologies to explore and evaluate over 260,000 acres of Weyerhaeuser geothermal rights in Washington and Oregon. Ormat is a leading, world-wide developer and producer of geothermal power. In addition, Ormat is a manufacturer of major power plant components for state-of-the art generating facilities.
BIOMASS-TO-ENERGY VENTURE WITH MITSUBISHI
Weyerhaeuser signed a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Mitsubishi Corporation in February 2010 to explore the possibilities of collaborating in the biomass-to-energy business. Weyerhaeuser and Mitsubishi have successfully completed their combined analysis of the technical and commercial viability of producing bio pellets from a predominately forest residual feedstock. Due to the recent bio pellet market condition, both companies have decided to defer making decisions at this time in bio-pellet manufacturing while they continue to evaluate both bio pellets and other alternatives for participating in the bio-energy markets. The two companies are maintaining discussions while continuing to monitor changes in the marketplace.
RENEWABLE FIBERS
Weyerhaeuser signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July 2008 to work with Lenzing, the world market leader in cellulose staple fibers. The companies are working together on the development of novel lyocell-based nonwoven fabrics.
The objective of the collaboration is to develop a technology for the large-scale industrial production of an innovative and sustainable cellulose-based material for industrial and personal care applications. The technology will provide an alternative to petroleum-based materials in nonwoven products with raw materials based on renewable wood fiber.
The product is based on lyocell technology in which a solution of cellulose is processed directly and without intermediate process steps into a nonwoven fabric.
