Green Circle Bio Energy
2006-

Ceasing the opportunity

J Christer Ericsson first became aware of the business potential of biomass production when a stranger approached him at home, offering to buy a big pile of wooden debris in Christer’s back yard to be used as bio fuel – at an astonishing high price. Being a business man, Christer, who had planned to make a big Easter bonfire of the debris (common in Sweden), immediately sold the debris to the stranger.

Several years later, Christer was approached by a visionary man seeking a financial partner to establish a bio pellet factory. Convinced by the future need for, and business potential of, renewable energy, the new constellation managed to secure a long-term contract with a major European utility company for the supply of industrial pellets. Thereafter, Green Circle Bio Energy was established in Cottondale, North West Florida, in 2006. The strategic location in the South East US was chosen due to the area’s ample supply of local raw material (primarily round wood), at relatively low and stable prices, in combination with favorable logistical conditions.

Becoming market leader

Today, Green Circle operates one pellet plant in Cottondale with an annual projected technical capacity of up to ~500 000 metric tons. The plant was permitted and constructed in just 18 months, and production began in May 2008. At the time of opening, it was the world’s largest operating pellet plant, with most competitors producing only 30-150 000 tons per factory.

The factory produces biodegradable wood pellet (white pellet) made from Southern Yellow Pine. Production is based on the principle of sustainability, with more than 65% of the energy consumed to manufacture pellets being from renewable energy sources.

Today, Green Circle has several European customers, mainly on long-term contracts. Its primary segment is the industrial market, selling to power companies and Combined Heat and Power (CHPs) companies that replace coal with biomass (so called “co-burning”).

Selected case studies