Q&A
Click the 
to expand the answers.
What is Fibrowatt LLC?
Fibrowatt LLC is a developer, builder, and operator of biomass power plants fueled by poultry litter and other agricultural biomass.
Fibrowatt is a US company, based in Pennsylvania, and was founded in 2000 by the management team that built the world’s first three poultry litter-fueled power plants in the United Kingdom. Fibrowatt is the developer, builder and operator of Fibrominn, the first poultry litter-fueled power plant in the U.S. (2007, Benson, Minnesota).
Who owns Fibrowatt?
Fibrowatt is a subsidiary of Homeland Renewable Energy Inc (HRE).
Homeland Renewable Energy Inc (HRE) is the holding company of Fibrowatt LLC and its subsidiaries. HRE’s Fibrowatt team has 20 years of operating experience using a proven technology that supplies enough electricity from three plants in the United Kingdom to serve 150,000 homes.
What benefits does Fibrowatt offer?
Fibrowatt delivers a service to the poultry industry by providing an alternative litter management solution for poultry growers.
In addition, Fibrowatt plants generate renewable energy, remove excess poultry litter from the environment, and produce an ash by-product that is a nutrient rich fertilizer.
How does Fibrowatt create a valuable service?
Renewable energy is being used as a means to supply a valuable service to the poultry industry, helping to ensure the long-term availability of the fuel source rather than a highly competitive search for biomass feed stocks.
How is poultry litter converted into electricity?
Starting at the poultry house, and from there to the plant, there are a number of steps and processes.
Fibrowatt assists area growers with poultry litter removal and then transports the poultry litter in tightly covered trucks on prearranged routes to the facility. The trucks then discharge the litter within a specially designed fuel storage building, which is kept at negative pressure to prevent the escape of odors. The litter is combusted at more than 1,500° F, ensuring the destruction of odor and pathogens. Water is heated in a boiler to produce high-pressure, high-temperature steam, which drives a turbine and generates electricity. The remaining ash by-product is beneficially used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
How do we know this technology works?
Fibrowatt LLC and its management team have over 20 years of expertise in building biomass power plants and a proven track record showing success.
In addition to the experience gained from building and operating three poultry litter-fueled power plants in the United Kingdom, Fibrowatt successfully developed the first poultry litter-fueled power plant in the United States, sited in Benson, Minnesota. In 2007, the Fibrominn Biomass Power Plant began operation, helping meet the State of Minnesota’s commitment to biomass-generated renewable energy. Since the first UK plant began operation in 1992, the technology central to the success of these four plants has been steadily improved, demonstrating Fibrowatt’s long-term commitment to successfully converting poultry litter into electrical power.
What permits are required to build a Fibrowatt plant?
Facilities are, in general, permitted based on state and federal regulations.
A facility is permitted based on the maximum emissions from the facility – referred to as the maximum potential to emit (”PTE”). The PTE is established and based on the use of best available control technology (”BACT”) and is based on the assumption that the unit is operated 24 hours/day, 365 days/year.
How is each project financed?
Each project is financed according to financial market conditions, location, and the availability of various forms of financing.
It is not possible to predict the financial arrangement for future projects, though Fibrowatt will consider multiple approaches including both public and private debt financing.
What are some economic benefits of the Fibrowatt plants?
Industry growth and sustainability, jobs, and increase in local infrastructure are just some of the benefits of Fibrowatt plants.
In some of the areas where Fibrowatt explores development opportunities, there is a tremendous need for high-paid jobs. Fibrowatt plants offer up to 300 construction jobs during the construction period, as well as transportation and service jobs for the plant. It is important for Fibrowatt to protect poultry industry jobs – through the plant, this is made possible. One of the most valuable services Fibrowatt provides is to the individual family farmer who is burdened with manure management challenges. This is done through protecting the viability of family farms in areas where farming may be challenged based on climate, topography, and soil quality.
Are the Fibrowatt plants similar to incinerators?
No. “Incinerators” destroy wastes so that the remaining material can be disposed of easier and with greater safety. Fibrowatt is not destroying a waste.
Sometimes Fibrowatt plants are described as “incinerators.” The farmers who use litter on their fields do not consider it a waste but rather a nutrient resource. After combusting the litter Fibrowatt also recovers the ash and uses it as a fertilizer. Fibrowatt actually derives two important benefits from this process — the energy source in the litter and the nutrient resource in the litter. When litter is applied as fertilizer only the nutrient resource is used. The grower receives revenue from the litter, and Fibrowatt will have long-term contracts for the supply of litter as a fuel, thus paying for the material.
Will ash fertilizer take place with Fibrowatt projects as well?
Fibrowatt’s approach to development stresses the goal of recycling these nutrients and this can be done within the area or out of area depending on local nutrient requirements.
What are Fibrowatt’s current projects and where are its plans for future projects?
Fibrowatt is actively working on projects in Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina. Future projects are planned for Alabama, Texas and other states. Fibrowatt is being pursued by the international market which has expressed interest in our services.
What effect does a Fibrowatt plant have on poultry growers?
By providing litter management services to poultry farmers, Fibrowatt helps the poultry farmer concentrate on their core business, raising the birds rather than managing their poultry litter.
Poultry growers can benefit in many ways. A Fibrowatt plant will provide poultry growers with financial and operational advantages and can help the growers address important issues like soil quality, waterway protection, and good neighbor relations. Having an alternative means to manage poultry litter can provide the growers with the flexibility to deal with ongoing changes in the industry and can be an important part of a growers efforts to protect the sustainability of the poultry industry.
Is Fibrowatt privately-held or publicly-traded?
Fibrowatt is privately-held.
