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Quebec Wants Composts Services for 100% of industries, institutions, businesses and households by 2025 & Other Industry News
Here’s an overview of key biogas news.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES & LAW
Quebec invests $1.2 billion in the collection of organic materials
The Quebec government is investing $1.2 billion over the next 10 years to help municipalities within the province establish compost collection and compost processing plants, according to an announcement from Benoit Charette, the province’s minister of environment. With the investment, the Quebec government wants to have compost collection services for all Quebec citizens as well as have 100 per cent of industries, institutions and businesses composting by 2025. Currently, just over half of the Quebec population, 57 per cent, has access to a food waste collection service.
Read more on Radio-Canada International
Canada Invests in Clean Technology for Alberta’s Natural Resources Sectors
Developing Canada’s natural resources in more sustainable, more responsible ways drives our economy, reduces our environmental impacts and creates jobs. This will be more important than ever as we reopen the economy and plan our recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced an investment of $6 million, as part of the Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network (CERIN) initiative, to the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC) and Canadian Gas Association (CGA), through their Natural Gas Innovation Fund, to support their work in the oil and gas sector.
Read more on the Website of the Government of Canada
Brazil studying new biogas, biomethane federal policy
Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies is currently analysing a bill project to implement and create a new federal policy on biogas and biomethane, the government announced recently. Among the goals of the 2193/20 bill is the expansion of investments in infrastructure for the production, distribution and commercialisation of biogas and its derivatives, the increase of fuel-related research, and the greater use of biomethane in municipal public transport and biofertilisers in agriculture. To encourage the sector, the bill establishes tax incentives and financing options with favourable conditions provided by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES).
CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
California landfill turns to recycling and anaerobic digestion to reduce footprint and extend operations
The Tajiguas Landfill serves Santa Barbara County by accepting around 200,000 tons of material each year. To align with new state laws, the county invested in the new ReSource Center, a project built on the Tajiguas Landfill that will increase recycling and organics composting while also reducing the landfill’s carbon footprint. Set to be fully operational by early 2021, the first phase of the project is a new materials recovery facility that will process municipal solid waste collected from the area, separating recyclables and organics from the trash.
Read more on Recycling Product News
COMPANIES & ORGANIZATIONS
Greenlane Biogas to work on innovative sugar cane RNG project
Greenlane Renewables’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenlane Biogas, has signed a CAD$2.4 million (€1.56 million) contract with Brazilian sugar mill operator Grupo Cocal. Grupo Cocal (Cocal) refines sugar and produces ethanol biofuel from sugarcane. Greenlane Biogas will supply its pressure swing adsorption (PSA) biogas upgrading system for this first-of-a-kind renewable natural gas (RNG) project. According to Greenlane, this is expected to be the first commercial-scale pipeline injection RNG project in the Brazilian sugar cane industry.
EBA reactions to EU Strategy for Energy System Integration
EBA welcomes the European Commission proposal on the Strategy for Energy System Integration which lays out a vision of a circular, decentralized energy system supported by high shares of electrification, coupled with the further deployment of renewable and low-carbon gas and other fuels. The strategy takes the EU a step forward towards the recognition of the role of biogas and biomethane as enablers of system integration. However, the measures proposed are not considering all applications and benefits of renewable methane to make sure we can speed-up our pace towards decarbonisation and shape the energy systems of the future.
Read more on European Biogas Association
BCUC Approves FortisBC Energy’s Clean Growth Innovation Fund
On June 22, 2020, FortisBC Energy Inc.’s application for a $24.5 million ratepayer funded Clean Growth Innovation Fund was approved by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) as part of FortisBC’s rate application. The Clean Growth Innovation Fund allows the natural gas utility company to invest regulated capital in renewable gas innovation projects with a focus on decarbonization. FortisBC Energy Inc. (a natural gas utility company) and FortisBC Inc. (an integrated electricity utility company) filed a joint application to the BCUC on March 11, 2019 to approve rate plans from 2020 until 2024.
SHELL’S CARBON-CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY RECEIVES DNV GL APPROVAL FOR WASTE-TO-ENERGY PROJECT IN NORWAY
DNV GL has approved and qualified technology for a full-scale demonstration project to remove carbon emissions at a waste-to-energy plant in Oslo, Norway. Gassnova, the Norwegian state agency for carbon capture and storage projects, is supporting the project, which tested Shell’s CANSOLV CO2 carbon capture technology at Fortum Oslo Varme’s Waste-to-Energy plant at Klemetsrud in Oslo. This project will contribute towards Norway’s target to reduce emissions with at least 50 %, and towards 55 % by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The Fortum Oslo Varme plant incinerates domestic and international sorted household and industrial waste.
Read more on Chemical Engineering
Rolande’s new filling stations equipped for bio-LNG use
Dutch company Rolande has opened the first of five compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) filling stations in Germany. The new station in the city of Ulm is equipped for the use of bio-LNG. Before the end of 2020, Rolande aims to open stations with partners in Dortmund, Duisburg, Grasdorf, Lubeck and Ziesar – further expansion is planned for 2021. The plant is a 24/7 self-serve petrol station with two LNG pumps and two CNG pumps with capacities guaranteeing “swift fuelling” without long waiting times.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
RESEARCHES & STUDIES
EU has “no time to lose” on food waste, says WRAP
A new report by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has outlined the additional action still needed to put the EU on track to halve food loss and waste by 2030. According to the group, food waste is estimated to cost the EU economy around €143 billion per year and is responsible for 15% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the food supply chain. WRAP’s latest report follows the publication of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, of which a key element relates to eliminating food loss and waste to the “largest extent possible”.