BiogasWorld Weekly Vol 40

By | 2018-02-01

EBRD supports development of biogas CHP projects in Belarus

January 24, 2018 – The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) data for December, reporting that nearly 1.68 billion RINs were generated during the month, including more than 27.08 million cellulosic RINs. For the full year 2017, a net total of 19.29 billion RINs were generated. Approximately 26.76 million D3 cellulosic biofuel RINs were generated in December, bringing the net total for 2017 to 227.38 million. Approximately 10.05 million D3 RINs were generated for ethanol, with 141.24 million generated for renewable compressed natural gas and 76.14 million generated for renewable liquefied natural gas. More than 139.78 million D3 RINs were generated domestically, with 33.65 million generated by importers.

Read more on Biomass Magazine

Biogas in the USA: potential for approximately 14,000 new plants

January 25, 2018 – According to data published by the American Biogas Council there are currently 2000 biogas plants operating in the United States, with a potential for up to 14,000 new installations over the next few years. Biomethane is also gaining popularity thanks to its proven benefits. However, renewable energies such as solar and wind power continue to benefit from incentives, although two bills are currently being debated in the Senate, one relating to cogeneration (HR1090) and the other to biogas (HR4137).

Read more on Bioenergy Insight

Biomethanation plant begins operations in Quebec

January 26, 2018 – On Jan. 26, government officials in Canada inaugurated a biomethanation plant in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. The facility processes waste into renewable natural gas (RNG) that is fed into grid of Énergir, a natural gas distributor in Quebec. According to Infrastructure Canada, the facility is the largest of its kind in Canada. Énergir also noted that it is the first municipal biomethanation project in Quebec. The Saint-Hyacinthe biomethanation plant is expected to produce approximately 13 million cubic meters of RNG annually. The city will uses approximately 1.25 million cubic meters for its own needs and sell the surplus to Énergir. L’Oréal Canada has signed on as the first Énergir customer to purchase RNG produced from the Saint-Hyacinthe facility.

Read more on Biomass Magazine

UK Environment Agency increase in environmental permitting charges ‘unjustified’ says ADBA

January 29, 2018 – ADBA, the UK trade body for the anaerobic digestion industry, has labelled the proposals in the Environment Agency’s consultation on its Strategic Review of Charges as ‘unjustified’ on the basis that AD operators will find the new charges very challenging to meet. The changes proposed in the consultation include significant increases in the majority of charges associated with environmental permitting (including application fees and ongoing annual subsistence fees), which will have financial implications for all new and existing AD operators who operate under environmental permits in England. It is thought that in some cases, the increases will double the existing charge. The changes are due to be implemented from April 2018, just two months from the conclusion of the consultation period.

Read more on Renewable Energy Magazine

WesTech, USU, CVWRF collaborate on algal research project

January 29, 2018 – The Utah Science Technology and Research initiative, a technology-based economic development program funded by the state of Utah, has awarded a $175,320 grant for development of a commercial algal application in the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from municipal wastewater. The grant, awarded by USTAR’s Industry Partnership Program to Professor Ronald Sims, Ph.D. of Utah State University, supports a unique collaboration with USU, WesTech Engineering and the Utah Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility. The IPP promotes the development, acceleration and commercialization of innovative technologies by teaming industry and university research expertise to address specific technology challenges.

Read more on Biomass Magazine

Cost of AD permits ‘could double’

January 29, 2018 – Proposals by the Environment Agency (EA) to increase its fees could lead to anaerobic digestion (AD) permits doubling in price, the industry has warned. A consultation on setting higher charges was criticised by the Anaerobic Digestion & Biogas Association (ADBA) as being “extremely steep”. ADBA said the increased costs could stem the flow of investment into the industry and tha,t in some cases, existing charges will be doubled. At the launch of the Strategy Review of Charges consultation, the EA said: “The proposed changes will mean that businesses pay for the full services they use rather than the public – a more financially sustainable model that will lead to long-term environmental improvements.”

Read more on MRW

Qualitative characterisation of digestate: CIB Guidelines

January 30, 2018 – Farming and agroindustrial digestate produced by agricultural biogas plants not only falls within the qualitative limits imposed by the Italian Ministerial Decree on digestate but can also be classified as an organic fertilizer of excellent quality! These limits concern the content of organic substances, nitrogen, phosphorous and heavy metals and are the same set for fertilizer products which can be freely marketed. But how do we assess the chemical and microbiological quality of the digestate? All the information is available in the “Guidelines for the agronomic use of digestate” produced by the CIB (Italian Biogas Consortium).

See the video on Biogas Channel

Japan biogas facility using ON waste processing technology

January 30, 2018 – Brampton, Ont.-based Anaergia Inc. is pleased to announce the start of construction at a facility in Yabu City, Japan which will convert farm waste and food waste into renewable energy. This facility will use Anaergia’s advanced solid waste processing and wastewater treatment equipment. Toyo Energy Solution Co. has invested in the facility, and is building it, and will operate it. The facility will take in a combination of farm waste and food waste, and will treat it with a wide range of Anaergia’s equipment. This equipment includes Anaergia’s proven manure feeding system, and its BIOREX system that extracts organics from unsorted waste, as well as other proprietary resource recovery and treatment equipment.

Read more on Canadian Biomass Magazine

EBA conference 2018: opportunities abound, but a rocky road ahead

January 30, 2018 –  At the annual get-together, the biogas industry looked for ways to strengthen in the political and public consciousness how it can help in the transition to clean energy. Held in Antwerp, the yearly conference for the European Biogas Association had added consequence on a backdrop of the EU’s impending Renewable Energy Directive for 2020-2030 (RED II) and Brexit. The conference’s ‘Greening Gas’ theme sought to expand awareness of biogas’ applications. Power-to-gas was a chief subject here.

Read more on Bioenergy Insight

Gaya, or how to produce green gas from dry biomass

January 31, 2018 – Jointly financed by ENGIE and Ademe (the French agency for the environment and energy management), the Gaya project aims to help meet France’s dual objective of cutting greenhouse gas emissions (40% reduction by 2030) and raising the share of renewable gas in overall gas consumption to 10% by 2030. Some experts claim it could be possible to achieve up to 100% renewable gas as of 2050.

Read more on European Biogas Association