ADBA National Conference 2011 - Final Booking Days

Just to let you know that you've not much time left to book this conference, by the ADBA.

The ADBA National Conference 2011, will be held in London on the 14th December. It will give attendees the chance to learn about and have their say, on the state of the UK Anaerobic Digestion industry.

The conference organisers have posed the following questions to all those interested in Anaerobic Digestion:

• Do you want to build an AD plant?
• Do you want to understand where the AD industry is headed and how fast?

Or,

• Would you like to raise your biggest issues directly to the Minister, the regulators or the food, waste, farming, transport and finance sectors?
• Do you have strong views on the role of standards in the AD industry?
• If any of these apply to you then this is your chance to address them and make your voice heard, by interacting directly with Government and high profile experts from across the anaerobic digestion sector at AD’s biggest conference of the year.

If so, they say that their conference is for you, but time is short to book so register now.

Who has already booked?
We are informed that as well as a host of AD developers, operators and suppliers, other delegates who will also be attending include Tesco, Defra, Siemens Industry, Anglian Water Group, Suez Environnement, RPS Group and E.On Bioerdgas.

If you want to network and develop new business contacts in the AD industry then book a ticket today!

Key Topics addressed at the even will be:

• Is the AD Momentum Building?
• Waste Collection, Gate Fees and the Impact of Eric Pickles
• Ofwat - OFT Market Study and impact on Water and AD industries
• The Role of Standards in the Development of the AD Industry
• Delivering a Strategy for Biomethane as a Transport Fuel

As well as debating key issues with our high level expert panelists this event offers a superb opportunity to network with decision makers who have purchasing approval and command large budgets. The organisers also say that:

Also featuring a table-top exhibition and a host of networking opportunities the ADBA National Conference 2011 promises to be a day well spent. If you are involved or interested in the AD and biogas industry then this is an event that cannot be missed. We look forward to seeing you there.

As well as discussing main issues with our high level expert panelists this event offers a fantastic chance to network with call makers who've buying approval and command huge budgets.

Also featuring a table-top exhibition and a bunch of networking opportunities the ADBA Countrywide Meeting 2011 guarantees to be a day spent wisely. If you're concerned or keen on the AD and biogas industry then this is an event that can't be missed.

Click here to visit the ADBA web site for more information and to book your place.

Biogas Upgrading Technologies Markets Analysed - for the Asia Pacific Region

Summary of a new report on Biogas Upgrading: Technologies and Global Markets with a Focus on Asia-Pacific :

We hope you like the following article. Please visit their website for the full article. The link is provided at the end of this article:

An overview – with a focus on Asia-Pacific – of biogas upgrading with discussion of the advantages of biogas compared to other forms of renewable energy, global greenhouse emissions, and the barriers to large-scale biogas plant deployment Analyses of market trends, with data from 2010, estimates for 2011, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2016 Coverage of the market by upgrading technology type, including pressure swing adsorption, water scrubbing, membrane technology, cryogenic upgrading, and in situ methane enrichment, with a breakdown of market values by technology type Evaluations of feed sources, including sewage sludge, biowaste, landfill gas, and energy crops Examination of the industry structure, with comprehensive company profiles.
Explore comprehensive Table of Contents of this report @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/135858-biogas-upgrading-technologies-and-global-markets-focus-on-asia-pacific.html

STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Renewable, sustainable energy generation will be the fastest-growing energy sector over the next two decades.  From 2010 to 2016, the market is projected to rise from $124 billion in 2010 to $217 billion in 2016.  Price volatility, supply concerns, and the environmental aspects of fossil fuels are expected to accelerate the pace of all non-fossil fuel development.

At this writing, the price of oil has hit highs of more than $100 per barrel on the world market, while U.S. drivers are paying nearly $4 per gallon of gasoline.  Renewable domestic energy supplies are seen as a means of overcoming these problems.  Biogas, a clean fuel derived primarily from waste materials, is an important alternative to conventional fossil energy.

This Biogas upgrading report provides an in-depth analysis of the world market for the biogas upgrading equipment used to transform crude biogas from waste materials and energy crops into sustainable energy.  Six types of upgrading systems are reviewed: water scrubbers, pressure swing adsorption systems, physical absorption and chemical absorption units, membrane systems, and units based on cryogenic technology

Four categories of materials are evaluated as feed sources for biomethane production: municipal wastewater (sewage sludge), agricultural wastes and energy crops (manure, agricultural residuals, and purpose-grown crops), biowaste (industrial organic wastes and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste), and landfill gas.  Two different end uses for the gas are also examined, injection to the natural gas grid and transportation fuel.

The biogas production and biogas upgrading markets are far better developed in Europe than in North America, so it is the main focus of this study.  Germany has, by far, the largest number of upgrading plants, most of which feed into the grid.  Sweden ranks second, with the bulk of its facilities purifying biogas for use as vehicle fuel.

So far, North America’s upgrading capacity is primarily based at landfills; little new capacity has been built over the past decade.  Although Asia has the largest number of biogas generating systems, the vast majority of these are small-scale plants that serve single dwellings or small communities.  In the rest of the world, biogas production is at different stages of development; however, gas upgrading is only just emerging.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

The need to responsibly dispose of mounting volumes of waste and the requirement to procure sustainable, secure energy supplies are two of the most important issues facing governments and industries around the globe.  The production of energy from a number of waste streams (i.e., municipal and domestic sewage, industrial wastewater, landfills, livestock manure, and agricultural residues) is a process that addresses both of these challenges.

In the current waste-to-energy market, anaerobic digestion offers a sustainable conversion process.  With the addition of a biogas refining step, the waste-derived gas can be used in all applications where conventional natural gas is used.  In this context, it is important to have an overview of the market and the drivers that support adoption of the best strategies by governments responsible for sustainable waste handling and energy supply solutions.  It is also important for industry players and technology developers to understand current as well as future trends in order to strategize their investments.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

This study intended to be useful to a broad audience.  Because they stand to see the greatest profit from expansion of the biogas industry, manufacturers and suppliers of biogas upgrading equipment and providers of upgrading technology would likely benefit the most from the data contained in this study.  Companies with plant components, ancillary equipment, and related products also might profit from the information collected here.

These include manufacturers and suppliers of anaerobic digesters and digester technology, biogas distributors, water and power
engineering firms, suppliers of power plants and electricity generating equipment, environmental management firms, companies specializing in anaerobic digestion equipment and other water and wastewater treatment equipment, companies developing additives (chemicals, enzymes, etc.) to enhance gas production yields and process efficiencies.

Other beneficiaries of biogas upgrading that might find this study of value are farmers, participants in the food industry, waste processors, transportation sector players, and project developers and investors.

SCOPE OF REPORT

The scope of this report is the global market for biogas upgrading equipment.  Market value and growth is evaluated for six different types of upgrading systems: water scrubbing, pressure swing adsorption, physical absorption, chemical absorption, membrane separation, and cryogenic technology.

The market is broken down by four different feed sources: municipal and domestic sewage, industrial wastewater, landfill gas, and agricultural wastes, a category that includes animal manures and crop residues.  Additionally, the market is examined according to end use, injection into the gas grid and transportation fuel.

A discussion of the market by world region includes overviews of North America, Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world, with individual profiles for countries most active in each region.  Present market status, biogas upgrading plant installations, and policies and incentives that support the industry are given for each country.  All market valuations and projections cover the years from 2000 to 2016.

Market figures are based on the revenues derived from equipment sales and are projected in 2011 constant dollars (i.e., inflation is not computed into the projection figures).  The revenue figures are derived from estimated revenues of the key players in a particular year.

A technology overview, a discussion on the structure of the industry, and brief profiles for major participating companies are included.  The machinery used to transform the gas to electricity: reciprocating and other types of gas engines, turbine and microturbines, and fuel cells, is not included in the analysis.

Inquire before buying or Request a Sample of the report 'Biogas Upgrading: Technologies and Global Markets (Focus on Asia-Pacific)' @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/135858-biogas-upgrading
-technologies-and-global-markets-focus-on-asia-pacific.html

View the original article here

Business Briefs - Biomass Power and Thermal

We hope you like the following roundup, (or should we say mash-up nowadays?) from Biomass Power and Thermal:

New Dealer for Continental Biomass Industries
Continental Biomass Industries Inc., a manufacturer of portable and stationary biomass processing and recycling systems, has announced that McCourt & Sons Equipment Inc. is an exclusive dealer for CBI’s product line and will provide equipment, parts and service for Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi. Established in 1997 and family owned and operated, McCourt & Sons has more than 65 years of combined industry experience.

Madison college receives grantfrom Thermo Fisher Scientific
Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wis., has received a $10,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inspire Grant to support student participation in Renewable Energy for International Development. The course, which is offered through Madison College and the Consortium for Renewable Energy Technology, examines energy and economics in developing countries with special consideration to renewable energy sources. The class combines eight weeks of online instruction with 10 days of study and hands-on work in Costa Rica. Students design and install working renewable energy systems that can be applied in developing countries. The Inspire Grant provides six $1,500 scholarships, as well as a $1,000 stipend that will be given to a program participant from Costa Rica to offset their expenses to attend related workshops in Madison.

GE introduces gas engine for small biogas projects

Please note that the video shows GE Jenbacher equipment, but is inluded as the closest model to the new Waukesha for which a video appeared to be available from GE.

Expanding the company’s lineup of biogas engines for a wider range of power outputs, GE has introduced its Waukesha 1-megawatt APG1000 gas engine that can utilize a broader variety of biogases, including from landfills, wastewater treatment plants and agricultural waste. The Waukesha unit’s expanded biogas capabilities are the result of an 18-month redesign and testing initiative that includes modifications to the combustion chamber, a new spark plug design, and a new fuel control system that simplifies engine start-up and operation. For example, the engine’s greater fuel tolerances allow it to handle fluctuations in the thermal quality of the biogas with little or no manual intervention. These modifications address the unique operational challenges of using biogases and were validated at both landfill and digester biogas-to-energy project sites.

Blythe takes over at B&W Mechanical Handling 
Andy Blythe was appointed managing director of U.K.-based B&W Mechanical Handling Ltd. He joined the company in early May succeeding Andrew Mitchell, who is focusing on his own consulting business but will maintain strong links with B&W. Blythe brings his vast experience in aggregates, minerals and the bulk handling industry with a proven track record in business expansion and strategic development. With B&W, Blythe’s initial focus is to improve the strong presence in the ports and terminals sector as well as expand into other high-end markets that need the same technologies.

Reliable Renewables joins CEA
Consumer Energy Alliance welcomes Reliable Renewables LLC as its newest affiliate member. Reliable Renewables develops owns, and operates modular biomass gasification power plants of 2 to 5 megawatts. The power plants are fueled by agricultural waste, pulp and paper waste, energy crops and refuse-derived fuel.  These power plants operate around-the-clock providing a consistent, sustainable flow of renewable energy. The biogas produced can be utilized to generate electricity in a GE Jenbacher, or a similar engine.  Alternatively, the biogas can be used to fuel incumbent processes such as kilns, fractionation towers or existing engines and turbines. Fuel cost is reduced or eliminated as the gasification plants are small enough to be located adjacent to biomass supplies.

Nortrax expands Morbark territory into eastern New York
Morbark Inc. has signed an agreement with Nortrax Inc., a Morbark forestry and recycling dealer, to expand its territory to include eastern New York State. The expansion added 10 New York counties to an already established Nortrax northeastern territory of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Nortrax has been a steadfast Morbark dealer for more than 20 years. With excellent product support, as well as an extensive equipment and parts inventory, the expansion of the Nortrax-Morbark partnership into eastern New York state will greatly benefit regional Morbark customers.

Morbark names new president
Morbark Inc., a manufacturer of forestry, sawmill and wood recycling equipment, announced the appointment of James W. Shoemaker Jr. as president. Shoemaker replaces Lon Morey who will remain as the chairman of Morbark’s board of directors. Prior to his appointment, Shoemaker served as Morbark’s vice president of operations and board member. He joined Morbark in 2003 as the manager of operations and has held numerous positions in the company. Prior to joining Morbark, Shoemaker served 25 years with the Jervis B. Webb Co. managing operations, accounting and supply chain.

Bandit Industries receives EPA award
Wood chipper manufacturer Bandit Industries received a National Partnership for Environmental Priorities achievement award from the U.S. EPA. The award was given to the company for efforts in reducing hazardous chemicals in the workplace, specifically with the reduction of mercury. Bandit was one of only three organizations in Michigan to receive the award. Bandit’s proactive replacement of mercury thermostats resulted in approximately three pounds of the dangerous metal being removed from the company grounds. The old thermostats were then securely packaged and sent to a recycling facility. These reductions were achieved as part of the NPEP program, a voluntary reduction program in which companies, municipalities, federal facilities and tribes partner with the EPA to reduce and/or recycle toxic chemicals. The NPEP program also works to identify environmentally preferable alternatives and fosters technology transfer. To date, NPEP partners have been successful in removing more than 40 million pounds of potentially hazardous material.

Rodman named to NECA's Renewables and Distributed Generation committee
Steve Rodman, president of Rodman & Rodman P.C., has been named to the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association's Renewables and Distributed Generation committee. NECA is a nonprofit trade association serving the electric power industry. Its Renewables and Distributed Generation committee is dedicated to increasing awareness of the benefits of renewable/clean energy and to facilitating growth of the industry in the Northeast. Rodman & Rodman is a CPA firm with a dedicated "Green Team" Renewable Energy and Clean Technology Practice, where Rodman is a client adviser and advocate in the provision of expert green energy tax advisory, accounting services, and business strategy for alternative energy producers and investors through all stages of their project and business life cycle. The Green Team offers its services for companies in the biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, landfill gasses, municipal solid waste, hydroelectric and hydrokinetic sectors of the renewable energy industry. They also assist startup projects with the Section 1603 program.

View the original article here

Biogas Plant Approved Near Diss Norfolk But Local Objections Remain

Campaigners have vowed to launch a judicial review after controversial plans to build a biogas renewable energy plant near their homes were approved. In this article from Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production Magazine, it is not clear why the local continue to object. Is this Nymby-ism at play or do they have a specific objection? I suspect that Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production Magazine must think not, or the article would contain that information?

(The video is not linked with the article, but we hope you find it interesting.)

Stephen Gordon, chairman of Kenninghall Parish Council, announced that objectors would not give up their 18-month fight following the decision by Breckland Council's planning committee yesterday.

About 30 residents from the south Norfolk village, near Diss, attended the meeting with placards and protest banners.

Greenshoots Energy Ltd had applied to build an anaerobic digestion unit on land off Garboldisham Road, which would be fuelled with locally grown maize, poultry litter and cattle slurry. The electricity created would be transferred to the National Grid. The plant would be linked to a combined heat and power (CHP) plant just over half a mile away at Crown Milling, off Heath Road, which would use the waste heat generated by the energy plant.

Both applications had been recommended for approval despite opposition from the parish council, North Lopham Parish Council and about 500 residents who had signed a petition.

James Alston, who runs Greenshoots Energy with fellow farmer Robert Gooderham, said creating anaerobic digestors helped farmers maintain the viability of their industry.

Copyright 2011 Archant Regional Limited
All Rights Reserved

View the original article here

European Biogas Injection Moves on as GrDF Selects Elster to Provide Biogas Stations

We are pleased to be able to provide news on the further development of biogas use in national natural gas supply systems with the following posting.

ESSEN, Germany, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Elster /quotes/zigman/616990/quotes/nls/elt ELT -2.51% announced today that Gaz reseau Distribution France (GrDF), the main gas utility in France and wholly-owned subsidiary of GrDF Suez that manages the longest natural gas distribution network in Europe, has selected Elster as the sole supplier to establish at least five biogas injection stations throughout the country. The first station will be delivered in the first quarter of 2012. 

(Above video creator and GrDF have no connection.)

The two-year agreement calls for the stations to measure the quality of biogas and inject it into GrDF's natural gas grid after it is processed by the producer through purification stations. Each station will be equipped with two Elster EnCal 3000 high-end process gas chromatographs, Elster rotary or turbine gas meters, electronic volume correctors and odorizing devices. All of the stations will be assembled in France by Elster.
Following the first tests of injections into GrDF's gas grid in Lille last July, this initiative marks the starting point of a new era for GrDF's natural gas grid. To enable use of this renewable energy source, the source biogas first needs to be cleaned and transformed into biomethane, which has the same quality and energy characteristics as natural gas.
The Elster stations will allow GrDF to assure the precise volume and quality of biomethane it injects into the grid.
"Biomethane is an important strategic priority for France and a real stake for GrDF as part of the overall effort to develop cleaner, renewable energy sources," said Cedric Aubry, head of biogas projects at GrDF. (Blog master Note: biogas is produced from the Anaerobic digestion process.)
"Elster has worked with GrDF for more than 60 years, deploying both residential and commercial and industrial measurement applications, and recently piloted its residential automated meter reading system," said Michael Calovini, executive vice president of Elster's international gas business.
"We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with GrDF as the utility continues developing its innovative approach to managing natural resources and integrating renewable energy sources," Calovini added.

View the original article here

Do you also see this as a major step forward for the maturing biogas industry? Please comment below. If you don't have time to comment please use the buttons below to Google +1 us, or "like" us on your Facebook page using the buttons below. By doing that you help us to continue to provide this Anaerobic Digestion News service.

Seeking Member Support for Biogas Tax Credit Bill - American Biogas Council

The American Biogas Council is encouraging its members to help support one of its highest legislative priorities—a bill that would create an investment tax credit for biogas.

Although not yet introduced, the bill is being considered by Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis. If passed, it would grant qualifying biogas (anaerobic digestion) projects parity with other renewable energy projects that already qualify for a 30 percent investment tax credit under Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986.

The bill defines qualified biogas property as comprising of a system that uses anaerobic digesters or other biological, chemical, thermal or mechanical processes (alone or in combination) to convert biomass into a gas, which consists of not less than 52 percent methane, and captures the gas for use as a fuel.

Besides the tax credit, the bill would also require the government to enter into an agreement with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to undertake a study of biogas. The agreement would require NREL to supply a written report to Congress within two years after the date of the enactment of the bill to address multiple issues, such as the quality of biogas and a comparison of biogas to natural gas and the identification of any components of biogas that make it unsuitable for injection into existing natural gas pipelines. Other issues the study would address include methods for obtaining the highest energy content in biogas, including the use of codigestion and identifying the optimal feed mixture, and recommendations for the expansion of biogas production, including an analysis of the extent to which increasing the methane content of biogas would result in its greater use and an analysis of how the expanded use of biogas could help meet the growing energy needs of the U.S.

Patrick Serfass, excutive director of the ABC, said one type of project that would benefit from the tax credit would be one that injects renewable natural gas into the gas pipeline, or uses the biogas to power cars and heavy duty vehicles.  "For example, this tax credit will help a dairy farmer who makes biogas from cow manure and then uses it to heat the buildings and power the trucks that deliver the milk," he said. "In another example, it would help a facility that takes food waste from area restaurants and grocery stores, turns their trash into biogas and then injects the renewable natural gas into the pipeline to be used by any natural gas customers."

Serfass said the idea of turning organic waste into usable, renewable biogas, is just taking off in the U.S. and it's something that should be encouraged. "Whether you've got rural farm waste, urban food waste or the sludge filtered out of wastewater, a tax incentive like this will create new jobs with every new project constructed that will put people to work turning garbage into green energy," he added.

The ABC is requesting that members write to their congressional representatives to make them aware of the legislation and urge them to support it. To view a copy of the bill, click here. 

View the original article here

Biogas Trike Fueled by Sewage Completes its Journey Across Japan

Enter the Neo. Part motorcycle and part toilet, it runs on eco-friendly biogas produced from sewage — and recently completed a journey of more than 1,000 km across Japan.

The three-wheeled vehicle, developed by Japanese toilet maker Toto, features a toilet for a seat and has a giant roll of toilet paper mounted on the back that flutters in the breeze as the bike cruises along.

But there are no plans to put the bike on sale. Toto intends to put it on display.

The biogas used as fuel for the Neo is produced from a combination of household sewage and livestock waste, broken down and fermented, company spokesman Kenji Fujita said.

“Although the seat of the bike is indeed a toilet, it is not for actual use. The fuel is eco-friendly biogas, stored in the tanks on the back,” he said.

“It’s a surprisingly nice way to travel.”

The 837 lb motorcycle can run for a total of 300 km and reach speeds of up to 70 km an hour.

Ichie Tanaka, one of six people who rode the Neo across Japan during the three-week, 1,400 km tour to promote biofuels, said she was relieved the journey was over.

“At first when I saw the bike, I was taken aback. But after riding it, I found it quite interesting,” the 28-year-old said.

“It doesn’t hurt at all and is actually quite comfortable to sit on.”

© Thomson Reuters 2011

View the original article here

Eco-Tec Biogas Purification Systems Commissioned and Delivering Power

 

Two state-of-the-art waste processing facilities in Lancashire, England, report quick start-up times and strong levels of performance by newly installed BgPur™ biogas purification systems.

(The video is not directly relatede to the article - but we thought our readers would find it interesting.)

Designed and manufactured by Canadian-based Eco-Tec Inc., the BgPur units have begun purifying biogas produced at waste treatment facilities in Lancashire, by removing corrosive levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S); in turn, recovering the gas for use in power generation. The first BgPur began operation in July 2011 at the Thornton Waste Facility and the second in November 2011 at the Leyland Waste Facility. Both were designed by international engineering and project-management company AMEC, and are run by waste management and recycling organization Global Renewables.

While the systems are set up to clean H2S at 99% efficiency per site, they have recorded levels beyond 99% and continue to perform consistently since the start ups. "We're happy with the system's performance. In some instances, it has gone beyond the capabilities specified and was also one of the easiest start ups we've experienced so far," said an AMEC representative.

The BgPur systems are playing an essential part in Global Renewables' unique waste-treatment process known as ‘UR-3R' (Urban Resource - Reduce, Recover, Recycle), made up of a combination of some of the world's leading environmental technologies. Through the process, the facilities will treat over 300,000 tonnes per annum of Lancahsire County's household waste while extracting the maximum amount of recyclables from the waste stream and turning the environmentally damaging organic fraction into a high-quality type of compost product called Organic Growth Medium (OGM).

As these organic wastes are digested, Eco-Tec's BgPur purifies the biogas produced through patented, high efficiency gas-liquid contactors. The contactors process 1,100 m3/hr sulphur with a concentration of 5,000 ppmv (parts per million volume) of H2S per site, purifying it to consist of less than 50 ppmv of H2S. In turn, the recovered gas is used as fuel to generate electricity for the parasitic demands of the sites. The net result is 100% recycling, reducing the waste to the landfill by 70%, and reducing the carbon dioxide emission by 1.5 tonnes per tonne of solid waste collected.

"Eco-Tec is proud to play a part in such an innovative, meaningful waste-treatment process. And we're glad to be able to add real value to the market by providing technology that not only lowers our clients' operating costs but is also solving greenhouse gas issues at the same time," says Carmine Fontana, Eco-Tec vice-president, Gas Processing.

About Eco-Tec
Eco-Tec is a globally recognized manufacturer of water purification, gas processing, and chemical recovery systems for industrial operations. Eco-Tec provides proven integrated technologies based on proprietary technologies that offer significant cost reduction, superior process efficiency, and facilitates an environmentally responsible approach to using natural resources. Eco-Tec has provided more than 2,000 systems in over 55 countries, and is represented in all major markets.

For more information, visit www.eco-tec.com.

SOURCE: Eco-Tec Inc.

View the original article here

Holton: Bernard Matthews plans £4m biogas plant - East Anglian Daily Times

Rob Mears, UK managing director of Bernard Matthews Foods

Friday, November 11, 2011 - 6:00 AM

TURKEY giant Bernard Matthews has unveiled a £4million project to convert waste into biogas at its Suffolk factory which it hopes will save energy and reduce the number of lorries going into the facility.

The firm has teamed up with Glendale Power for a renewable power project at the site in Holton, near Halesworth, which it hopes will supply 13% of its electricity and 10% of its heat.

A planning application is expected to be submitted to Waveney District Council in the coming weeks, and if approved the firm hopes the facility, which will be funded by venture capital, will be up and running by April 2013 with work likely to start next year.

The proposal would see the construction of an anaerobic digestion facility which would treat 28,000 tonnes of liquid waste including blood fluids and fat and see it converted into gas which can be turned into electricity.

The digester will be connected, by pipeline, to the existing on site effluent treatment system, and the liquid waste will then be converted into a methane rich gas, which will be piped back into the factory to power an engine connected to a generator.

Electricity produced will be fed into the factory power grid and heat recovered from the cooling system and exhaust will be used to heat water.

Spent “fuel”, which will be largely water, will be returned to the on site effluent treatment system to be cleaned up and discharged.

Richard Smithgate, group procurement director at Bernard Matthews Foods, said the facility would consist of three towers which would be integrated into the existing factory.

“This ensures that we treat our own waste rather than have it treated by a third party,” he said. “We want to become more self-sufficient and all energy will be used on the site and none of it will be exported.”

Around 60% of the factories traffic is linked associated with waste and Mr Smithgate said the proposal would removed more than 1,200 lorry trips in and out of the site.

He also said the process involved would not be open to the air and that would mean no odours would be emitted from the facility.

“It will be like a soup,” he added. “It will sit in the cylinders for about 35 days and that process will generate the gas to produce the electricity.

“We hope to get a positive reaction because we are taking 1,200 vehicles off the road and we hope that will enhance the community.

Rob Mears, UK managing director at Bernard Matthews Foods, said: “This is an important development for Bernard Matthews and the local community.

“It will not only reduce our carbon footprint and help create a sustainable, constant, environmentally-friendly source of power for the factory, but it will also provide significant environmental benefits to the local community and help strengthen our long term competitive position for the site.”

View the original article here

Carr Farm £2.5M Green Energy Project Reaches Milestone, as AD Plant Construction Progresses

Image: Courtesy Farmgen

With all the worldwide business news being so bleak at the moment it is easy to forget that the Anaerobic Digestion Industry is still forging ahead with new projects.

So, it is good to be able to publicise a ground-breaking £2.5M renewable energy project, which is it's originator's Farmgen are claiming is changing the face of UK farming, has reached a major milestone.

After the completion of preliminary work on-site and the construction of service roads and clamps to hold material to feed the plant, building is now well progressed on the two large tanks, which will form the centre of interest in this biogas scheme.

Farmgen is the green energy specialist behind the farm-based Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant at Warton, near Preston which they are describing as "revolutionary". At the Anaerobic Digestion News blog we are not so convinced that the calim to it being revolutionary can be sustained in reality.

Certainly, the site at Carr Farm is going to be "revolutionary" to farmer Jonathan Rigby who is moving out of dairy farming, which his family has been involved in for generations, into what is baing called ‘energy farming’.

We are also able to report that the construction of these two AD tanks is part of a push by Farmgen which will lead to a £30 million investment in what we are sure must be the biggest ‘energy farming’ expansion programme yet, in Britain.

Farmgen says that UK farmers of the future will set to make more money, more easily out of ‘energy farming’, than traditional dairy, animal husbandry and arable farming.

However, as a consumer it is surprising to read that farmers are receiving falling prices for farm products, whiel watching the weeekly food bil rise as much as it has done this year. However, they also state that farmers are being increasingly squeezed by the supermarket giants, and that would appear to be entirely credible as the bog chains consolidate their market share and enter into another supermarket price war to do so.

We are sure that more and more farmers are realising there’s a more sustainable future in helping to avoid Britain’s looming energy crisis and supporting the move towards a low carbon economy.

There is no doubt a power ‘generation gap’ which most likely will open-up over the next 5-10 years, as the UK’s ageing fleet of fossil-fuel-burning power plants come offline to meet tough new EU emissions targets.

At this blog site we, also agree that:

“Renewables and other sources of green energy will play a critical role in providing the country’s power supplies over the next decade,”

 explained Farmgen’s chief operating officer, Ed Cattigan.

“As the country moves over to green energy, as part of the move to a low carbon economy, there is a strong opportunity for many farmers in the UK to create a sustainable and stronger future for themselves by switching to ‘energy farming’."

Go and take a look at the much longer article at http://www.farmgen.co.uk/news13.htm where you will also find out about the involvement of other UK and international companies involved in this biogas project, including:

• Kirk Environmental, a specialist company manufacturing AD tanks
• Edina, the leading renewable power generation specialists who will supply the plant’s generating equipment
• Engineering specialist Agrilek, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, responsible for connecting the plant to the national grid
• Inenco, based in Lytham St Annes, Lancs, to trade the energy produced at Carr Farm
• Green Energy Farmers Ltd, who will supply the crops to the Anaerobic Digestion Plant
• Eimco Water Technologies Ltd, based in Tonbridge, Kent who act as the water treatment experts

We understand that Farmgen offer to run and manage a farm’s AD business, while providing a guaranteed income level for farmers for up to 10 years. The company says that they can also source finance and offer a joint venture approach to farmers interested in a possible AD project.

First Biogas Plant for Electricity and Heat Generation by Enovos Luxembourg SA ... - MarketWatch (press release)

STRASSEN, Luxembourg, October 18, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Enovos Luxembourg is successfully expanding its activities in the field of renewable energy and takes a share in the Biopower Tongeren N.V.

100% owned by Enovos International S.A., Enovos Luxembourg is a part of the Enovos-International-group.

On Monday, 17 October 2011 at the industrial estate "Tongeren Oost" (Tongeren, Belgium), Enovos Luxembourg S.A. and its project partners NPG Energy N.V. and Pholpa BVBA celebrated the first stone ceremony of the largest biogas plant in Limburg. In presence of a.o. Jean Lucius, CEO Enovos Luxembourg S.A. and the Mayor of the City of Tongeren, Patrick Dewael, a tree was planted to symbolise that this biogas plant will be 100% CO2 neutral.

In August 2011, Enovos Luxembourg S.A. signed the contracts to acquire a 24.9% stake in the biogas plant. For Enovos Luxembourg, this represents the first investment in renewable energy in Belgium.

Located in a predominantly agricultural area, the biogas plant will mainly ferment corn that is grown in close cooperation with local farmers within a 15 km radius. The resulting environmentally friendly biogas is converted into electricity via a motor and is then fed into the local power grid. The heat resulting from the process is used to dry the fermentation substrates. These substrates are returned to the fields as low-odour, high-quality fertilisers, thus producing a closed cycle.

"With a capacity of approximately 3 MW, the amount of electricity generated corresponds to the annual consumption of 6,500 households and an annual CO2 reduction of 10,000 tonnes, thus achieving an important step towards further expanding renewable energies," says Daniel Christnach, Head of Renewable Energies & Cogeneration at Enovos Luxembourg. In cooperation with the project partners, the plant's capacity can optionally be subsequently expanded to 5.6 MW. The building licence for this already exists.

Jean Lucius, CEO Enovos Luxembourg highlights: "The participation in the Biopower Tongeren N.V. emphasises Enovos' consistent commitment to the field of renewable energy and we are pleased that with this first project we were able to assert this message on the Belgium market."

The plant start-up will take place in April 2012.

The project developers NPG Energy N.V. and Pholpa BVBA are involved as additional partners in the project company, Biopower Tongeren N.V., each with 47.6% and 27.5% respectively.

As energy supplier on the Luxembourg, German, French and - since 2011 - Belgian energy market, Enovos Luxembourg's mission consists of generating electricity, natural gas and renewable energy for municipal providers, industries and private households and in delivering it to them.

They are subordinate to Enovos International S.A., which is an operative holding company with its headquarters in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In addition to supplying energy, the parent company also acts as an umbrella for the management of the grid operator, Creos Luxembourg S.A.

Expressed in numbers, the Enovos-International-group currently consists of more than 1,300 employees, more than 280,000 points of delivery, over 8,700 km of electric lines and more than 3,600 km of gas pipelines.

In addition to its traditional core business, the company is expanding its activities mostly in the field of renewable energy.

25.44% of Enovos International S.A. belongs to Luxembourg State, 10.01% belongs to the state-owned investment bank SNCI and 8.00% belongs to the City of Luxembourg. ArcelorMittal owns 23.48%, RWE owns 18.36%, E.ON has 10.00% and Electrabel holds 4.71%.

Copyright (C) 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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Flotech vows to treble biogas revenues - Stuff.co.nz

Flotech, the biogas equipment developer, says soaring demand for renewable energy from Asia, Europe and North America will likely see its revenues triple to $300 million as early as 2015.

The Auckland-based company develops proprietary processing technologies that converts decomposing organic matter such as fish waste and cow dung into a biogas. It plans to achieve the revenue boost by extending its dominant position in the biogas conversion market, predominantly through its Greenlane Biogas subsidiary.

Greenlane commands about 32 per cent of the biogas upgrading sector worldwide, the company said.

"We are one of the very few companies to have emerged with proven technologies for biomethane and our plan is to extend dominance of that sector," said group managing director Steve Broadbent. "Our reputation is now such that no serious developer would contemplate a biomethane project without at least including Greenlane for consideration on the supplier list."

Braodbent is the majority shareholder of the privately-held company with a 40 per cent stake. The company didn't release any actual financial figures, but it said the growth is due to a four-year transformation process in which it changed from a "projects-driven, compressor dominated business" into a worldwide marketing vehicle for the Greenlane products.

In spite of the costs of the additional costs of the transformation, which exceeded budget and ran over time, Broadbent said the expansion "is coming to fruition".

To date the company says it has sold more than 50 Greenlane Biogas upgrading systems, which produce biofuels for vehicle fleets, communities, power grids and pipeline gas.

Flotech joins a cadre of New Zealand companies which have pioneered green technologies overseas, most notably Lanzatech, the as-yet-to-break-even company which develops industrial pollution reduction technologies.

Both companies have won numerous awards in recent years, and have been the recipients of major government innovation funding.

- BusinessDay.co.nz - JASON KRUPP

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Proposed biogas plant at West Lexham could create 30 jobs - Norfolk Eastern Daily Press

The company behind plans for a new biogas plant at West Lexham, near Swaffham, says it will reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

By DAISY WALLAGE Thursday, October 27, 2011 

A proposed biogas energy plant near Swaffham could create up to 30 jobs.

West Lexham Biogas Limited will begin consulting on its plans to build a waste recycling plant and anaerobic digester (AD) at a disused quarry near the village later this month.

The plant will generate green electricity using waste from the food and drinks industry, reducing the amount of rubbish going to land fill and also producing organic fertiliser.

Residents and local councils are being invited to an exhibition about the project in Castle Acre on November 10 and a planning application is expected to be submitted in December.

The company is being driven by Teun Smits, who has experience in developing and operating AD plants in Holland, and by Qualiflex Biproduct Solutions Limited (qbs), a Bury St Edmunds-based company specialising in the sustainable transfer of waste products.

A spokesman said: “As a country we landfill thousands of tonnes of waste food and drink. This project should be the first of a number of these units we will develop to process this waste across the country and we are delighted to have found a site which meets our East Anglian needs.

“The site has a good road network and is in a hidden part of the landscape away from residential properties. This plant should produce approximately 30 new jobs for the area and the construction work will also provide employment opportunities.”

Gases produced during the digestion of waste are pumped into gas engines to create electricity while the resulting “digestate” will be made available to local farms for use as an organic fertilizer.

Landowner, Niels Olesen, added: “As someone who is passionate about alternative energy production, I am delighted to be working with such a knowledgeable company. “The infrastructure is here and the former gravel working is a logical brownfield site for a use such as this. We hope to gain local support for this exciting project”.

The exhibition will be held at Castle Acre Village Hall, in Pye’s Lane, from 4pm to 7pm on November 10 and there will be the chance to answer questions.

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Anaerobic Digestion Plant Powers Northern Ireland Village

Cow poo powers village

London, United Kingdom - Cow poo and grass are the main ingredients for cooking up new high efficiency power  

 

The first energy plant of its kind in 20 years demonstrates how natural processes can power a business and a village with renewable energy.  A farm near Ardstraw in Northern Ireland uses technology that allows the production of heat and power from animal waste and vegetation.  Fuelled by organic matter produced on the farm, this pioneering power plant is also one of the most environmentally friendly of its kind.  The plant is very efficient and wastes very little compared to other energy companies.  Normally, central power plants pump more than 50% of the energy into the air while turbines waste 75% of the wind’s energy.  Now, run on muck, the cow power plant has an energy efficiency of 86%, wasting only 14%, which a huge step toward a sustainable Northern Ireland.  

 

The Greenhill Dairy Farm Biogas plant is the first plant in Northern Ireland in 20 years to provide sustainable heat and power for homes and businesses.  The power station mimics a cow stomach and cooks animal waste at 40°C (104°F) to produce methane gas.  The gas is then piped into two engines that drive generators while hot water is also produced for drying plant waste, called ‘digestate,’ and to pasteurise milk.  This use of waste to produce valuable energy shows how rural areas and agriculture can function sustainably.  Power derived from cow dung and grass silage cuts power prices for all consumers and decreases agriculture’s carbon footprint.  Additionally, the unit will reduce Northern Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels and prevent volatile energy prices whilst bringing new jobs to this rural area.

Alfagy - Anaerobic digestion

The 700 acre Greenhill farm delivers grass and animal waste from some 600 cows to fuel the plant.  After the process of extracting methane from the manure and grass, farmers will use the residual waste, called 'digestate', as a powerful fertiliser to grow animal feed.  Capturing the value from this natural cycle is essential to enable local farmers to compete internationally.  Looking like a giant muffin, the plant produces 430 kilowatts of electricity per hour - enough to supply some 430 homes with electricity.  

 

A farm AD plant has far less visual impact and noise pollution than wind turbines and delivers far more socio-economic benefits in rural areas.  The farmer earns money from his waste, the plant reduces energy and fertiliser costs which stabilises his income.  AD plants are also the number one job-creating renewable technology.  Alfagy’s research shows that widely adopted biogas plants create far more long term jobs than any other renewable technology and more money for the Government.  “It is astonishing that more financial support isn’t directed at biogas power plants as they create 8 times more value than other renewable technologies such as wind turbines,” comments Peter Kindt, the Alfagy chairman. 

World’s most efficient energy 

  

Alfagy was selected by the developer for the project as the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and gas conditioning supplier after a competition against leading manufacturers such as GE Energy, MWM and MAN.  The project faced challenges in getting funding from a bank during the financial crisis that is still raging internationally.  However, Alfagy’s high level of quality and service convinced the bank to grant a development loan.  This is considered something of an accomplishment in the current climate according to Peter Kindt.  "Given the current credit crunch, this project is an important demonstration of a sustainable energy future", said Peter Kindt. 

"The deciding factor for the finance of the project was our plant’s world beating efficiency that produced £1.8 million more revenue than the competition.  Our payback is simply the fastest in the market,” adds Peter Kindt. 

The Ardstraw power plant will be the 52nd biogas power plant in the UK and only the 2nd in Northern Ireland.  More farmers in Northern Ireland are now considering similar projects. (See also http://anaerobic-digestion.com )

For more information, please contact Peter Kindt on +44 87 0033 6600 or via fm @ alfagy.com.

VIst their website at: http://www.alfagy.com/

Jobs Boost as Waste Plants Open - BBC News

5 October 2011 Last updated at 12:31 

The anaerobic digestion plant in Cumbernauld will process 60,000 tonnes of food waste a year Waste Management group Shanks has opened two major recycling and recovery facilities in the west of Scotland, creating 40 jobs.

An anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in Cumbernauld will process 60,000 tonnes of food waste a year, generating enough power for more than 3,000 homes.

A materials recycling facility (MRF) in Blochairn will process 150,000 tonnes of waste and recyclables a year.

Shanks said about £20m had been invested in the two plants.

The AD plant, which is a joint venture with Cumbernauld-based Energen Biogas, will treat organic waste from local authorities and food waste producers, maximising the amount of recyclable material recovered from food waste.

The MRF plant will serve municipal customers, such as North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire councils, as well as commercial and industrial clients.

It has been designed to achieve a 95% recovery rate from resources such as cardboard, paper, aluminium, glass, wood and metals.

The remaining waste will be converted into solid recovered fuel (SRF) for heat and power.

A total of 39 jobs have been created across the two sites - 33 at Blochairn and six in Cumbernauld.

'Zero waste' goal

Shanks UK managing director Ian Goodfellow said: "At Shanks, we are continually investing in recycling and recovery technology to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and incineration.

"Scotland's vision where all waste is seen as a resource is one we are firmly aligned with and we are very pleased that with the opening of these new plants we can contribute to making a zero-waste Scotland a reality."

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said Shanks' new facilities demonstrated that sending rubbish to landfill was "increasingly becoming a thing of the past".

He added: "Minimising the amount of waste we create in the first place is the best course of action, but from the waste we do produce we need to recycle and recover as much value as possible."

Energen Biogas operations director Robert Etherson said AD plants provided "a fantastic opportunity" to grow the renewables industry in Scotland and improve resource efficiency.

He added: "I believe we really are at the forefront of a revolution in sustainable waste management in Scotland where AD technology will play an increasingly large role."

Both plants have started to receive waste from customers and Shanks expects Cumbernauld to be operating at 100% capacity in a year's time.

Customers include Glasgow Airport, Strathclyde University and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

Shanks is an international waste management group with more than 4,000 employees across its operations in Belgium, Canada, Netherlands and the UK.

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Landfill Gas to Power Wewoka Brick Company's Kilns - NewsOK.com

WEWOKA — Most businesses probably wouldn't want to have a landfill next door, but it is working out well for Commercial Brick Corp.

The Wewoka Biogas Project was designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from WCA Waste Corp.'s Sooner Landfill in Wewoka, while providing cheaper fuel to the nearby Commercial Brick Corp. plant. The annual reduction of greenhouse gases attributable to the project are about the same as:

Greenhouse gas emissions from nearly 6,800 passenger vehicles

• Carbon dioxide emissions from consuming more than 82,000 barrels of oil

• Carbon sequestered annually by nearly 7,600 acres of pine or fir forests

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's

landfill methane outreach program

The family-owned brickmaker is getting biogas from the WCA Waste Corp. landfill about a quarter mile north of its plant.

The Wewoka Biogas Project, which is providing methane to one of Commercial's four kilns, was dedicated Friday by a host of officials from the companies involved in making it happen.

William Brinker, operations manager of project developer Enerdyne Power Systems Inc., said the project grew out of a WCA initiative to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. That meshed with Commercial's quest to find a way to reduce its energy costs.

“It just makes economic sense because we're displacing other fossil fuels,” Brinker said.

Companies like eBay, Designtex and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters helped finance the project by buying carbon offsets.

Brinker said decomposing trash in the Sooner Landfill creates methane, the main component in natural gas.

It is collected by 14 vertical wells drilled into the landfill.

The gas is processed at an adjacent blower station to remove excess water and then sent over to the brick plant.

Commercial President Bob Hartsock said the company always is looking for ways to save money on fuel.

“This just made perfect sense,” he said.

Hartsock's company makes about 156 million bricks a year, running its natural gas-fired kilns nonstop, 24 hours a day.

Hartsock said companies often try to build brick plants near landfills to take advantage of available biogas, but Commercial had the luxury of having a landfill built about a quarter mile from its plant.

“All we had to do was retrofit our burners to accept the methane gas,” he said.

Hartsock said it is too soon to know how much the biogas project will save in fuel costs, but the arrangement will allow Commercial to remain competitive in a tough environment.

The deal means gas from the landfill always will be cheaper than natural gas.

“That's where it's really a home run for you,” he said.

Hartsock said he is looking forward to drawing more methane from the landfill over time.

“The more waste they get out there the more it will generate,” Hartsock said.

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