Biogas Market Grows Despite Uncertain Policies & Biomethane Inconsistencies

Paul Thompson, who is head of policy at the Renewable Energy Association (REA) has it right in his Guardian article "Renewables battle on in face of uncertain policies". Certainly, here in the UK the anaerobic digestion sector is seeing advances in AD plant scale and the sophistication of the technologies being installed which could only have been dreamed of even less than 5 years ago. Our readers might like to look at the Guardian article below:

Renewables battle on in face of uncertain policies - The Guardian

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"Renewables battle on in face of uncertain policies: The Guardian

Paul Thompson, head of policy at the Renewable Energy Association (REA), says there's been increased entrepreneurial activity in biomass, bio-methane, anaerobic digestion and ground-source heat pumps. Solar PV is also starting to imagine life without ...and more »"

To find out more about "Renewables battle on in face of uncertain policies - The Guardian" and anaerobic digestion, click here

Nobody is suggesting that it isn't still a tough climate for renewable energy companies, suppliers, and green entrepreneurs. All credit to those companies who have sustained their businesses through tough times since the 2007/8 finacial crisis and can now begin to grow from a sound financial and product base. The race will now be on to achieve compliance with the targets for increased use of renewable energy sources, which in many cases were in place before the current UK political regime, have weathered it intact, and must continue to be complied with, if the UK as a nation expects others to follow with them, and after them.

One area in the Anaerobic Digestion Sector, which was largely a theoretical one but which is now growing rapidly in importance, is biogas upgarding and what is referred to as the production of biomethane, or natural gas/ CNG replacement. Success brings it own problems, and in this area a lack of consistent requirements from the operators of the existing national and regional gas networks is making life more difficult than it need be for the producers of biomethane.

That why it is cheering to read that International Energy Association members may get some help from an initiative by the IEA to improve consistency in the gas quality requirements and associated technical issues between the many gas distribution grid companies. The following article explains what is being done:

The biomethane market needs clear frame conditions for further growth - Phys.Org

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"The biomethane market needs clear frame conditions for further growth. Biomethane as a substitute for the fossil energy carrier natural gas offers a variety of options and applications for a sustainable energy supply. Nevertheless, a consequent market penetration is still pending because of a lack of standardized and ..." http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNF36nsas7i8RJUkfw_HG5N5aak8gQ&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&ei=_U4UVOiBAo2YjAbq44H4DA&url=http://phys.org/news/2014-09-biomethane-conditions-growth.html

Finally, to end of this News Round-Up with a ground-breaking first commitment of its kind, we would like to highlight that still on the subject of biomethane, a major UK retail store has decided to back anaerobic digestion by buying the energy for its own use:

M&S buys into Biomethane Certification Scheme - Energy and Environmental Management (EAEM) Magazine

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"Energy and Environmental Management (EAEM) Magazine: M&S buys into Biomethane Certification Scheme

The leading UK supermarket, Marks and Spencer plc, has bought the majority of Biomethane Certificates (BMCs) from the green gas produced at Future Biogas's new gas-to-grid anaerobic digestion plant near Doncaster. M&S is the first FTSE100 buyer to join ... M&S strikes landmark deal to buy biomethane certificates. Biomethane certification scheme wins M&S's backing as buyer - EPR Retail News (press release) news articles »" http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNFxLR-oe4WNpDIvmklCbBXgfz8vUg&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52778605188089&ei=_U4UVOiBAo2YjAbq44H4DA&url=http://www.eaem.co.uk/news/ms-buys-biomethane-certification-scheme

This should help yet more potential biogas producers, who are still on the fence about investing in new biogas plants, to feel confident in the technology and the future market demand, which in our opinion will certainly continue to grow and should accelerate.

Biogas Success - Weltec Biopower To Build Piddlehinton AD Plant 1.1 MW Extension

Weltec Biopower Awarded 1.1 MW Piddlehinton AD Plant Extension

A highly successful food waste biogas plant constructed by Weltec, after only 2 years of operation is being enlarged. Now there's confidence in the profitability of food waste anaerobic digestion!

Watch our video on this project below:

Press release · Communiqué de presse

Vechta, September 2014: 

WELTEC BIOPOWER receives order for 1.1 MW extension in Dorset

Award-Winning AD plant processes food waste to energy

Weltec Biopower (UK) Ltd, based in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, UK, has been granted the contract to extend the award-winning food waste AD plant in Piddlehinton, Dorset. Plant owners Eco Sustainable Solutions Ltd. are expanding with a further 1.1MW of food waste processing capacity. 

This follows on from the Weltec successes of commissioning two other plants in early 2014. The original Eco-Dorset AD plant was also built by WELTEC and was commissioned in 2012. After two years of successful operation, the operator assigned WELTEC with the extension. The extension will be completed in autumn 2014. 

Another advantage core to WELTEC’s continued success in industrial and agricultural applications is the fact that the digesters and digestate storage tanks are constructed from stainless steel. Aside from being a higher-quality product, stainless steel and is corrosion resistant to aggressive materials and offers a faster construction time, which is increasingly important to all developers with the FIT framework deadlines providing tight construction windows. 

Watch our new video "How Does a Biogas plant Work?"

After two years of successful operation, the operator assigned WELTEC with the extension. The extension will be completed in autumn 2014. The plant is fed by local authority food waste as well as out of date food products which prior to digestion are unpackaged, sorted and pasteurised at the site. After the extension, approximately 37,000 tpa of food waste will generate an electrical output of 1.6 MW. 

The Eco-Dorset approach is an excellent example of the benefits of intelligent design, co-location and mutually beneficial plant integration. Electricity generated at the plant as well as excess gas is fed to an adjacent feed mill. When the mill is not operational, the power is fed to the National Grid. The digestate produced by the plant, which is in the process of gaining PAS 110 accreditation, is collected and used by local farmers. 

Despite the latent renewable energy in commercial and municipal food wastes, much of this valuable resource still ends in landfill. Much of it also ends in composting plants, which use expensive imported energy to bio-stabilise (or destroy) what, when processed in an AD plant, is a valuable renewable energy resource. After all, one tonne of organic waste processed through AD, could be converted into 600 to 800 kilowatt hours of energy – enough to power five refrigerators for one year. 

The equivalent tonne of waste through a composting plant costs energy and money to process. As energy demand and prices continue to rise and security of supply concerns worsen, more and more Local Authorities and private waste companies look set to follow the excellent example set by Eco Sustainable Solutions Ltd. and capitalize on the excellent income generation opportunity that organic waste presents. 

WELTEC understands the needs of every client and tailors the most cost-effective solution on a case by case basis. The partnership between the plant manufacturer and his clients also maintain after the design and build phase. “We recognize that an AD plant is a 20 year partnership and that maintaining solid trust-based working relationships with our clients is crucial to our ongoing success. 

Therefore we now have a dedicated UK-based Service and Maintenance capability with locally available spare parts”, sales manager Kevin Monson explains. 

Company Portrait

In 2014, WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH, one of the first manufacturers of biogas plants, celebrated its 13th anniversary. WELTEC is one of the pioneers of the constructors of biogas plants. 

Based on the modern approach of experienced engineers, the company from Vechta, Germany with its expertise of a staff of close to 80, offers complete biogas plants from one source and has developed to a leading constructor of biogas plants in the world. As the hydrogen sulphide and ammonia compounds contained in biogas corrode unprotected parts, WELTEC builds the digesters from stainless steel. This ensures a long useful life of the plant. The manufacturing depth also guarantees a consistently high standard regardless of the location and ensures an export rate that is far above the industry average. 

The plants have a modular structure. WELTEC uses only proven system components and develops most of the technologies along the entire value chain internally: digester technology, mixing technology, control technology, hygienisation systems, and digestate processing solutions originate from the company. 

By means of its comprehensive services, WELTEC ensures the technical and economic stability of the biogas plants. The CHP service guarantees stable output, the biological supervision ensures continuous monitoring of the relevant parameters, and systematic repowering makes sure that the biogas plant is always up to date. 

Operators can choose from a range of service packages of different types and scope. One of the main strengths of WELTEC is the ability to deliver individual and flexible solutions worldwide – from compact plants to large computer-controlled plants in the megawatt range, waste recycling plants, and biogas parks with gas processing technology.

Ann Börries

Marketing

Phone: +49 4441/99978-220

Email: presse@weltec-biopower.de