IADAB News Edition 19 - Quail-waste Biogas - Car Plant Going CO2 Neutral - Bio-energy Preferred Over Solar and Making Char

Date: 13 March 2018: This is Issue 19 of the IADAB News Weekly, where we summarise the news of the week in the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Industry.
A brief summary roundup of the week's news follows, with an accent on biogas:

First, it is good to start with an unusual anaerobic digestion plant feedstock, as it is a reminder that there are many untapped materials which can be used to make biogas. In the case, it is about a farmer who makes a nice profit from his home produced quail-waste based biogas. Many others could be making biogas like this...

Second, using biogas as a sustainable renewable vehicle fuel source is helping Audi's Brussels plant go CO2 neutral.

Third, VSolar in Malaysia foresee better profitability in the future from biogas than solar power. In future they are going to focus on Renewable Energy from biomass. The business is investing in bio-energy, and expects its new 10MW biogas energy to contribute to company profits in late 2019

Fourth, a scientific research paper describes how charcoal made from anaerobically digested dairy fibre, can be used for removal of hydrogen sulphide within biogas plants. The study found that the quality of the char produced was a good as activated carbon. This looks like a great use for the digestate fibre from biogas plants.

Fifth, the Finnish Government is continuing to support increased biogas production, with investment in a new anaerobic digestion facility. Its all part of their plans to increase the use of renewable energy in a sustainable way, so that its share of the total, will rise to more than 50% during the 2020s.

Finally, Reading buses are going green, and no doubt air-pollution rates will drop as a result. Reading Buses are now testing 17 Scania double-decker biogas buses in service.

The following is our intro video. Watch the intro video below, for a taster of what you will read if you scroll down below the video:

Alright, let’s get started with the detailed articles… (Scroll down for each extract and use the links to the full articles on each of the individual websites.)

1 - Continuous profit from quail-waste based biogas

Sutarman can never hide his smile as his quail egg business gradually grows. He can sell an average of 30 to 40 kilograms of eggs per day.

The 57-year-old farmer also breeds hundreds of ducks, cattle and goats in one compound. Assisted by his wife, Tampar, 56, he boils hundreds of quail eggs every 30 minutes to then be sold in town. Despite the intensity of boiling, the couple showed not a single sign of concern over the supply of cooking gas.

“I don’t have any problem using the gas stove for a long period as it’s free of charge,” says Sutarman while pointing at the bright blue flame bursting out from the stove in the corner of his kitchen. He proudly showed how his stove produces a bright blue flame that most commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or cooking gas stoves cannot.

Such a quality of flame can only emerge from gas produced by his quails’ waste. The family can run their business more cheaply with a cooking gas supply thanks to waste from the 5,000 quails that they breed. Bird waste that the grandfather of seven initially considered useless can now be converted into an alternative energy source: biogas. via quailbiogas

2 - Biogas helps Audi Brussels plant go CO2 neutral

Audi Brussels has been awarded a CO2 neutral certificate by the Belgian testing company Vinçotte.

According to a statement, the award means Audi Brussels is operating the world’s first certified CO2 neutral high volume production plant in the premium segment.

The German car maker’s Belgian facility covers all production processes and all other emissions generated at the plant either by renewable energies (approximately 95%), or compensates for them though environmental projects (5%).

Biogas is playing a crucial role in the facility’s strive to carbon neutrality, fulfilling the heating needs for the plant itself as well as the offices on site. via AudiBrusselsCO2

3 - VSolar to focus on RE business, expects 10MW biogas energy to contribute in late 2019

KUALA LUMPUR (March 14): VSolar Group Bhd which recently scrapped a plan to build a solar power generation plan with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), citing the poor rates of return, is planning to stop its solar business and concentrate on its renewable energy (RE) business.

Its group executive director Edward Leung Kok Keong said the group currently still has its 1MW generating solar power plant in Simpang Pulai, Perak and would stop at that.

“We are stopping at that (the 1MW solar power plant in Simpang Pulai) because our financial assessment indicated that the payback period is too long and the financials does not make sense.

“So we are staying away from solar and we are now looking at another alternative which is RE technology that we could invest in, because the financials make sense,” he told reporters after the group's extraordinary general meeting today.

VSolar expects its 10MW biomass/biogas energy generation plant, which it has entered into a joint venture with a Singapore firm KRU Energy Asia Pte Ltd, Rangkaian Iltizam Sdn Bhd which is KRU’s subsidiary, and a local citizen Kenneth Lee Wai Tong in August last year, to start contributing to the group’s revenue in late 2019.

Leung said VSolar has submitted its application to the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA) and is now waiting for approval before the group can kick-start the project. via VSolarREbusiness

4 - Charcoal from anaerobically digested dairy fibre for removal of hydrogen sulfide within biogas

Anaerobically digested fibrous solid (AD fiber) is an abundant material that offers potential to produce value-added products such as biochar.

The objective of this paper is to better understand how thermochemical processing conditions affect the capacity of biochars derived from AD fiber to adsorb H2S from biogas.

AD fiber was pyrolyzed in an electric tube reactor at temperatures up to 600 °C and 60 min. The chars were employed for H2S scrubbing tests from a synthetic biogas.

Results showed that the chars’ capacity for H2S removal is comparable to that of activated carbon. via Charcoalhydrogensulfide

5 - Finnish Government supports increased biogas production

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted Gasum €7.83 million in ‘Bioeconomy and clean solutions’ key project support for increased biogas production. 

Developing the biogas market and the transport use of natural gas and increasing biogas production capacity are key elements of the Gasum strategy. The company has examined the possibility of constructing a biogas plant in Munkkaa, Lohja, in Southern Finland.

The objective of the Government’s Bioeconomy and clean solutions key projects is to increase the use of renewable energy in a sustainable way so that its share will rise to more than 50% during the 2020s. via Finnishbiogas

6 - Reading Buses Testing 17 Scania Double-Decker Biogas Buses

Scania has completed delivery of 17 new biogas-powered Double-Decker buses to Reading Buses (UK), according to a new press release. The new biogas-powered buses are being put into service on Reading’s reportedly busiest route, the “Purple 17.” via ReadingBuses

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IADAB News - Edition 18 - Anaerobic Digesters for the Queen, Poultry Litter, with Ozone and as Fertiliser

Date: 13 March 2018: This is Issue 18 of the IADAB News Weekly, where we summarise the news of the week in the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Industry.

A brief summary roundup of the week's news follows:

First we feature an article which has provoked social media attention in the last week, which says that the installation of Anaerobic Digestion is gaining popularity and the development momentum is positive.

Second, there is the announcement from Buckingham Palace of plans for an Anaerobic Digester Fit for a Queen!

Thirdly, it seems that using anaerobic digestate as a fertiliser can save farmers £110/ha on bagged fertiliser/ annum. It is possibly only for the experts to do it just yet, because they say that getting it wrong will not only bring the risk of being on the wrong side of the law, but it can also have adverse affects on soil and the environment.

Fourth, Stream BioEnergy announce that the World’s first poultry litter anaerobic digester is up and running. Can it really be the very first in the world?

Fifth, Air products and Chemicals Inc. is patenting its methods for using ozone to enhance anaerobic digestion. It seems a reasonable bet that ozone can be used as a method to pre-treat digester feedstocks for quicker and more complete biogas production.

Finally, in our sixth item, a new US report is available on Global Anaerobic Digesters Market Demand, Trends, Opportunities and Forecast Report 2018.

Alright, let’s get started with the detailed articles… (Scroll down for each extract and use the links to the full articles on each of the individual websites.)

Please comment below: Did you like the new format and the cartoons or not? Please tell us your opinion by commenting below.

1 - Anaerobic Digestion Gaining Popularity and Development Momentum

Converting waste into energy with the help of anaerobic digestion is a fast-growing trend spreading across industries and countries throughout the world.

As the technology improves and the process gains acceptance, announcements of new projects are becoming quite commonplace.

That’s great news for the environment, and the team at American Organic Energy is thrilled to be part of this innovative and important movement.

2 - An Anaerobic Digester Fit for a Queen?

It’s true. The Royal Family in London, England recently jumped on board the trend, too, announcing several energy efficient initiatives. In addition to installing solar panels and ground source heat pumps, Buckingham Palace is looking to construct an anaerobic digestion unit to generate fuel from its organic waste.

According to its estimates, these efforts “would reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 554 tons a year.”

It’s hard to top an announcement like this from one of the most prominent figures on Earth, but the Queen isn’t the only one throwing her hat—eh, crown—into the ring. via A D Gaining Popularity

3 - Tips on using anaerobic digestate as a fertiliser

Using anaerobic digestate to feed arable crops can save farmers up to £110/ha on bagged fertiliser costs. However, there are many rules on its application in the UK.

Getting it wrong will not only bring the risk of being on the wrong side of the law, but it can also have adverse affects on soil and the environment, such as reduced earthworm numbers when applied at too high a rate.

Farmers Weekly gets some advice from an independent expert on how to reap the benefits, the right way... via TipsFarmersWeekly

4 - World’s first poultry litter anaerobic digester up and running

What is thought to be the world’s first anaerobic digestion (AD) plant using only poultry litter as feedstock is up and running in Northern Ireland.

Located at Tully near Ballymena, Stream BioEnergy and its partners received the go-ahead for the plant in June of 2016. The facility first went into production in 2017. via PoultrylitterAD

5 - New Patent Air products and Chemicals Inc. - Methods For Using Ozone To Enhance Anaerobic Digestion

Ozone (O₃) is a powerful disinfectant with many industrial and commercial applications. For example, ozone is used to oxidize organic contaminants from drinking water, including the naturally occurring taste- and odor-causing compounds. ...

It has been found that ozone may also be used to enhance anaerobic digestion by converting difficult to biodegrade compounds into more easily biodegradable compounds. Ozone may be used in this way to enhance biogas production from anaerobic digestion. For anaerobic digestion of sludge, it is theorized that the ozone lyses the cell membranes, thereby exposing the more easily biodegradable cytoplasm of the bacteria.

Fermentation waste, often called vinasse, can contain compounds such as phenols that are toxic to the anaerobic bacteria and other larger carbon-based compounds that are recalcitrant.

Pretreating this feed with ozone will reduce or eliminate the toxic compounds and make the larger compounds more biodegradable, thereby reducing the required residence time in the digester.

In an anaerobic digestion process, it is undesirable to have excess oxygen present because the oxygen reduces the methane (CH₄) yield by promoting aerobic digestion.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of recovering un-reacted oxygen from an ozone-generation process so that the effluent may be efficiently used for an anaerobic digestion process, while maintaining high efficiency in the ozone-generation system. via Ozone-FreePatentsOnline

6 - Global Anaerobic Digesters Market Demand, Trends, Opportunities and Forecast Report 2018 

Albany, US, 2018-Mar-08 — An up-to-date research report has been disclosed by Market Research Hub highlighting the title “Global AD Market Report 2018” which provides an outlook of current market growth as well as the expected forecast including Rate on Investment (ROI) together with growing CAGR.

This report studies the Anaerobic Digesters market status and outlook of global and United States, from angles of players, regions, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and United States market, and splits the Anaerobic Digesters market by product type and application/end industries. via GlobalAnaerobic Digesters Market Demand, Trends, Opportunities and Forecast Report 2018

Attribution: Buckingham Palace Picture. CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69391

IADAB News - Edition 17 - Biomethane Italy's €4.7bn for Biofuels - New Map - CNG Shuttle Buses

Date: 4 March 2018: This is Issue 17 of the IADAB News Weekly, where we summarise the news of the week in the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Industry.

It's been a few weeks since we looked at developments in biomethane projects. These are anaerobic digestion and biogas plant projects where the raw biogas will be further treated to clean it to the same standard as natural gas. This means that the Anaerobic Digestion Facility operator will be able to sell the "biomethane" energy into the natural gas distribution system, or for other uses such as to replace CNG as a renewable fuel for vehicles.

First we have the welcome news that the European Commission cleared a 4.7 billion Euros ($5.73 billion) support scheme in Italy for advanced biomethane and biofuels, 

We wanted to know more about this and found out that the scheme, which will run until 2022, supports the production and distribution of second and third-generation biofuels for use in transport vehicles. 

Third this week, is that the European Biogas Association and Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) have collaborated on a comprehensive map of all known biomethane installations currently running in Europe. The‘European Biomethane Map 2018’ lists over 500 units on the continent, and we welcome this because the AD industry really needs to publicise their success and listing each biomethane plant is an essential first step to keeping the public informed.

Fourth, and finally, we have the news that, as part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, the Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is launching of a fleet of biogas-powered shuttle vehicles. There will be 7 buses equipped to use this renewable biofuel to start with.

Alright, let’s get started with the detailed articles… (Scroll down for each extract and use the links to the full articles on each of the individual websites.)

1 - EU Clears Italian Support Scheme For Advanced Biomethane And Biofuels

BRUSSELS, March 1 (Reuters)
The European Commission on Thursday cleared a 4.7 billion euros ($5.73 billion) support scheme in Italy for advanced biomethane and biofuels, saying it was in line with state-aid rules. "The scheme will encourage the production and consumption of advanced biofuels ... via Reuters

2 - EU approves Italy's €4.7bn public support for biofuels

Energy Live News - Energy Made Easy
Italy's plans to provide €4.7 billion (£4.2bn) of public support for advanced biomethane and biofuels have been approved by the European Commission. The scheme, which will run until 2022, supports the production and distribution of second and third-generation biofuels for use in transport. via European Commission

3 - Map of over 500 European biomethane facilities released

The European Biogas Association and Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) have collaborated on a comprehensive map of all known biomethane installations currently running in Europe.

‘European Biomethane Map 2018’ lists over 500 units on the continent, and according to its creators is the first of its kind. It’s been produced with information taken from biogas associations, energy agencies and companies.

Map of Biomethane Plants in Europe

“The number of biomethane plants in Europe has been considerably increasing in recent years, reaching over 500 units today,” said Jan Stambasky, president of the European Biogas Association (EBA).

“EBA and GIE have decided to illustrate this positive trend with this map, which provides a high-quality overview of the main technical features, current status and location of existing installations. With the huge development of the biomethane sector expected in the coming years, this pioneering map might be the first in a long series.”

According to an EBA statement, the map provides specific details about each biomethane plant, including connections to the gas grid, feed-in capacity, main substrate used, upgrading process and date of start of operation. Cross-border interconnection points and pipelines are also indicated.
via Map 500 European biomethane facilities

4 - Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport Rolls Out Biomethane Fuelled Shuttle Buses

As part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, the Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is launching of a fleet of biogas-powered shuttle vehicles and creating an agricultural club.

A fleet of seven shuttles, running exclusively on renewable natural gas were recently brought into service at this airport. The customised shuttles have been designed and fitted out to convey passengers between the car parks and the terminals.

(c) Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport

This initiative is part of the ACA 3+ accreditation obtained in May 2017 by Aéroports de Lyon, supported by AirPact, the global environmental policy of VINCI Airports.

Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport further confirms its commitment to environmental responsibility with another initiative – creation of an agricultural club, a unique space for dialogue enabling the airport and the farmers managing the site’s land reserves to work together to develop sustainable and innovative agriculture. via Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport

We hope you found this week's anaerobic digestion news informative. Watch out for next week's news!
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