ENERGY: Regulators reduce wind, biogas subsidies for on-site generators - North County Times

Residents and businesses looking to install wind power, fuel cells or other alternative electricity generators - but not solar power - will get lower subsidies after a decision made this week by the California Public Utilities Commission.

The new rules apply to the Self-Generation Incentive Program, which provides subsidies to businesses and residents who install power generators on their own property. The new rules require new generation projects to reduce to the net production of global warming-causing gases such as carbon dioxide in order to be eligible for the subsidy. They also reduce the subsidies by as much as half, depending on the technology in question.

"Today's decision represents a team effort between the California Air Resources Board and the CPUC as we strive to reach goals of achieving 33 percent renewable energy by 2020 and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020," said commission president Michael Peevey in a written statement issued Thursday. 

A 2006 state law established a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. 

Under the rules for the program, applicants must show that proposed generation reduces the amount of net greenhouse gases produced compared with the amount of greenhouse gases produced from normal electricity generation. The exact amount of reduction was left open for a future decision after the commissioners disagreed with staff's method of calculation.

The commission also ruled that some technologies had become popular enough that subsidies could be reduced. Wind turbines will now be eligible for $1.25 per watt, down from $1.50 per watt; fuel cells, which produce electricity from natural gas without burning it, will be eligible for $1.25 per watt, half the previous subsidy; and biogas generators, which are fueled by methane from sewage and landfills, will see no reduction in a $2 per watt subsidy, but companies must buy it on a 10-year contract, twice as long as before.

The new rules require businesses applying to undergo an energy audit, which will highlight areas where the applicants could make better use of their electricity, before they receive a subsidy.

Call staff writer Eric Wolff at 760-303-1927 or follow him on Twitter at NCTRealEstate.

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Ruhamya Dispels Fears About Cost of Biogas Installation - Middle East North Africa Financial Network

Ruhamya Dispels Fears About Cost of Biogas Installation

Sep 06, 2011 (The New Times/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- As the campaign to promote the use of biogas for cooking and lighting intensifies, concerns are being raised over the cost of installation and maintenance.

Fixing the smallest plant of biogas costs Rwf 600,000, according to Timothy Kayumba, who heads the National Domestic Biogas Program.

Daniel Muganga, a resident of Ndera in Gasabo says; "We are willing to use biogas, but the price of installation should be reduced so that we can all benefit."

Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, the Minister of State for Energy and Water, told The New Times that the government had launched an incentive to lend Frw300,000 to anyone willing to install the system.

The money is then refunded within a period of three years.

"Sure, there is a big problem in affordability of the biogas plant, but the government currently contributes Rwf300,000 to every citizen wishing to install the energy," the Minister said, adding that the Ministry is also looking into more affordable biogas-systems.

Meanwhile, Kayumba disclosed that the ministry had seconded a qualified technician to every two districts countrywide to approve the safety of any newly installed plant before use.

They also sensitise citizens on the sustainable use and maintenance of the systems.

Kigali-based Lycee de Kigali Secondary School is one of the users of the biogas system. Martin Masabo, the director of the school says that some users are hampered by lack of the qualified technicians.

"For instance, our system was constructed in 1999 when the expertise here was low; it started leaking after using it for a short while and we closed it down," he says.

Kayumba, however, said that companies that install the plants are required to provide their clients with a one-year warranty.

He clarifies that a well constructed plant should have a minimum lifespan of 30 years.

Over 1,300 homes have acquired biogas, in addition to various institutions including schools and prisons.

Copyright The New Times. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

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Construction Underway on Largest Dairy Biogas Project in North America - SustainableBusiness.com

SustainableBusiness.com News

Camco International Limited (CAO.L), a developer of clean energy projects, has begun construction on the largest dairy biogas project in North America.


(Above video is not related to the post but may be of interest.)
The project, which will be operated by the consortium AgPower Group LLC, involves the installation of anaerobic digesters to convert cow manure at an Idaho dairy farm into enough biogas to fuel 4.5 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity.

Construction of the project is expected to cost under $25 million, and it has been fully financed, according to Camco.

The project qualifies for the federal grant program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, under which 30% of eligible construction costs are reimbursed.

A 20-year power purchase agreement is in place and the facility also has multi-year contracts for the Sale of sterilized fiber (an end-product of the anaerobic digestion process). The renewable energy certificates and emission credits qualify under California's new renewable energy and greenhouse gas regulations.

Completion of construction is anticipated in the first half of 2012.

"Closing financing and commencing construction on the largest dairy biogas project in the US is a major achievement for the Camco North America team. The USDA target has outlined potential to roll out anaerobic digesters across 8,000 farms with potential generation of over 1,500 MW in the US and we are in a pole position to lead this effort," Yariv Cohen, Camco President says.

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