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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Home Power Generation From Chicken and Pig Manure?

Can chicken litter and pig manure be part of our energy salvation?

(We were not ble to find a vdeo about the Cirencester project dsecribed in this article, but here is an example in the Netherlands.)

That's not just a rhetorical question, either. Many people know the energy transition is looming and energy salvation is energy salvation. Keep in mind what energy salvation is: It's not when Rush and Al can do their thing whenever they want. No, it's when we working stiffs have energy to at least run a refrigerator and power a vehicle and maybe a few things more.

If that doesn't sound like much, the day is coming when many would be pretty darn happy if they could just get that. And they won't.

But some people understand this and are trying. I read where in the United Kingdom, a new biogas power station is showing how to operate using locally produced energy.

Many of our friends in the English town of Cirencester are in the process of building a biogas power station powered by agriculture biomass. This will include pig manure and chicken litter. Many of you who were raised near those animals know how potent those commodities are. I shoveled a lot many, many years ago and I'm not sure I have it washed off yet. Potent? You bet! local residents will certainly benefit from this low cost alternative to coal, foreign gas, and even oil.

This is one of the first towns I know of to take advantage of these products. These good people will have energy security when most others do not.

The people living locally are going to use an anaerobic digester. They will put into the digester corn, wheat, and grass. Added to that will be the animal wastes. This is expected to supply three hundred and fifty houses with electric energy.

If you think it through, this makes a lot of sense, Economic sense, and also social. The local farmers will make more money off their waste, and local jobs will be created. On a purely local level, it should also lower the cost of food. And make the supply more stable.

One of the big benefits of this process is the smell. Anyone out there remember the pungent smell of pig manure and chicken litter? The plant will extract the smell from the waste and burn it. Leftovers from the plant can be used in the farming sector.

A real win win for all these enterprising people.

Before I go off, let me take just a minute to discuss Anaerobic digestion. The process has been a great success in Europe. I read where there are currently more than five thousand plants across northern Europe.

Anaerobic digestion happens where organic material decomposes and it then releases methane and other gasses.

The methane (called biogas by this time in the process) is burned in a generator and used to produce electricity. The leftover material is a great fertilizer and is spread out on the land.

I understand that only normal farming practices and equipment is used. Nothing new for them to invest in.

In addition to the chicken and pig material, they can also use the leavings from horses, turkeys, cows, etc. Anyone who grew up on the prairie knows how well "cow patties" burn.

Heat and Power. From electrical generation. That's what it's all about.

Energy transition is looming. Don't let your family be left out.?

I know that a lot of you don't believe this. Fine.

Hide and watch.

Jimmy writes a home power generation review web site. He is interested in what works and what scams are out there.

Write him with your thoughts and observations at: greenjim@juno.com

See his review web site at: http://homepowergeneration.info

UK Planning Bill receives Royal Assent Plus Environment and Transport Bills Moved On

Planning Bill receives Royal Assent...

Michael Donnelly, PlanningResource, 27 November 2008

The Planning Bill has completed the legislative process after receiving Royal Assent last night.

The government says the Planning Act 2008 will enable decisions on major infrastructure projects in areas such as energy, aviation, road and rail transport, water and waste to be taken much more speedily than under the current system.

Under the Act ministers will set out National Policy Statements detailing national infrastructure priorities and the decisions as to whether to allow individual projects to go ahead will then be taken independently by a new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC).

The government will set out a timetable to set-up the IPC and consult on the detailed regulations and NPSs to implement the new system in the New Year.

Communities secretary Hazel Blears said: "Now that the Planning Bill has been given Royal Assent we can begin to create the faster, fairer planning system we need to reduce our fossil fuel addiction and build up a new generation of renewable energy infrastructure sources like wind power. Many low carbon power sources will now get faster approval, and the country could save £300m a year."

Planning Bill minister John Healey added: "The new Planning Act 2008 will bring about real culture change for deciding the future needs of our national infrastructure. Importantly it will also give the public three chances to get their views on proposals across instead of one."

But countryside campaigners the CPRE expressed doubts about how well the Bill will work in practice. Paul Miner, CPRE’s senior planning campaigner commented: "We have monitored the Bill closely throughout its passage through Parliament. Some of it is sensible. But we doubt that its centrepiece – an expensive, unelected, unaccountable commission taking big planning decisions – will work in practice.

"There is a grave danger that this new commission will be seen merely as a promoter and a rubber stamp for highly damaging infrastructure projects imposed without proper debate. It will be interesting to see who steps forward to be a commissioner on this new body, given the challenges it faces."

The government launched the recruitment process for the position of IPC chairman in October. Shortlisting will take place early next year with interviews in spring and appointment in early summer.


...along with new environment and transport bills

Susanna Gillman, PlanningResource, 27 November 2008

A raft of other legislation that will impact on planning was passed last night along with the Planning Bill.

The Climate Change, Energy and Local Transport bills have also gained Royal Assent.

The climate legislation makes the UK the first country in the world to adopt legally-binding carbon emission targets.

Under the Climate Change Act, the government will have to adhere to five year carbon budgets and will be required to provide annual reports on its progress towards meeting the budgets.

Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband said: "The UK is the first country in the world to introduce a legally-binding framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“Setting the 80 per cent target was the easy part: now the work really begins. Government, communities, businesses and individuals need to work together to bring about change.

"The Energy and Planning Acts will be instrumental in reducing carbon emissions, removing barriers to enable industry to invest in important new infrastructure, and giving individuals and communities the incentive to use energy more efficiently and generate their own heat and energy."

Meanwhile the Local Transport Act 2008 will help bring all modes of transport together, by strengthening the role of the Passenger Transport Authorities - to be renamed Integrated Transport Authorities (ITAs) - and by enabling new ones to be established.

These will help major urban areas outside London to improve coordination of the road network and public transport.

The existing six Passenger Transport Authorities will be renamed ITAs from early in the new year. They will take on full responsibility for local transport planning across their areas.

The Act also creates the opportunity for local areas to review their existing arrangements, and to propose reforms including enhanced powers and boundary changes.

More at UK Government.