CIWEM calls for a simplified approach to co-digestion

Spare capacity in water company anaerobic digesters should be available to co-digest solid waste together with sewage sludge and generate ’renewable’ biogas, says the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) in its new Policy Position Statement on co-digestion.

Too often this is hampered by complex regulations governing the recycling to land of the solid output (a useful soil conditioner) and wrangling over how the financial proceeds should be reinvested into the tightly regulated water industry.

CIWEM believes that co-digestion of solid waste with sewage sludge represents the best solution for the environment where headroom water company digester capacity exists, as it makes efficient use of existing infrastructure and expertise. But a conflicting regulatory landscape governing sewage sludge on the one side and biodegradable waste on the other, means it can be difficult or expensive to recycle digestate to the environment beneficially. This is despite Defra and DECC promoting anaerobic digestion (AD) as a method of generating renewable fuel and diverting organic waste from landfill, and Defra stating that it sees the water industry as being central to the expansion of AD.

CIWEM is calling for a range of changes, including revision of the Sludge Use in Agriculture Regulations to reflect the benefits of co-digestion and establish a clear legislative framework for all treated organic residuals; a financial regulatory framework which meets the needs of both the water and waste industries and an update to the Quality Protocol for Anaerobic Digestate (PAS 110) to include provision for the use of sewage sludge as a component of the feedstock.

These issues will be discussed at CIWEM’s forthcoming conference, The Water, Waste & Energy Interface - Realising the Potential of Anaerobic Digestion: Removing the Barriers on 28th June in London.

CIWEM’s Executive Director, Nick Reeves, says:

’Co-digestion of sewage sludge with other biodegradable organic wastes clearly represents a sensible solution, particularly where there is headroom capacity in existing digesters which are treating sewage sludge, but also in other areas where a critical mass of feedstock is required in order to make an AD scheme economically viable. There are a number of obstacles which are by no means insurmountable but which are proving frustratingly slow to resolve. This is all the more frustrating when, clearly, we should be maximising the production of biogas from wastes where we can, and recycling organic material back to land is eminently sensible given the widespread degradation of soils. Whether solutions are regulatory, technical, or a combination of these, we really should move to a situation where it is possible to digest together two waste streams which individually pose no problems’

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Biogas industry is growing, albeit slowly - FarmersWeekly

Paul SpackmanThursday 23 June 2011 10:53

At least 5.5m tonnes of feedstock could be required to supply the UK biogas industry by 2013, according to a study launched at Cereals 2011.

The survey of anaerobic digestion projects by Enagri estimated there could be around 150 on-farm and waste-fuelled biogas plants in the UK in two years' time. It said there were currently around 35 operational on-farm biogas plants, with another 13 under construction or granted planning permission and 20 or so announced or going through the planning process. In addition, the report included 83 waste treatment AD plants.

The number of on-farm AD plants identified was higher than figures often quoted in the media, but remained well below the 1,000 farm and waste plants 2020 target suggested by the NFU and Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association, Enagri's Richard Crowhurst said.

"Anaerobic digestion in the UK is even more fragmented than the biomass power sector, and it's only when you start to look in depth that you see it's in better health than some people believe. That isn't to say there aren't challenges, and more support is needed for on-farm schemes. As with other renewable technologies, the main challenges continue to be planning, financing and the need for consistent government support."

Municipal solid waste and food waste were likely to make up at least three-quarters of total feedstocks, while energy crops grown specifically for use in digesters accounted for just 5%. Waste from animal husbandry, including slurry, manure and poultry litter, accounted for around 6%, the report said.

Energy crops were most popular in the East Midlands, while animal wastes were more widely used in Dorset and the south-west. There was particularly strong demand for municipal waste in the urban north-west and south-east England. Potential demand in Kent could see the county treat the greatest quantity of waste, with demand forecast to reach 750,000t.

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Unlocking the Potential of Anaerobic Digestion From UASB Digesters

It is widely accepted that whilst anaerobic digestion is a proven, effective and highly efficient treatment system, upsets in performance remain common. Where Anaerobic Digestion is used in  Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) digesters as a treatment process for water treatment before it is discharged into a watercourse or stream, or even into a sewer for further treatment at a sewage works, even small variations in performance can have damaging effects.

The advantages of AD are substantial. A correctly run digester will efficiently convert up to 95% of organic material into a low odour stabilised slurry, and produce a renewable resource in the form of biogas that can be flared or utilised on site. This eliminates the need for additional solid handling and large-scale pond systems, and limits reliance on non-renewable fuels.

Digester disturbances, however, continue to represent a significant risk limiting the widespread adoption of this technology.

In South Africa, under Department of Water Affairs (DWA) water use licence conditions, the discharge of untreated effluent into water bodies, following reactor failure, can attract non-compliance penalties of millions of Rands and, under special limit conditions, force full production shutdown of operations for lengthy reseed periods of the digester. Consequently, new applications are often over-engineered, under-loaded and relatively expensive.

Despite decades of research into anaerobic digestion technology, a fundamental understanding of upstream effluent management, system sensitivity and basic process control continue to be highlighted as ongoing concerns, severely limiting the reputation and diversification of this technology.

One company which reckons to have got this problem under control is the South African AD design and installation company Talbot & Talbot (Pty) Ltd.

They are a solutions-based wastewater engineering company with over 20 years of effluent treatment expertise. They continue to successfully build and operate Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) digester treatment systems throughout South Africa and Africa, across a wide range of industrial sectors.

Digesters designed and built by Talbot & Talbot vary in capacity from 1Ml/day to 5Ml/day, treating between 1ton and 25tons of COD/day, under general limit and special limit licence conditions. They believe that a high performance anaerobic digester (AD) treatment system is attributed to a fully integrated approach, which begins with a systematic site water management plan and process optimisation within the clients’ core business. 

They have found that Upstream focus is essential in preventing discrepancies in effluent data which result in incorrectly designed, overloaded and poorly performing digesters, to segregate and correctly dispose of solid waste streams, and to ensure potentially harmful contaminants are identified and isolated from the effluent system.

Plant design and construction is offered on a full turnkey basis in addition to a full aftercare service through Talbot Operations, a business division of Talbot & Talbot (Pty) Ltd. This includes operator training, performance review and compliance monitoring on a support basis, and a dedicated team of competent operations and maintenance personnel on a fully outsourced basis. In addition, effluent sampling schedules are implemented via Talbot Laboratories to rapidly identify changes in effluent quality and monitor final discharge compliance. This guarantees the long-term treatment potential of UASB technology and a full commitment to the industry, which cannot be achieved on a “build only” basis.

A well managed, high performance AD system provides clients with the opportunity to recover water and energy resources from their effluent. Secondary treatment systems in the form of activated sludge (AS), sequential batch reactor (SBR) and biofilter technology provide exceptional effluent treatment options, whilst water reclamation can be incorporated via ultra filtration and reverse osmosis technology.

More recently, Talbot & Talbot have successfully designed and commissioned biogas recovery systems which capture the bi-product of digestion, methane, as a renewable, CO₂ neutral energy source.

A 25ton digester with a biogas production of 6500Nm³/day can typically produce 52tons of steam per day, which supplements non-renewable energy usage by up to 15%. The realised value of a biogas recovery project (BRP) can be directly comparable to the cost of the fuel it replaces.

As transport fuel prices continue to rise the logistical cost of supplying fuel to remote locations becomes a bigger consideration , and similarly concerns about the availability of reliable electricity supplies throughout Africa will continue to mean that having your own source of supply by AD has a potential beyond mere economics, which Talbot & Talbot is increasingly unlocking for its clients.

Adding a CHP (Combined Heat and Power Plant) coupled to an existing AD, to use heat which would, have otherwise have been wasted, typically offers a buy-back period of less than 2 years and forms a reliable, constant energy source to the industry that directly offsets the cost of effluent treatment.

However, despite these benefits, Talbot & Talbot state that the real value of BRPs is the renewed interest in AD technology, a deeper understanding of good effluent handling practises and an ongoing commitment to ensuring anaerobic digesters reach their full treatment potential.

Vist the Talbot & Talbot website for more information.

Biomass, Biofuels and Biogas

In recent years there has been a lot of interest in renewable and alternative energy sources. This has seemingly become an even bigger issue in the wake of the Japanese nuclear crisis, where the nuclear plant at Fukushima was damaged by the earthquake and resultant tsunami on March 11th. There is now a real danger that harmful radiation could escape from the site. People have always been uncertain of the safety of utilising nuclear power and such a scare only serves to heighten their concerns. That is why increasingly people are looking for alternatives. One such alternative is the use of biofuels.

What are Biofuels?

The term 'biofuel' refers to a broad range of fuels that are created from 'biomass' (see below). Biofuels are often used as an additive rather than as a 'pure' fuel. Bioethanol is an example of this. It is an alcohol created by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials and whilst ethanol can be used as a fuel for cars in its purest form, it is normally added to petrol to improve the emissions from the vehicle and increase octane.

Ok, so what is Biomass?

Biomass is a renewable energy source. It refers specifically to biomaterials from living organisms and recently living organisms - examples of which are wood, waste and alcohol fuels. There are actually several different sources of biomass energy, so in addition to the three just mentioned, there are: garbage and landfill gases. There are a few different mechanisms by which biomass can be converted to energy:

Thermal Conversion

This involves the use of heat in order to convert biomass into an alternative chemical form. There are different forms of thermal conversion - two examples of which are torrefaction and pyrolysis.

Chemical Conversion

This is quite simply where a range of chemical processes are used in order to convert biomass to alternative forms.

Biochemical Conversion

This involves harnessing the power of naturally occurring biochemical conversion processes. Microorganisms are used to break down biomass - Anaerobic Digestion is an example of this.

Biogas

Biogas is a type of biofuel that is produced by anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials, including biomass. Biodegradable waste can, for example, be converted to methane - which is a renewable energy source.

So are Biofuels the answer?

It remains to be seen whether or not biofuels are a long term solution to the problems surrounding the energy industry. There are certainly discussions to be had about the impact that the production of biofuels has on carbon emissions and biodiversity, but these are certainly not the only issues.

Projen Project Management Consultants are experts in Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas: http://www.projen.co.uk/

ZooShare Biogas, RRSP-eligible Community Bonds Coming Soon - Toronto Star

 Last October a young entrepreneur named Daniel Bida got together with a group of like-minded individuals and approached the management of the Toronto Zoo with an innovative idea.

They knew the zoo was interested in building a biogas facility that could turn manure from elephants, giraffes and other animals into renewable electricity and heat. They also knew that after several years of trying the zoo, despite its good intentions, couldn’t make it happen. The project it envisioned was simply too complex and risky for commercial investors.

Bida proposed a new approach: build a smaller, more manageable facility and open up investment to the broader community through the issuance of bonds.

He was inspired after watching Toronto’s Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) purchase and retrofit a building using $2 million it had raised selling community bonds at $10,000 apiece. The bonds, which could be purchased by anyone, offered a 4 per cent annual rate of return over five years and were RRSP-eligible.

If the banks wouldn’t lend the money to a not-for-profit organization like CSI, then individuals who support the organization’s mandate just might. Tapping into CSI’s “social asset” proved a good gamble, as the community was quick to scoop up the bonds.

“This told me that the whole community bond thing was for real,” say Bida, convinced he could adapt the approach to support renewable-energy projects.

The zoo executives liked the idea and several months later Bida helped form the ZooShare Biogas Co-operative, a not-for-profit community co-op that plans to build a 500-kilowatt biogas plant at the zoo for about $5 million.

Electricity from the plant will be sold into the grid under the province’s feed-in-tariff program, while waste heat could end up being pumped into a nearby greenhouse, potentially used to grow bamboo for the new pandas expected to arrive in 2014.

About 70 per cent of the project, or roughly $3.5 million, will be funded through the sale of community bonds that, like the CSI bonds, could be purchased through a self-directed RRSP. ZooShare hopes to offer bonds with a seven-year term and up to a 7 per cent annual return on investment.

(Above advertising video is has no association with the text.)

For existing zoo members and those living within one kilometre of the zoo, the bonds will be sold in $500 units. Everyone else can pick them up for $5,000 each, unless they want to purchase a zoo membership. “We’re hoping this will sell more memberships for the zoo as a result,” says Bida, whose company ReGenerate Biogas is managing the project.

ZooShare is just one of several co-op ventures going the community bond route to raise capital for renewably-energy projects. Others include Options for Green Energy, SolarShare and WaterShare.

Their approach represents a low-risk investment for people who want to support “green” community projects and make some money, but who don’t want to spend thousands of dollars putting solar PV systems on their own rooftops.

It also offers a way for those without property, such as renters, or without the proper land or rooftop exposure, to participate in the feed-in-tariff program. Community bonds, in essence, make the FIT program more inclusive and get the broader population directly invested in their energy future, be it solar, wind, biogas or hydro.

“This idea of massive public involvement in the ownership and economic benefit of these projects is what we’ve all been working towards for the past 15 years,” says Deb Doncaster, executive director of the Community Power Fund, which supports community co-op projects with grants and low-interest bridge financing.

“All it will take is for one or two of these projects to be successful and the approach will take off.”

Social media will certainly play a role. Facebook, Twitter and other social networking applications make it much easier for community co-ops to reach out to supporters. Spreading the word to the right people has become almost effortless.

Still, a couple of barriers need to be overcome before you or I can purchase such bonds. For one, RRSP-eligible community bonds must be approved and registered with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario before they can be sold. Some say the commission is dragging it feet.

SolarShare, for example, wants to issue community bonds in $1,000 increments that would offer a 5-per-cent return annually and be redeemable after five years. The funds raised from the bond issue will support construction of solar PV projects across southern Ontario.

It’s all new territory for the financial services commission, which has proved a major bottleneck. “They’re tight on the resources needed to deal with this new landscape,” says Matt Zipchen, who as project manager for the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative is overseeing development of SolarShare.

Zipchen says another roadblock is the banks. “These community bonds may be RRSP-eligible, but whether or not your bank will let you hold them is another question,” he says. “Banks are finicky about them. We’re just starting the process with the banks to see which ones will hold these bonds and which won’t.”

It will all get sorted out over time. Indeed, all it will likely take is for one big bank to break from the pack before others start to follow.

If demand for community bonds is high enough, that will likely happen. That’s what SolarShare, ZooShare and others are counting on.

Tyler Hamilton, author of the upcoming book Mad Like Tesla, writes weekly about green energy and clean technologies. Reach him at tyler@cleanbreak.ca

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Implementing a Digester Gas Generator: An Overview

Running a generator (a.k.a. genset) on biogas is of interest to several types of facilities, from farms that hope to profit from manure to companies that need to reduce utility bills. However, as with any commercial generator installation, some key considerations should precede implementing a digester gas generator. In this article, we look the basic aspects of implementing a digester generator: project feasibility, implementation cost, and long-term results. For more detailed information, contacting a company that specializes in digester gas generator implementation is the best option.




(Above video illustrates the use of a biogas genset but is not related to the text.)

Project feasibility

If a facility plans on producing biogas, the feasibility of a project instantly concerns two things: the availability of space for a biogas storage unit and anaerobic digester (a container that produces biogas from organic waste material), and the availability of organic waste material to fuel the production process. In terms of space, commercial anaerobic digesters can require as little as a few thousand square feet, but the largest units require significantly more. For some facilities, this instantly presents a problem. In terms of waste material availability, facilities that have free access to materials such as sewage, food waste, and manure are ideal candidates to implement anaerobic digesters.

Anaerobic digesters are commonly linked with farming operations and water treatment facilities, but they are also used in other industries. Ultimately, the question becomes whether a facility can profit from the situation the way it envisions. If it can power its gas generator and supply gas to the rest of its facility-and perhaps even generate electricity-producing its own biogas could be more than feasible, especially at a time when gas prices are high and don't show signs of lowering.

For entities that want a biogas genset alone, the project becomes easier:
if a replacement generator is needed and a biogas storage unit can be accommodated, a generator service can implement a digester generator after the storage unit is ready to fuel it. Prior to purchasing the unit, a company should consult with a generator services provider to ensure the unit meets its emergency power needs.

Implementation cost

Implementing a high capacity commercial genset could easily require a high six-figure investment, especially when cost of labor and construction are added in. There are, however, some ways to deflate the cost of implementing a new genset, such as: buying from an independent dealer that will perform project management, buying a refurbished genset, and having an existing unit retrofitted with new technology instead of buying a replacement. Prior to making a buying decision, a company should discuss its needs with a generator services provider.

Long-term results

For the right facility, a digester gas generator is an excellent long-term investment. It costs less to fuel than a diesel generator and a standard natural gas generator. And implementing an anaerobic digester could mean a facility pays nothing for fuel. Facilities that need a new genset should consider all options, a gas digester model included. But the decision should ultimately be based on what works best for a their emergency power needs.

In my research on generator services, I've studied the potential value of implementing a digester gas generator.

Opportunity of Jatropha Curcas Waste As Biofuel

In the last decades, the development of Jatropha curcas plants has been an increasing trend significantly. Several countries in Asia, Africa and South America develop bio diesel from its seeds.

Studies on conversion of this plant into bio diesel has been conducted by many researchers in the world. Jatropha Curcas waste, such as cake seed, sludge, and shell, has been potential to convert into solid fuels. Some researcher converts its material into biogas through an anaerobic digestion system in digester.

As reported many authors, that the cake seeds of Jatropha curcas contain around 61-67% crude oil per unit weight. Meanwhile, the content of raw oil is around 33 to 39 %. This means that there is a high possibility to extract Jatropha Curcas waste into energy both from shell and cake seed.

Combustion is a chemical process to convert solid waste into heat energy. The process includes drying, pyrolysis, and char combustion. In the pyrolysis process, carbon monoxide rises to the peak level and gradually decrease until char combustion reactions stopped.

The products of biomass combustion consist of carbon dioxide, water, ash, sulfur oxide, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon particles, nitrogen oxide, smoke and soot. It is an opportunity to form Jatropha Curcas waste as briquettes and uses for fuel.

This fuel can then be used in rural areas for cooking. If the production this fuel is high, it can be used for commercialization. It means that its briquettes send to the combustion reactor to heat a boiler system and produces electricity.

Nugroho Agung Pambudi has been writing articles including papers for nearly 3 years now. His journal papers can be reached both international journal and conference. Come visit his latest website at methylcobalamin and geothermal heating and cooling

Renewable Energies

The rising cost of electricity, along with the unmistakable impact of global warming on the planet, have prompted more research into so-called clean power, from renewable sources that include solar, wind, and biomass technologies.

Producers of these types of technology also are quick to point out that if Americans yearn for less vulnerability to terrorism and political instability in other parts of the globe, greater energy self-sufficiency ought to be a national goal.

Numerous states also provide tax credits or rebates for renewable energy projects, and there's a federal renewable power manufacturing tax credit (PTC) of $19 per megawatt. It is set to expire at the end of 2008, but Congress is considering extending it through 2013.

In addition, the 2006 Energy Act offers businesses a tax reduction of up to $1.80 per square foot, either for new construction or renovation that saves at least 50 % over the comparable cost of heating, cooling, lighting, and/or water use of a comparable making without these technologies in place. The savings amount depends on which, and how many, resources you're conserving.

Solar Power:

At the turn of this century, solar power-generating capacity worldwide was just over 3 million megawatts, but it's estimated that by 2020, it will surpass 5 million megawatts. Production of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules truly began to take off within the 1990s and, by 2003, it was almost a $5 billion industry. In the exact same time period, nevertheless, Americans' dominance within the market as manufacturers of these techniques fell from 40 percent to 14 percent, losing ground to Japanese- and European-made systems.

The tiniest solar PV cells are used in calculators and watches, but when bigger cells are grouped together in modules of 40 or so, and multiple groups are mounted together (in configurations recognized as arrays), PV cells collect sunlight and convert it into sufficient amounts of electricity to power companies and residences. It takes 10 to 20 arrays to power a household, according to the American Solar Energy Society. It takes lots of cells to make power because only about 15 % from the sunlight that strikes the cell is utilized to generate electricity.

The industry is working tough to increase efficiency. In larger installations, the arrays collect and focus sunlight with mirrors to create a higher-intensity heat source, in a procedure known as Concentrating Solar Energy (CSP).

However, solar panels are created of silicon, and a silicon shortage in recent years has driven the price up substantially. Today, it can cost as much as 25 cents per kilowatt-hour to produce solar energy, more than double the price of any other fuel supply.

Solar energy is as adaptable as electricity generated any other way: It may be utilized for heating water, heating or cooling air, and so on. It can be incorporated into making design-an advantage more than wind turbines, for instance-and a solar program is very low maintenance. In producing the decision to "go solar," try to determine the life cycle or life expectancy of the program prior to you buy as nicely as the potential tax benefits.
Solar systems used to heat dishwashing water qualify for a federal energy-saving tax credit of 15 %, plus a 10 % business investment credit: a total tax write-off of 25 %.

Nevertheless, as your accountant will surely explain, you must first spend the cash to be able to write off the expense or receive the rebate. Learn more about solar power technology at the Web site from the American Solar Energy Society, ases.org.

Wind Energy:

Wind energy is an additional renewable power source, which any farmer with a windmill has known for years. A single, old-fashioned windmill produces from 1 to 5 kilowatts, just sufficient to pump water for livestock or house use, but new technology allows the progressive farmer to retrofit an existing pump program to produce 300 to 500 kilowatts-enough to power the property's irrigation program. They're not known as "windmills" anymore, but wind towers and windfarms.


Wind currently offers about one % of the world's total power needs, but it is an industry having a bright future, growing 20 to 25 % per year. Germany and Spain are the nations with the most wind-generating capacity; the United States, Denmark, and India round out the top five, according to the Globe Wind Power Conference.

Total installed wind energy capacity within the United States is about 12,000 megawatts, with a lot more than 2400 megawatts installed in 2006 and numerous a lot more projects within the planning stages. Texas and California seem to compete each year for top honors in the American Wind Energy Association ratings, with the states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington also kicking wind production into high gear in recent years.

Some people complain that the giant towers and turbines are noisy and unattractive, particularly in large numbers, as nicely as hazardous to birds. Wind energy advocates are making technical breakthroughs to bring down expenses and make manufacturing more reliable, but natural gas-fired plants can produce electricity at 3 cents per kilowatt-hour or much less, while windfarms produce energy at about five cents per kilowatt-hour.

Studies say this cost might be reduced enough to compete with gas-fired plants if windfarm developers could obtain the exact same favorable financing terms as utility companies, or if the utilities would be willing to own the windfarms. Increasingly, the latter is the case. Utility companies see the benefits of good public relations for "going green" and adding renewable power to their portfolios.

This also helps mitigate an additional problem within the western United States: Some small windfarm owners are fighting with utility firms over whose responsibility it is to pay for and construct the additional power lines to connect their output to the grid. It may not be feasible for you to install a wind turbine outside your restaurant, but you can request that your utility provider's portfolio include wind resources.

You are able to understand more about the expenses and feasibility of wind power at awea.org, the Web website from the American Wind Energy Association. The organization has European (ewea.org) and Canadian (canwea.org) counterparts.

Biomass Technology:

Biomass is the term for organic materials (from plants or animals) used to produce a fuel supply. It may produce electrical power or fuels to power vehicles. Biodiesel and ethanol (ethyl alcohol) are examples of biomass fuels. Biomass is also being utilized to create new-generation plastics which are recyclable, for items such as utensils and food containers. Restaurants' grease traps and trash cans are as good as gold to biomass power producers.

The Biogas Energy Project at University of California, Davis, created its very first attempt at large-scale use of restaurant waste to produce electrical power starting in 2006, and it is been a success. Waste collected from San Francisco area restaurants is pumped into an anaerobic digester, a specialized vat usually used in wastewater treatment plants, which combines the sludge with bacteria to break it down.

The procedure creates hydrogen and methane gas that can then be utilized as fuel or burned to produce electricity. Its creators say 1 ton of waste can energy 10 houses for a day, while keeping that ton of waste out from the landfill.

Geothermal Power:

About one million American homes and businesses utilize geothermal heat pumps, to both heat indoor spaces in winter and cool them in summer, requiring about 20 % less electricity than they would without having heat pumps. Federal legislation in 2005 increased the financial perks for this type of system.

Franco Zinzi has been involved with online marketing for nearly 3 years and likes to write on various subjects. Come visit his latest website which discusses of Restaurant Fridges and fridges supplies for the owner of his own business.

Biogas unit turns weeds into power for poor Kenyans - Reuters AlertNet

17 May 2011 16:55 - Source: alertnet // David Njagi

A Ugandan fisherman removes a bunch of water hyacinth from the shores of Lake Victoria, 1998. REUTERS/Stringer

By David Njagi




(Video depicts a different biogas initiative not associated with the article.)

NAIROBI (AlertNet) – Alphonse Wesonga used to criticise the Kenyan government for failing to clear Lake Victoria of its choking swathes of water hyacinth. But since discovering he could make money from the invasive weed 10 years ago, the 60-year-old trader from Busia village has joined hundreds of lakeside dwellers who provide for their children by making ornamental furniture and baskets from the floating plant.

Now, however, a new generation of environmentalists is promoting an innovative way to rid the country of one of Africa’s wildest habitat colonisers using green technology – a portable unit that can generate biogas and liquid fertiliser from water hyacinth.

The anaerobic digester normally produces gas from animal waste. But in trials at the weed-infested Nairobi Dam and Naivasha and Victoria lakes, it succeeded in breaking down water hyacinth on a large scale, according to its inventor Dominic Wanjihia of Biogas Africa, a Nairobi-based social enterprise that develops renewable energy technologies for marginalised communities.

By inoculating the digester’s contents with a bacteria obtained from animal intestines, it is able to process green, lush plant matter to produce biogas, as well as liquid fertiliser for use in urban agriculture.

“The digester can continuously generate biogas for a period of up to four months through anaerobic digestion,” explains Wanjihia. “The contents are then emptied, and can produce up to four tonnes of fertiliser.”

The digester has a large surface area exposed to the sun, enabling it absorb solar energy to catalyse the process of anaerobic digestion. It is spread as widely as possible across the ground to allow it to absorb the sun’s heat.

But this also exposes it to scorching, which can cause it to wear out quickly. So for protection, it is fitted with a shade net that filters out 50 percent of the sun’s ultra-violet rays.

MEETING RURAL NEEDS

“My passion to design user-friendly and green gadgets was inspired by my experience with poor Kenyans who struggle everyday trying to meet their energy needs,” explains Wanjihia, 46, the son of a British mother and Kenyan father. “Most of the devices I develop are meant to meet the needs of rural communities in the areas of energy, water and agriculture.”

But won’t the dome-shaped bio-digester with its heavy-duty rubber cover and PVC pipes put hyacinth traders like Wesonga out of a business that fetches him up to 200 Kenyan shillings ($2) per basket?

“Very unlikely,” says Arne Witt, coordinator for invasive species at the Centre for Agricultural Biosciences International (CABI) in Nairobi. “The problem of invasive weeds, including the water hyacinth, is very widespread in East Africa and is not easy to contain both manually and technically.”

Yet it may become easier if the goals set by the 2008 Kenya Energy Sector Environment Programme (KEEP) are met.

The government is aiming to  shore up its national power grid with new capacity - 85 percent of which will come from renewable energy - a trend the country’s environment secretary says is starting to pay off.

“The policy document was meant to direct government programmes to solutions that engage the community in adapting to climate change and encourage innovations that position the country as a green economy,” says Alice Kaundia. 

MEN IN THE KITCHEN

Nickson Parnisa, one of the first Kenyans to benefit from the Biogas Africa bio-digester, uses animal waste to generate gas, which is funneled to his family’s ring stove through a plastic gas pipe.

The 30-year-old father of one, a pastoralist from Kajiado in the Rift Valley region, south of Nairobi, says he no longer minds cooking. Biogas is starting to replace wood as a source of energy, making it easier and cleaner for men to perform kitchen chores, a trend previously unheard of in Maasai culture.

“I have found it wise to move the kitchen into the house because this new outfit does not produce choking smoke,” says Parnisa, who received his mobile bio-digester in February free of charge.

At a cost of 45,000 Kenyan shillings ($525) per unit, a domestic-scale facility can service an average of 45 people with a  10kg load of cow dung, while a larger version that feeds on 60kg of slurry can be used to run a commercial canteen, says Wanjihia.

The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) has patented the design of the mobile bio-digester, meaning it can now be promoted widely.

CASH FOR INNOVATION

The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) has indicated it is keen to support creative initiatives like Wanjihia’s through its Young Innovators Club.

It manages a two-year-old Science and Technology Innovation Fund of 320 million Kenyan shillings ($3.7 million) which has so far supported 10 projects in Kenya, including a car tracking system using a mobile phone and another gadget that produces a sound attracting fish to bait.

Some of the money has been allocated to women researchers, and some has been earmarked for young product developers, according to NCST Secretary Shaukat Abdulrazak. A panel of experts is reviewing 99 projects that have applied for financial assistance.

“Most of the projects we have funded are related to telecommunication, information and communications technology (ICT) and innovations that reduce reliance on traditional sources of energy, such as fossil fuel and biomass,” says Abdulrazak.

Wanjihia of Biogas Africa, meanwhile, is looking to take his green energy device to the next stage. “What the social enterprise needs now is to move to the investment phase with an eye for mass production,” he says.

David Njagi is an environmental writer based in Nairobi.

View the original article here

UK Biofuel caution is deeply disappointing - FarmersWeekly

Biofuel caution is ‘deeply disappointing’ - 5/18/2011 - Farmers Weekly  
The organisation said the sustainability concerns highlighted in the report were groundless, and it failed to recognise the role that biogas could play in the transport sector.




(Above video champions solar power but what will we do on a cold winter's night with just solar? Also, are we going to miss the AD boat and end up buying solar power from Spain? - Ed)

"Failure to act on replacing dirty diesel with gas in public transport has a detrimental effect on climate change and air quality. Farmers and land managers can help mitigate climate change by enabling biogas to displace fossil fuels," said CLA president William Worsley.

He also called on the government to tackle the investment uncertainty posed for large-scale solar and anaerobic digestion that followed the emergency review of Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) earlier in the spring.

Rural businesses faced losses of more than £1m due to the proposed solar tariff cuts, yet they "collectively hold the keys to the delivery of land-based renewables in both the solar and AD sectors", he said.

"The CLA reluctantly accepts that budget constraints mean payments for large-scale solar must be cut to preserve the FiT budget. Reducing the loss to investors for future projects could be fixed by introducing pre-certification of projects over 50kW, or by putting projects up to 1MW into the under-spent Renewable Obligation budget to help maintain reasonable rates for smaller installations."

Mr Worsley welcomed plans to increase FiT rates for small anaerobic digestion (AD) plants, but argued the proposed rates would make little difference.

"I would like to see a 'manure bonus' to help drive the most sustainable farm-based AD," he added.


View the original article here

New Study Reveals Biogas Plants Will Need 5.5MT of Feedstock

A new study from Enagri has revealed that a combination of announced and operational biogas plants across the UK could need at least 5.5  million tonnes of feedstock by the end of 2013.

The Directory of UK Biogas Plants 2011 will be launched at this year’s Cereals in June 2011and is the first comprehensive survey of  anaerobic digestion (AD) projects in the UK.

Despite concerns about the low uptake of the Feed-in-Tariff by biogas  plants, the study shows there could be around 150 on-farm and  waste-fuelled biogas plants in the country in two years time. There is  also considerable growth and expansion in the utilisation of sewage gas to produce renewable energy at water treatment plants.

An analysis of published information on feedstocks shows large  regional differences, together with the fact that the more than  680,000 tonnes of feedstock a year has not yet been disclosed by developers. Of this, the greatest concentration of unknown fuels is in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Central Scotland.

Energy crops grown specifically for use in digesters account for just 5% of identified feedstock and are most popular in the East Midlands,  while waste from animal husbandry (including slurry, manure and  poultry litter) accounts for around 6%, with the main concentration of developments in Dorset and the South West.

Municipal waste could account for half of all the feedstocks used and there is particularly strong demand for this in the urban North West and the South East. Surprisingly potential demand from projects in Kent could see the county treating the greatest quantity of waste, with demand forecast to reach 750,000 tonnes a year if announced projects go ahead.

“The geographical differences in feedstock are interesting,” says Enagri’s Managing Editor Richard Crowhurst. “They show that, on the whole, developers are looking to build plants which utilise the most abundant feedstock in the region, with some of the biggest municipal waste fuelled plants

In terms of which companies are behind which projects, the picture is less clear. Some companies build and operate plants while others hand over the running to another company. “Biogen Greenfinch is the clear
leader in the UK market,” says Richard. “They have provided, or are providing, technology for 15 plants, although this figure includes seven or eight from Greenfinch before the two companies merged, and the company operates a number of these plants themselves.”

Many companies have pipelines of projects, but due to the difficulties of obtaining planning permission and financing, many are not announced until a formal planning application is submitted. As well as Biogen Greenfinch, Community Renewable Energy North West (CoRE), Future Biogas, Agrivert and Farmgen are forging ahead with new developments. The major technology providers include Edina, Monsal, WELtec BioPower, Biogas Nord and Biogas Hochreiter.

The report includes information on 69 on-farm biogas plants, 83 waste treatment AD plants and lists more than 50 plants in operation at water treatment works.

Exploring the Possibilities of Zero Carbon Britain

The Centre for Alternative Technology has recently published Zero Carbon Britain 2030: a new energy strategy (the 2nd reportof the Zero Carbon Britain Project). I can't recommend this highly enough - the Executive Summary should be on the desk of every Member of Parliament and the leader of every local council. The report can be bought from bookshops, or direct from CAT, or can be dowloaded as a PDF (a very large one!).

The report is the result of collaboration between a wide variety of contributors, across many sectors, and consequently their conclusions are highly authoritative. The report is wide-ranging and demonstrates how - with political will and suitable investment, Britain could indeed become zero-carbon by 2030, and could create new employment and economic activity at the same time.

Biogas firm plans 200-job facility - Toronto Star

Ontario is placing a $16 million bet on a clean water and energy company that plans to set up its global headquarters in the province.

Anaergia Inc. will set up a head office, research and manufacturing facility to produce biogas equipment, which turns products such as sewage sludge and farm waste into energy.

(Above video may not be related to the article.)

The province will provide Anaergia a grant of $8.08 million and a loan of the same amount – interest-free for five years – to help finance the $70 million facility.

Anaergia’s chairman and chief executive Andrew Benedek said the company hasn’t yet decided where to locate the new facility.

It will employ about 200 people once it’s up and running, Benedek said in an interview.

Operating mainly under the name UTS Biogas, the company has operations in Germany, where Benedek says its equipment is used in about 1,600 biogas plants.

It also has operations in California, where Benedek lives.

But he’s still a Canadian citizen, who began his career as a chemical engineer at McMaster University.

Benedek founded Zenon Environmental, a water purification firm, that he eventually sold to GE Power and Water.

German green energy policies then drew him across the Atlantic, and U.S. clean energy programs then drew him to California, he said.

He only recently learned about Ontario’s Green Energy Act when he was invited to sit on an energy advisory panel in the province, Benedek said.

He found the province’s renewable energy policies are very similar to those in Germany. One of them is the province’s feed-in tariff program, which offers steady, above-market prices for power produced from renewable sources.

“Like most Canadians who leave Canada, we tend to forget how good it is here,” he said.

Benedek says there’s plenty of research to do in the biogas sector.

“The industry, in my view, is still in its infancy,” he said. “It has not evolved technologically. I really see an opportunity to become far away the leader of the world,” he said.

“What we want to do is bring the cost down so we can afford to compete with other forms of energy.”

Electricity produced from biogas is priced at 10.4 cents to 19.5 cents a kilowatt hour under current feed-in tariff rates, while the wholesale market price hovers around 4 cents a kilowatt hour.

Anaergia is privately held and doesn’t release financial statements, but Benedek said its annual revenue is about $70 million .

“It’s not a big number, but it’s one of the biggest in this narrow space, and it’s going to be much bigger by the end of this program,” he said.

View the original article here

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.

View the original article here

US Santee Cooper Board Contracts In Advance of Construction For 3.2 Mws Renewable Energy With W2e-Organic Power

A recent Eisenmann Biogas Plant

Enough BioEnergy power for 1,600 US homes

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – The Santee Cooper Board of Directors approved contracts yesterday with W2E-Organic Power and BioEnergy Technologies for a total 3.2 megawatts of electricity generated from anaerobic digestion of renewable resources. That is enough electricity to power 1,600 homes. W2E–Organic Power, based in Columbia, has received its state environmental permit and plans to build a 1.6-MW generating station in Columbia that will utilize biogas from food waste, grease and yard waste.

W2E–Organic Power plans to transmit the electricity to Santee Cooper’s transmission grid.

A 3D concept of a new AD Plant

Sumter-based BioEnergy Technologies will utilize pre-consumer food waste, grease, food processing waste and wastewater sludge to generate 1.6 MWs of renewable electricity at a facility planned for Berkeley County. BioEnergy Technologies will deliver the electricity to Santee Cooper through Berkeley Electric Cooperative’s distribution system.

“Santee Cooper is pleased to announce these contracts with South Carolina businesses, which will generate home-grown and renewable electricity for our customers,” said Marc Tye, the utility’s senior vice president of customer service. “Santee Cooper continues to look for practical projects like theseas part of our balanced plan to meet South Carolina’s energy needs with electricity that is reliable, affordable and environmentally protective.”

“Being at the forefront of the organic waste-to-energy movement has certainly been challenging at times,” says CEO Daniel Rickenmann, “But thanks to commitments from folks like McEntire Produce, Pascon Recycling, and Dorado Services and the tireless support of our technology partner EISENMANN Corporation, the W2E-Organic Power waste-to-energy facility in Columbia will soon set the standard for sustainable recycling of organic material in the U.S.”

“BioEnergy Technologies’ vision of producing sustainable, green electricity and transportation fuels will now be realized. Not only will our projects benefit the environment, but they will also spur economic activity and generate jobs for South Carolina. We appreciate Santee Cooper’s commitment to us as we move forward on our biogas plant,” said Greg A. Thompson, CEO of BioEnergyTechnologies.

Both contracts are for 20 years and together take Santee Cooper’s total renewable generation to 187MWs online or under contract, utilizing landfill biogas, solar energy, wind energy, woody biomass and anaerobic digestion. The biggest source is forest waste and other woody biomass, with online and contracted generation totaling 154 MWs. Anaerobic digestion captures methane gas that is produced through the decomposition of organic materials in an airtight container, and uses that methane gas to generate electricity.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s leader in renewable generation and has been producing Santee Cooper Green Power – a 28-MW portion of its renewable portfolio that is certified according to strict national standards – since September 2001. Certified Green Power is then voluntarily purchased by customers of Santee Cooper and the state’s electric cooperatives at a premium price,with the proceeds fully reinvested in new renewable energy projects.

With state permitting accomplished, W2E–Organic Power could begin delivering power to Santee Cooper within a year. BioEnergy Technologies will begin the permitting process soon and expects to deliver power to Santee Cooper in late 2012.

W2E-Organic Power, LLC is a Columbia, South Carolina-based developer of sustainable renewable energy projects utilizing EISENMANN Corporation’s proven High Solids Anaerobic Digestion (HSAD) technology. In addition to its flagship facility in Columbia, W2E is actively developing six additional projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Gulf Coast regions. Each of these projects is at a different stage of permitting and development.

BioEnergy Technologies, LLC, established by Thompson Construction Group of Sumter, SC, deploys proven European biogas technologies to develop, design, build, own and operate biogas systems throughout the US.

Through its partnership with AAT Biogas of Austria, BioEnergy has combined Thompson Construction Group’s design-build experience with AAT’s 30 year track record of biogas system design. For more information, visit www.bioenergyglobal.com.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility, and the state’s largest powerproducer. The ultimate source of electricity for 2 million South Carolinians, Santee Cooper is dedicated to being the state’s leading resource for improving the quality of life for the people of South Carolina.

For more information, visit www.eisenmann.us.com

Anaerobic Digesters in Environmental award for walking area - GO Outdoors

Those who like to go walking in parts of Cumbria other than the Lake District may be interested to learn that an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has gained a green award.

(Our video is not directly rerlated but provides viewers with an idea of what the Arnside and Silverdale area is like.)

Arnside and Silverdale AONB has won an award for its project to convert farm waste into useful fuels such as biogas and fertiliser, using anaerobic digesters, the Westmorland Gazette reports.

It will also see greenhouse gases combined with calcium from milk to create limestone, which will be placed in old quarries.

The scheme impressed a panel including adventurer Ben Fogle and former footballer Gary Neville.

David Askew, an officer at the AONB, said: "The whole team are delighted and surprised to have been successful."

Those heading for the Arnside and Silverdale AONB can enjoy areas of limestone scenery, as well as wildlife such as red squirrels.

Located just south of the Lake District, it covers 75 sq km and also includes coastal habitat.

View the original article here

EnviTec Biogas reports positive business performance for 2010 - Your Renewable News (press release)

The manufacturer of biogas plants Envitec Biogas improved its sales revenues from quarter to quarter and generated EUR 47.7 million in the last three months of 2010, which is a record in the company’s history.

Total sales revenues increased by 23.4% from EUR 119.9 million to EUR 148.0 million. The company’s international activities showed a particularly positive trend, with sales from the construction of biogas plants abroad rising from EUR 21.2 million to EUR 43.7 million in the past fiscal year. This represents an increase by 106.1%. International sales accounted for 31.8% of total Group sales, up from 17.7% in the previous year. EnviTec Biogas reported a turnaround in earnings and generated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 1.0 million (previous year: EUR -0.5 million). A better result was prevented by non-recurrent effects of EUR 3.4 million in the Plant Construction segment. The Group’s net income for the year climbed from EUR 1.3 million to EUR 2.3 million, while earnings per share rose from EUR 0.08 to EUR 0.15.

EnviTec will continue to expand its Own Plant Operation activities in the future, which generate high margins. The company intends to take biogas plants with an electrical output of roughly 12 MW into service in 2011 and 2012 each, which will more than double the existing
capacity. EnviTec has obtained the first approvals for its own biogas plants in Italy. Construction of the first plants could commence before the end of 2011, as soon as the necessary project loans have been raised.

Source: Renewable Energy Industry

View the original article here

Europeans keen on palm oil biomass projects in Malaysia - Power-Gen Worldwide

KUALA LUMPUR: It appears to be a case of communication breakdown.

European investors are lining up money to fund biomass projects in Malaysia but the local oil palm plantation industry doesn't seem to know this.

(We were unable to find a video about Malaysian Palm Oil Energy production, however, we did find this very interesting video about a program in Thailand.)

According to the European Union (EU)-Malaysia Biomass Sustainable Production Initiative (Biomass-SP), an EU-led industry body, there are 10 investors keen to fund biomass projects where plantation wastes like fruit bunches are used to produce electricity,

"These investors from France, Ireland, the UK, Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong have approached me. Some of these investors have at least RM40 million to RM50 million set aside (for biomass power plant projects) but the problem is, I don't have any projects to show them," Biomass-SP technical adviser Datuk Leong Kin Mun told Business Times in an interview recently.

 

The appeal of renewable energy plants is well documented. The plants are friendlier to the environment and a lot cheaper to run over the long term as their fuel, unlike natural gas or coal, are virtually free. Owners can get such plants certified as good for the environment and sell the papers, known as carbon credits, on a climate exchange.

Leong said most of the investors were from the EU and very keen on funding anaerobic-digeston projects, where gas from fermented wastes is trapped and used as fuel, and could invest about RM3 million to RM4 million per venture.

But the industry has not heard about Biomass-SP. Malaysian Palm Oil Council chief executive officer Tan Sri Yusof Basiron believed that many palm oil millers would be interested to partner these green investors but believed that many are not in the know about their existence.

"We are definitely looking for opportunities. Everyone has money. We are looking for opportunities with or without banks' support. So my advice to them is to do their homework and spread the word around," he added.

But Leong said businessmen in Malaysia, especially those who own palm oil mills, have low-risk appetite when it comes to investing in biogas projects as they are afraid that the investment will disrupt the day-to-day running of their palm oil plantation, while the rest is not interested.

"Unless the government comes up with some sort of policy, I am afraid that the biogas project would remain an unpopular venture among the palm oil millers," he said.

Renewable energy is in line with the country's overall policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and increase the use of renewable resources in its energy-generation capacity to 2,000 megawatts (MW) in 2020.

Leong said the palm oil industry, being the country's major plantation crop with a total of 417 palm oil mills and plantations, covering 4 million hectares of land, holds the key role to meeting such objective.

Apart from generating electricity from solid wastes like empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shell, power generation can also be achieved through the capture of palm oil mill effluent (POME) biogas.

"Based on fresh fruit bunch yield in 2009, an estimated 57.42 million tonnes (1607.76 million m3) of POME are produced annually. In terms of total power generation capacity, this translates into potential power output capacity of 261.1 megawatts.

"At the current rate of 21sen/ kWh Tenaga Nasional (Bhd) is buying renewable energy, the potential of electricity sales is worth RM394.8 million. Upon implementation of the feed-in tariff system, the higher renewable energy purchase price could be an added incentive for palm oil millers to convert their POME biogas to electricity," he added.

View the original article here

GE to Showcase Biogas Technology for EPA, US Farmers - IEWY News

EPA’s National AgSTAR Conference in Boise, Idaho, Highlights Growing Farm Use of Digesters with GE’s Jenbacher Biogas Engines to Produce Renewable Energy while Reducing Emissions

Bio Town Ag Operation in Indiana and Dane County “Cow Power” Facility in Wisconsin Among GE Biogas Projects to be Showcased

BOISE, IDAHO——With the environmental impacts of agricultural activities coming under greater scrutiny, Bio Town Ag in Indiana and a community “cow power” project in Dane County, Wis., are among a growing number of U.S. farms to install anaerobic digesters and GE’s (NYSE: GE) Jenbacher biogas engines to recycle livestock wastes into renewable electricity that is used to support onsite farm operations and rural transmission grids.

GE is showcasing its ecomagination-approved Jenbacher biogas engine technology at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual AgSTAR national conference in Boise, Idaho, May 10-12, 2011. Created by the EPA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, AgSTAR promotes the installation of digesters to convert livestock waste and other agricultural biomass into methane-rich, renewable biogas. As a result, less methane is available to escape into the atmosphere.

“Biogas production systems are becoming increasingly important tools in helping farms reduce their on-site emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide,” said Roger George, general manager North America gas engines for GE Power & Water. “As federal and state governments work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase local renewable energy production, we expect even more farms across the country to install biogas to energy systems to help meet their operational and environmental requirements.”

In addition to reducing onsite emissions, agricultural biogas projects can help farmers comply with more stringent local water quality standards. By capturing agricultural wastes for biogas production, farmers can avoid the need to dispose these materials on their lands. As a result, lower levels of various biomass contaminants can potentially escape into nearby rivers, lakes and ponds.

GE’s biogas engine technology continues to be deployed at some of the country’s most innovative agricultural biogas projects, including the Bio Town Ag project in Indiana and a recently completed, multi-farm digester project in Dane County, Wis.:

Bio Town Ag community digester biogas project, Indiana:

Featuring three, 1-megawatt (MW) Jenbacher JMS 320 generator sets, Bio Town Ag marks GE’s so far largest U.S. agricultural biogas-to-energy project. The project also is the first to combine GE’s Jenbacher gen-set technology with advanced digester technology supplied by GHD, Inc., the largest U.S. supplier of agricultural anaerobic digesters.

Bio Town Ag is a livestock farm with 4,500 beef cattle and 800 sow swine, located in Reynolds, Ind., a corn, soybean, dairy and swine farming region that was previously dubbed “Bio Town USA” by Indiana’s governor. The farm is developing a 3.1-MW digester biogas-to-energy plant powered by GE’s Jenbacher engines to transform its livestock manure into renewable energy. Bio Town Ag also plans to recover solids for bedding, convert post-digestion liquids into fertilizer and recycle water for on-site uses.

“Our digester biogas-to-energy project is a centerpiece of Indiana’s efforts to showcase the various technologies that are available to help us recycle our agricultural biomass resources and produce renewable fuel for vehicles and cleaner electricity for our state and country,” said Brian Furrer, Bio Town Ag president and CEO.

“GHD is proud to be involved in the BioTown Ag project, which will bring a true community anaerobic digester to fruition,” said Steve Dvorak, president of Chilton, Wis.-based GHD.

“The digester will process farm waste, as well as wastes from the surrounding community, to produce renewable electricity on a local scale. This project creates jobs, provides social benefits for the community and generates additional, viable business opportunities for agriculture.”

Dane County community dairy farm “cow power” project, Wisconsin:

Three family-run dairy farms in Dane County are participating in Wisconsin’s first “cluster” manure-digester project located near Waunakee. The project was launched by the county in 2010 under a “Clean Energy and Clean Lakes Resolution” to build a community digester.

Wisconsin-based biogas energy developer Clear Horizons LLC built, owns and operates the project. A total of 2,500 cows are supplying the manure, which is collected in three, 1.25 million gallon digesters. The biomass is converted into methane-rich biogas, which is then used by two, 1-MW Jenbacher JMC 320 gen-sets to generate renewable electricity that is sold to Alliant Energy under Wisconsin’s renewable portfolio standard.

In addition to renewable energy production, Dane County’s initiative is the first U.S. community digester specifically built to help farmers reduce biomass run-offs into surrounding freshwater bodies. Dane County’s digester removes much of the phosphorus from the livestock waste that had been linked to algae overgrowth in the Lake Mendota watershed.

“One of the keys to implementing successful biomass to energy projects is to work with technology partners like GE that have the expertise to offer cost-effective solutions that help projects optimize their rate of return ,” said Dan Nemke, general manager for Clear Horizons, which has installed Jenbacher engines for previous U.S. farm-to-energy projects.

Between its creation in 1993 and 2010, more than 160 manure digester projects have been installed in the United States with the AgSTAR program’s assistance. Opportunities for more agricultural digester-energy projects still exist at more than 8,000 U.S. livestock facilities, according to AgSTAR.

Many of GE’s Jenbacher products are ecomagination approved, providing customers with products that improve their operating performance and reduce environmental impact. Ecomagination is GE’s business strategy to help meet customers’ demand for products that improve their bottom line and reduce their impact on the environment. This also will drive growth for GE that delivers for its investors. Ecomagination reflects GE’s commitment to invest in a future that creates innovative solutions to environmental challenges. From 2010 to 2015, GE has committed to: doubling R&D to $ 10 billion; growing ecomagination revenues twice as fast as overall company revenue; reducing GE’s energy intensity 50 percent; reducing water consumption 25 percent; and inspiring a competitive energy future.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com.

GE also serves the energy sector by providing technology and service solutions that are based on a commitment to quality and innovation. The company continues to invest in new technology solutions and grow through strategic acquisitions to strengthen its local presence and better serve customers around the world. The businesses that comprise GE Energy GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas—work together with more than 90,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; as well as other alternative fuels and new grid modernization technologies to meet 21st century energy needs.

View the original article here

Nairobi, Kenya - Experts sound the alarm over poor quality biogas plants

A biogas plant

Business Daily - Kenya: By NGONDI MBURU, Posted  Tuesday, April 5 2011 at 00:00

Experts are warning against inappropriate biogas plant installations being carried out by donor-funded organisations throughout the country, saying some are of low quality and unsuitable for farmers.

“Some of these plants are just enough to cook three meals per day on a single burner. They cannot be used for lighting,” said Mr Stanley Chepkwony, a biogas technical consultant.

The facilities, which cost about Sh100,000 to install, are permanent fixtures which cannot be expanded in future if the farmer sees the need.

Construction costs involve creating a digester, piping system, kitchen work, and other accessories.

“This is something permanent. Once constructed you cannot later demolish it. It can last up to 30 or 50 years,” said Mr Chepkwony.

Development of the Anaernobic Digestion energy is expected to reduce pressure on the country’s depleted forest cover.

He said that farmers who later find out that the biogas plants do not meet their needs are forced to build fresh ones, which is expensive.

“We have received several complaints from the field and we have constructed bigger plants for some of the farmers, which is proving very expensive for them,” said Mr Chepkwony who works with the Private Sector Development in Agriculture.

The small plants, which range between four and 12 cubic metres, are being constructed by government and donor funded organisation.

About 700 such plants have been build throughout the country.

“These people are not informing farmers properly on the size of the biogas plants. They just want the farmers to have the plants installed,” said Mr Richard Karani, a biogas economist and consultant.

Enough energy

The Private Sector Development in Agriculture has constructed 650 plants, which range from 12 to 124 cubic metres, across the country.

The large capacity plants can produce enough energy to run engines, chuff cutters, lighting, and even household items like fridges in addition to cooking.

Before construction, farmers are advised to inquire on the capacity of the plants in relation to the number of animals they have and their future projections.

This ensures that they receive plants that meet their current and future needs.

Read the full article here.

Anaerobic Digestion - Realising the Potential: Removing the Barriers

CIWEM - CMS Conference 28th June 2011, SOAS London

Programme and booking  
Please forward to colleagues who may be interested

Anaerobic digestion clearly has a really strong future. Charlotte Morton CEO of the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association will be presenting on what this vision looks like. Key points will include:

    * AD from the bigger, integrated perspective - energy, waste and water
    * Just what is the potential for AD technology?
    * The drivers and innovation from an international, European and UK level
    * The developing technologies and the opportunities that these provide
    * How can UK plc and its companies best unlock this potential?

The aim of this conference is to explore key issues concerning the future of anaerobic digestion in the context of the Government’s objectives, the country’s need, the water sector’s capacity, the waste sector’s interests and in particular to explore with regulators and what can be done to unlock this potential and remove the barriers to co-digestion.

The main conference themes are:

   1. The new paradigm:  What does a really ambitious vision for anaerobic digestion in the context of the water, waste and energy sectors look like?
   2. To understand the Government’s position and policy context of their work – Defra (but also covering DECC’s work)
   3. To understand a waste perspective on AD and co-digestion     
   4. To understand the Ofwat position on anaerobic digestion and energy generation and their position on co-digestion 
   5. To understand a water industry view on the future of anaerobic digestion [improvements in performance from new technologies] and in particular the issues with co-digestion
   6. To understand what co-digestion involves in practice –what happens when this is
   7. Anaerobic digestion and co-digestion: Barriers and Incentives  - next  steps   

This conference is seeking to bring the water and wider AD and waste sector together to look at the key issues

Sponsors to date: MWH   WRc

If you would like to sponsor this conference please contact Lauren Goozee at CIWEM on lauren@ciwem.org or ring on 0207 831 3110

Book Now
You can book a place for this conference online by visiting http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/447

You can also download the programme and email or post the completed booking form to bob.earll@coastms.co.uk
We issue receipts and invoices as our standard response.
We can also take bookings over the phone with a credit card - ring 01531 890415.

More information on CIWEM events at www.ciwem.org/events 

Decentralized Modular Power Plants and Biogas CHP Cogeneration

2G-CENERGY CHP produces much improved energy
efficiency.

Projects on the Rise in North America

Orange Park, FL - May 7th 2011

Cogeneration is the environmentally-friendly, economically-sensible way to produce power, simultaneously saving significant amounts of money and also dramatically reducing total greenhouse gas emissions. 2G’s concept of smaller modular combined heat and power plants for decentralized energy production, especially biogas and natural gas fueled, is leading the way in North America.

While the biogas market in Europe is well-developed, it has taken longer for the industry to gain a foothold in North America. However, the number of decentralized power plants is increasing, and new biogas project announcements suggest the U.S. is finally ready to catch up with other industrialized markets.

In January 2010, 2G-CENERGY Power Systems Technologies Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of highefficiency biogas-and natural gas energy conversion systems, jointly owned by 2G Bio-Energy Technologies in Germany (2G Bio-Energietechnik AG, publically traded at the Frankfurt stock exchange), and its North American management, announced the company plans to focus largely on the developing biogas market in the United States.

"We've been the market leader in Europe for many years but really saw a great growth opportunity in North America," said Michael Turwitt, 2G-CENERGY president and chief executive officer. The company uses a modular CHP and cogeneration technology that converts biogas and other gaseous fuels into valuable electrical as well as thermal energy. The result is a renewable energy production, environmentally friendly, very economical, and dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The technology is applied in combination with all types of anaerobic digesters (agricultural and organic waste streams), at landfills, and in combination with methane generating waste water treatment facilities. To date, 2G’s technology has been utilized in more than 1500 biogas projects in Europe, and many other locations in various industrialized countries. In North America the company successfully commissioned plants in Washington State, Wisconsin, Ontario, and is in the process of installing its advanced modular CHP technologies in Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, Texas, and in Mississippi. Additional projects are forthcoming in Oregon, California, Pennsylvania, and in Ohio.

Most recently in Mississippi, Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority located in Pontotoc decided to purchase a modern 2G biogas power plant, a 1.3 million $ investment, for their landfill facility. In April EMG in Pennsylvania awarded 2G-CENERGY with an order to supply a high efficiency biogas CHP (combined heat and power) cogeneration plant for EMG’s anaerobic fluidized-bed digester technology to be installed at a large brewery in New York.

Instead of the conventional design-build, or site-build process, 2G customers always decide for a 100% modular “all-in-one” and “connection-ready” cogeneration system to save cost and to reduce technical risk. The cogeneration process results in overall electrical and thermal efficiencies close to 90%, compared to most utility power plants operating in the 33% percent efficiency range. 2G’s systems are an integrated package, fully containerized and are supplied as a unique “all-in-one” and “connection-ready” modules. Benefits over conventional gas engine gensets (often wrongly compared with CHP systems) include much higher overall efficiency, reliability, durability, extended life, fast installation, and less maintenance cost.

Biogas projects have continued to gain traction in Europe, as well. On May 2nd 2G published their 2010 results. 2G-Bio-Energietechnik AG has again exceeded expectations for its revenue and earnings. After having already doubled its sales in the previous year, 2G achieved further Group-wide revenue growth of 79.7% in 2010. The 2011 outlook remains very optimistic and the solid uptrend in new orders is unbroken. The current order book position comprises 251 CHP systems entailing a total order value of around 86 Million US$, a level well ahead of the previous year.

The 2G Group's strategic orientation continues to make great advances this year, not least due to the last few years' highly positive trend. Christian Grotholt, CEO of the 2G Group, commented on the company's further plans as follows: “Our expansion into markets outside Germany and Europe, as well as into the USA, has proved correct to date. We aim to expand our position through tapping further growth regions, and thereby also reduce our dependence on individual markets in a targeted manner. The German market nevertheless remains of outstanding importance for us. The energy-efficient deployment of natural gas CHPs will also become increasingly significant.”

In the Management Board's opinion, the heightening of international awareness of the entire regenerative energy sector will also open up tangible potential for combined heat and power (CHP) generation. While debate addresses topics such as a lack of capacities in terms of energy storage systems and power lines, for instance, CHP technology, including biogas fueled power generation, represents the only truly decentralized solution for a balanced energy mix.

Vist their web site at: http://www.2g-cenergy.com