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Well-known stakeholders in biogas/RNG announce new educational platform & North American RNG map
Here’s an overview of key biogas news.
CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
Two new CNG and biomethane refuelling stations to open in UK
Two new public-access compressed natural gas (CNG)/biomethane refuelling stations will open in the UK in 2019. One will be in the North West of England and the other in the Midlands. The new stations bring the UK’s total to six. According to a statement by Nottingham-based company Roadgas, the demand for the green gases CNG and biomethane has increased three-fold within the transport sector in the last 12 months. The firm says 100% of all biomethane being supplied is renewable and sustainable and approved under the Department for Transport’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation scheme. Biomethane is produced from waste feedstocks including food waste and provides a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to diesel.
California’s Capstone Lands French Biogas-to-Energy Project
Capstone Turbine, based in California, has secured a 400 kW microturbine sale to power another biogas-to-energy project in France. The order for the lightweight and compact 3-bay C400 Signature Series package was secured by Biogaz Services, Capstone’s distributor for renewable energy in France. The microturbine package will operate on renewable biogas from the methane generated from agricultural green waste, cow manure, and pig manure. The Capstone C400S will be coupled with an exhaust fired heat exchanger and will utilize the biogas to produce electricity that will be put back on the local French electrical grid while the thermal energy generated from the microturbine exhaust will feed a nearby hospital.
Read more on Renewable Energy Magazine
Norwegian city rolls out biogas, biodiesel buses to reduce carbon footprint
The third largest city in Norway, Trondheim, has been operating almost 200 MAN Lion’s City buses fuelled with either biogas or biodiesel. The 189 green buses from MAN Truck & Bus offer an efficient and clean solution for inner-city traffic in the Norwegian city. The new buses have been in operation since the start of August; MAN Truck & Bus delivered 105 city buses to Vy Buss, with a further 84 delivered to Tide Buss. “We’re delighted that the two largest transport companies in Norway put their trust in us,” said Rudi Kuchta, head of product and sales in the bus and speaker business area at MAN Truck & Bus.
COMPANIES & ORGANIZATIONS
Bioenergy Europe outlines its ‘wishes’ for the new European Commission cabinet
Leading trade association for the European bioenergy industry, Bioenergy Europe, has outlined its ‘wishes’ for the new European Commission. The European Commission’s incoming president, Ursula von der Leyen, will take office on 1 November. Ahead of the new appointment, Bioenergy Europe outlined the following requests to ensure bioenergy’s role in reducing carbon emissions across the continent. Higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets – Bioenergy Europe has asked to increase the target from 40% to 55% and to provide clear milestones and an ‘upwards review’ of the renewable target to help Europe become the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.
DTE Biomass Energy opens first renewable natural gas processing and interstate injection site in Wisconsin
DTE Biomass Energy, a non-regulated subsidiary of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), today announced it has opened its first and the state of Wisconsin’s first combined dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) processing and interstate injection facility. With over three decades of experience in landfill waste-to-energy projects, DTE Biomass, along with local dairy farm partners, is leading the way in the Wisconsin dairy renewable energy movement. The renewable natural gas dairy processing and injection site, located in Newton, Wisconsin, processes raw biogas piped from nearby partner farms into RNG, and also receives RNG trucked in from other dairy farm-based DTE facilities.
COP26 in the UK is a unique opportunity to put the UK biogas industry on the map
The UK Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has welcomed the news that Glasgow will be hosting the UNFCC Conference of Parties 2020 (COP26) which gives the country’s anaerobic digestion and biogas sector a unique opportunity to contribute to the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). All signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement must submit their NDC by the end of 2020. Addressing the first World Biogas Summit, jointly organised by ADBA and the World Biogas Association (WBA) in July, UNFCCC Secretariat (UN Climate Change) Manager Niclas Svenningsen emphasised the need for biogas to be part of every country’s NDC to meet Paris Agreement targets.
Read more on Renewable Energy Magazine
New Landfill Gas-to-RNG Plant Under Construction in Indy
In August, SCS Energy broke ground on the construction of a new landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG) plant in Indianapolis. Indy High Btu LLC engaged SCS Energy to build the RNG plant under an engineering, procurement and construction agreement. Indy High Btu is jointly owned by Kinetrex Energy, Southside Landfill and EDL Energy. The RNG plant employs an iron redox scrubber for hydrogen sulfide removal, membranes for carbon dioxide removal and pressure swing adsorption for nitrogen removal. The plant is on schedule to achieve commercial operation in February 2020.
RESEARCHES & STUDIES
The RNG Coalition and Biomass Magazine announce 2020 North American Renewable Natural Gas Map
BBI International and the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) announced this week that the RNG Coalition is collaborating with Biomass Magazine to produce, design and release a new 2020 North American Renewable Natural Gas Facilities Map. The announcement was made in front of more than 300 attendees at RNG WORKS 2019, the industry’s annual two-day Technical Workshop & Trade Expo held this week in Music City. “We’re pleased to work together with Biomass Magazine to generate this new resource,” says Marcus Gillette, director of public affairs at the RNG Coalition.
Decarbonizing the Power Sector with Renewable Gas
One way to help decarbonize the electric grid is through the use of renewable hydrogen, that is, hydrogen produced from renewable power resources. The process involves using excess wind and solar power during periods of oversupply to create hydrogen through electrolysis, then burning the renewable hydrogen in gas turbines when the power is needed on the grid. There are challenges to achieving this goal, but at least one company believes it has a roadmap for overcoming the obstacles. One of the foundations of modern human prosperity is the reliable generation of vast amounts of electricity.
New educational platform launched at RNG Works 2019
Today, educational non-profit organization RNG Global Initiative and the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) jointly announced a new learning platform that is dedicated to public education of the environmental and economic benefits resulting from converting local organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG) as a clean energy solution. The organizations made the announcement in front of 350 participants during the first day of RNG WORKS 2019, the two-day Technical Workshop & Trade Expo hosted this year in Music City.