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Biogas & RNG technologies spread all over the world!
Here’s an overview of key biogas news. New studies and reports show the potential of biogas and RNG to accelerate the energy transition and the growing place it is taking in the energy mix. Biogas and RNG latest technologies spread all over the world, and new technologies take place on the market.
POLICIES & GOVERNMENTS ACTIONS
Oregon Department of Energy Publishes Inventory of Renewable Natural Gas Potential in the State
The Oregon Department of Energy today announced a new inventory report of biogas and renewable natural gas potential in Oregon. RNG is a lower carbon fuel produced using methane from long-term waste streams like wastewater, agricultural manure, landfill waste, food waste, and residual material from forest and agricultural harvests. In 2017, the Oregon Legislature directed ODOE to conduct an inventory of potential biogas and RNG production, feedstock or resource quantities and locations, and supply chain infrastructure. The department found that depending on the method used to produce the RNG, Oregon could have enough resources to replace 10 to 20 percent of the state’s total yearly use of natural gas, the bulk of which is currently imported from other states.“Once in the pipeline, RNG is indistinguishable from fossil-fuel generated natural gas,” said Daniel Avery, ODOE Senior Policy Analyst and the inventory’s primary author.
Read more on Oregon Department of Energy
CARB votes to approve several changes to LCFS program
On Sept. 27, the California Air Resources Board approved several amendments to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, including one that sets a new carbon intensity target for fuel sold within the state. The changes also create additional incentives for zero-emissions vehicles and establish protocol for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). The LCFS currently requires a 10 percent reduction in the carbon intensity of California’s transportation fuels by 2020. The amendments approved by CAEB on Sept. 27 will require a 20 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030. CARB said the new requirement aligns with California’s overall target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. According to CARB, the amendments incentivize the development of additional zero emission vehicle infrastructure and the sale of electric and hydrogen vehicles.
COMPANIES & ORGANIZATIONS
Wärtsilä to supply biogas upgrading plant to Oregon facility
Wärtsilä has announced its subsidiary Puregas Solutions has been contracted to provide a turnkey biogas upgrading plant to an existing anaerobic digestion facility in Oregon for the production of renewable natural gas (RNG). The Puregas CApure CA80 biogas upgrading plant will process approximately 3,100 cubic feet per minute of biogas from the anaerobic digestion of manure sourced from more than 50,000 dairy cows. The plant is expected to produce approximately 80 mmBTU of RNG annually, which is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 10,000 cars. According to Wärtsilä, the project includes the installation of gas conditioning equipment, as well as compression to 975 psi for pipeline injection. The contract also includes the supply and installation of a hydrogen sulphide removal system. Delivery of the Puregas CApure CA80 plant is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019.
Italian dairy to install world’s first high-temperature steam and power ORC
In Italy, Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) specialists Turboden S.p.A., a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has signed an agreement with Centrale del Latte di Brescia, the municipal dairy in Brescia, for the installation of the world’s first high-temperature cogeneration ORC plant – Steam & Power ORC System (ST&P ORC System). “We are proud to be the first world supplier of this innovative Steam & Power ORC solution and that the first unit will be installed at a neighbouring outstanding Italian company like Centrale del Latte Brescia; the unit will be used in their production processes to produce 700 kW electric power and 5 tonnes per hour of steam for milk pasteurization,” said Paolo Bertuzzi, CEO, Turboden. Turboden began developing the high-temperature ORC system two years ago, also taking advantage of a Research and Development project supported by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development Fondo Crescita Sostenibile (Sustainable Growth Fund).
Read more on Bioenergy International
Nel awarded purchase order for Australia’s first Power-to-Gas project
Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser, a division of Norway-headed hydrogen technology developer and supplier Nel ASA, has announced that it has received a purchase order for the first Power-to-Gas (P2G) installation in Australia from ATCO Group that will use a Proton PEM electrolyzer for a solar-to-hydrogen project being developed by the company in Western Australia (WA). ATCO Australia Ltd, a subsidiary of Canada-headed ATCO Group, a global diversified infrastructure, logistics, and retail energy corporation is developing an industry-leading Clean Energy Innovation Hub (CEIH) based at the company’s Jandakot Operations facility in Western Australia (WA). The CEIH incorporates the production, storage and use of hydrogen, as well as the commercial application of clean energy in micro-grid systems.
Read more on Bioenergy International
SEAT Premieres World First CNG SUV – Arona TGI
SEAT will extend its Compressed Natural Gas powered range when the SEAT Arona TGI makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show, which runs from October 4 to 15. SEAT has proclaimed it the world’s first CNG powered SUV. The Arona TGI integrates three CNG tanks to increase gas range and improve value for money while reducing emissions. The Arona TGI marks the fourth vehicle in SEAT’s line-up to benefit from the cleaner, cheaper fuel. Joining the Leon, Ibiza and Mii, it forms the continuation of SEAT’s goal to increase the use of CNG, helping to lower CO2 and nitrogen oxide emissions. The Arona TGI has been designed, developed and will be produced at SEAT’s headquarters in Martorell and represents a further step in the firm’s vehicle development programme, showcasing not only the latest technology but also that reducing environmental impact doesn’t have to mean diminished driving pleasure.
RESEARCHES & STUDIES
CHP could help industry save £540 million a year
A new report claims the British industrial sector could save up to £540 million (€601 million) per year on its energy bills by switching to new energy technologies such as combined heat and power (CHP), solar or battery storage. The research comes as part of Centrica Business Solutions Powering Britain report, which has analysed the UK’s major production and manufacturing activities, including steel, mining, chemicals, car manufacturing, machinery and food & drink production. Combined, these sectors cover a quarter of the country’s entire electricity demand.“In 2017, the industrial sector used 92 million megawatt hours of energy. As well as being a staggering statistic, I believe this is also a clear signal of the opportunity for industrial organisations to play their part in the changing energy landscape, while also unlocking the potential of energy to ensure the UK’s position in the global marketplace,” Jorge Pikunic, Managing Director at Centrica Business Solutions, said.
Read more on BioEnergy Insight
Global gas production and consumption continues to increase, IEA report
Global natural gas production and consumption increased in 2017 to reach new record levels. Production increased 3.6 percent compared to 2016 and consumption was up 3.2 percent over 2016 according to a newly published report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Covering global data of natural gas supply, demand, and trade up to 2016, with provisional data for 2017, the IEA’s Natural Gas Information 2018 report is a detailed reference work on gas supply and demand with “essential information” on LNG and pipeline trade, gas reserves, storage capacity and for OECD countries, it also contains data about gas consumption by end-use sector up to 2016 and of import and end-use prices up to 2017.
Read more on Bioenergy International
UK bioenergy production up in second quarter of 2018
New data released by the U.K. government shows renewables accounted for a record 31.7 percent of the country’s electricity generation during the second quarter of 2018 while generation from coal fell to a record low. The U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy released second quarter energy statistics on Sept. 27. That data shows total energy production was down 2.1 percent when compared to the second quarter of 2017. Total primarily energy consumption for energy uses fell by 1.3 percent over the same period. According to the BEIS, renewable electricity generation in the U.K. reached 24.3 terawatt hours (TWh) during the second quarter, up 3 percent when compared to the same period of last year. Renewable electricity capacity reached 42.2 gigawatts (GW) by the end of the second quarter, up 10 percent from the same period of 2017.
Biomethane volumes in the Swedish transmission network continue to rise
The strong upward trend for biogas demand in Sweden looks set to continue. The volume of biomethane – natural gas quality biogas – in the transmission network remains high, reaching 18.6 percent during the first half of 2018. Demand is increasing in line with the growing number of companies that are opting to switch from natural gas to biomethane according to the latest Gas Barometer. Published by Swedegas AB, the gas grid infrastructure owner and Transmission System Operator (TSO), the Gas Barometer indicates that the demand for biomethane is continuing to strengthen among consumers and companies located along the gas transmission network. In 2017, the volume of biomethane in the network was 10.4 percent – three times the 2016 figure of 3.6 percent. Mid-year figures for 2018 show that the volume has risen to 18.6 percent, confirming a pattern in line with the forecast presented by gas traders earlier this year.