This site is not supported by your current browser.
Please use one of these browsers.
BiogasWorld Weekly Vol 25
Biofuels International conference and Bioenergy Insight conference cover range of issues
October 9, 2017 – The future of bioethanol, advanced biofuel developments and an uncertain policy landscape were some of the hot topics discussed at this year’s Biofuels International and Bioenergy Insight conference. The conference took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, from 4-5th October. Rob Wakely, head of low carbon fuels division, energy technology and international directorate, at the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT), kicked off proceedings on day one. Wakely discussed the UK’s Renewable Fuel Transport Obligation (RFTO), which is a legal requirement on fuel suppliers to supply a set percentage of sustainable renewable fuel. It is currently set at just under 5%.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
UK strongly in favour of bioenergy
October 9, 2017 – 84% of people in the UK support the use of waste and 77% the use of biomass for energy production, according to new survey results published by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI). Other key findings from the survey include 88% of 18-24 years olds believing the UK should be trying to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. 58% of people surveyed think the government should do more to tackle emissions, that number rising to 73% in the 18 – 24 year old demographic.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
Krohne announces ultrasonic flowmeter for biogas
October 9, 2017 – German flowmeter specialist Krohne has announced a new flowmeter specially designed for use with biogas. The OPTISONIC 7300 Biogas ultrasonic flowmeter is able to measure both wet and dry biogas compositions, and continues a growing trend of fluid handling equipment being designed with biogas application in mind. Flowmeters operating on the ultrasonic principle require particulates or bubbles in the flow in order function. They employ the frequency shift (Doppler effect) of an ultrasonic signal when it is reflected by suspended particles or gas bubbles.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
EIA predicts a rise in heating costs this winter
October 9, 2017 – The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the October edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook and Winter Fuels Outlook, predicting average household expenditures for all major home heating fuels will rise this winter due to expected colder weather and higher energy costs. According to the EIA, natural gas expenditures are expected to rise by 12 percent, home heating oil by 17 percent, electricity by 8 percent and propane by 18 percent. Most of the increase is attributed to colder weather, rather than higher energy costs. The EIA said a warmer-than-forecast winter would see lower increases in expenditures, while a colder-than-forecast winter would see higher increases in expenditures
The Green Climate Fund allocates $110 million to Kazakhstan for clean energy projects
October 9, 2017 – The Kazakh Energy Ministry reported that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved $110 million in funding for renewable energy projects in Kazakhstan, in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The Ministry reported: “This contribution of GCF involves concessional financing in the amount of $106 million and $4 million in subsidies for technical assistance”.
Decarbonizing transport with dual fuel vehicles
October 10, 2017 – Dual-fuel vehicles are the means to a transition towards alternative fuel vehicles: by replacing about 50% of the diesel used with methane or biomethane, the high costs of replacing existing vehicles with greener alternatives is avoided. Experimentation until now has taken place on agricultural engines, but the use of this fuel in vehicle engines is awaiting the approval of forthcoming biomethane legislation.
See the video on Biogas Channel
Biogas in the megacities with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
October 10, 2017 – The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a worldwide network of megacities that has been founded with the aim of reducing climate change. Among the group’s main action areas are water and waste management. The initiative has led to the development of biogas in developing areas such as Durban (South Africa), Jaipur (India), Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro and Bogotà, but also, for example, to an increase in separate waste collection in the city of Milan.
See the video on Biogas Channel
Veolia to install anaerobic digester in major wastewater facility
October 10, 2017 – French company Veolia is set to install an anaerobic digester at a wastewater treatment plant in Le Mans Metropole, an urban community of 19 municipalities. Veolia has been selected to operate the wastewater treatment plant at La Chauvinière from 2018 for a period of nine years. A number of innovations will be installed at the site in order to reduce its energy consumption as much as possible and become part of a circular model. This includes Veolia constructing an anaerobic digestion unit at the site that will produce biogas from the La Chauvinière sewage sludge. This unit will provide the same amount of biogas as that consumed by Le Mans’ bus network.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
UK government announces £557 million of support for green energy, including biomass CHP
October 11, 2017 – The UK’s Energy Minister Richard Harrington has confirmed that £557m (€621 million) will be made available for less established renewable electricity technologies for future Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions, starting with the next auction in 2019. The news forms part of the government’s ‘Clean Growth Strategy’ to drive economic growth and clean up the energy system. Since 1990 the UK’s emissions are down by more than a third while the economy has grown by two-thirds. Low-carbon generation provided more than half (52%) our electricity this summer, according to National Grid, while PwC analysis shows the UK decarbonising faster than any other G20 nation.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
Bioenergy and biofuels highlighted in UK’s Clean Growth Strategy
October 12, 2017 – A plan for cutting carbon emissions while growing the economy has been released by the UK government. ‘The Clean Growth Strategy: Leading the way to a low carbon future’ has been published by Greg Clark, the UK’s Business and Energy Secretary. It highlights progress already made in the UK towards a low carbon economy, while also setting out how the ‘whole country’ can benefit from low carbon economic sources in the future.