United States Biogas

Energy Commission Awards Over $29 Million For Biofuel and Natural Gas Technology

2011-07-12T15:31:00.001-04:00

The California Energy Commission has approved more than $29 million for projects that advance biofuels and demonstrate California's commitment to develop cleaner transportation fuels. The seven awards total $29,675,072 and are funded through the Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (AB 118), completing the first two years of the program funding cycle.

"This is a major milestone for our program because it means we have awarded all $175 million from the first two years of the AB 118 program, plus another $14 million from the 2010-11 funding cycle," said Energy Commission Vice Chair James Boyd. "We have awarded more than 82 grants, public agency agreements and program support contracts totaling $189.4 million in AB 118 funding, leveraging more than $425 million in private match funding and creating or retaining about 5,600 jobs. "

These seven awards will infuse more than $44.5 million into the California renewable industry. Recipients estimate the awards will create or retain 616 construction, engineering and management jobs over the next three years. The proposed projects focus on reducing petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, providing jobs by advancing biofuel technology and installing alternative fuel infrastructure for fleets.

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District ($3,000,000 - Match Share $2,663,175)
AC Transit will construct a new hydrogen bus fueling station in Oakland. At full demand, the station will be able to provide enough to fuel up to 12 buses, sufficient for operation of a full-day, 19-hour transit route shift. The fueling station operation will avoid 700 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, displacing 100,000 gallons of diesel gallons equivalent annually. The project is expected to create 20 temporary jobs during construction and two permanent station maintenance and operation jobs.
Biostar Systems ($3,372,314 - Match Share $3,372,314)
BioStar Systems is partnering with Sonoma County Water Agency and Sonoma County Transit to produce 148,000 cubic feet per day of pipeline quality biomethane from dairy waste and food processor waste to support the Sonoma County Transit natural gas fleet. This facility will reduce waste transportation costs for Sonoma County's food industry by an estimated $120,000 per year and cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 35,200 tons per year. The project will also generate approximately 94 jobs over the life of the project, including manufacturing and construction jobs.
South Coast Air Quality Management District ($2,600,000 - Match share $6,000,000)
The South Coast Air Quality Management District and their numerous partners will install and upgrade 11 compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling stations throughout Southern California. Several fleets are committed to using these stations, including shuttle service companies, taxi companies, public transit agencies, school districts, waste hauling companies, city fleets, utility fleets and goods movement trucks. It is anticipated that more than 100 green jobs will be created or sustained through this project.
USA Waste of California ($489,040 - Match Share $1,051,021)
USA Waste will upgrade a liquefied natural gas (LNG) station in the City of Corona (Riverside County) to add storage tanks, vaporizers and dispensers that will also add compressed natural gas (CNG) to their current LNG dispensing capabilities. LNG fuel reduces greenhouse gas emission by approximately 15 percent compared to diesel.
CR&R, Inc.* ($4,520,501 - Match Share $18,166,460)
CR&R estimates that this project planned for the City of Perris in Riverside County will produce 120,000 million BTUs of pipeline quality biomethane from nonrecyclable municipal waste using a two-stage anaerobic digestion process. This project would displace the equivalent of 865,000 gallons of diesel, enough to power 60 to 80 heavy duty trash recycling trucks, and reduce an estimated 57,740 tons of carbon dioxide between 2013 and 2020. The project would also create 100 construction jobs and eight permanent facility/operation jobs.
Pixley Biogas* ($4,672,798 - Match Share $4,910,925)
Pixley Biogas intends to build an anaerobic digestion facility in the community of Pixley (Tulare County) that will process more than 36 million gallons of manure from three nearby dairies and produce biogas to be used at the adjacent Calgren Renewable Fuels ethanol biorefinery. The carbon dioxide reductions combined with the avoided manure emissions are estimated to be more than 31,000 metric tons per year - the equivalent to removing 6,300 vehicles from the road. This project should create 23 jobs during construction and an additional two full-time permanent jobs once the facility becomes operational. The project would also help retain nearly 18 jobs at its partner business, Calgren Renewables.
High Mountain Fuels* ($11,020,419 - Match share $11,020,419).
High Mountain Fuels intends to convert renewable landfill biomethane to liquefied natural gas for use as transportation fuel at the Simi Valley landfill facility in Ventura County. The project would demonstrate improved gas separation technology that uses new combinations of materials to provide better power efficiency and improved methane recovery than at other facilities. The project anticipates producing almost 6 million gallons of LNG each year to fuel the company's waste hauling trucks, displacing 3.4 million gallons of diesel fuel. High Mountain Fuels estimates this project will create or retain up to 300 jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emission by more than 36,000 metric tons each year.

*The last three projects will be completed in two phases: administration/design (Phase 1) and construction/operation (Phase 2). The second phase will not begin unless the Commission approves the second phase after completing a thorough environmental analysis of the project.

U.S. Energy Company FirmGreen Creates Jobs, Turning Trash into Fuel

2011-06-15T20:43:00.001-04:00

From Newport Beach, California, the U.S. energy company FirmGreen, Inc. (FirmGreen®) is making big waves in green technology—as the first international shipment of its proprietary biogas cleaning equipment begins this week, with more shipments to follow. Bound for the Novo Gramacho Landfill near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this USA-made equipment—and the landfill gas cleanup project it supports—is creating hundreds of jobs for American manufacturers and Brazilian workers over the next two decades. Such equipment exports are welcome news in a U.S. economy facing an ongoing trade deficit and job shortfalls hovering at some seven million, since the start of the 2007 recession.

Interestingly, the Novo Gramacho landfill where this innovative project occurs is depicted in the internationally acclaimed documentary and 2011 Academy Awards® nominee, Waste Land. In 2010, FirmGreen negotiated an agreement with Brazil’s Gás Verde, S.A., who is the project developer and the plant’s owner-operator, to turn Waste Land’s “dirty gas,” a natural by-product of trash decomposing, into clean usable gas using FirmGreen technology. The resulting “biogas” is an environmental-friendly, highly useful fuel with the energy-equivalent of natural gas.

To fabricate the specialized gas cleaning equipment required for the project, FirmGreen contracted with an established company out of Dublin, Ohio: Guild Associates. Guild employees are also helping start-up Gás Verde’s Biogas Plant. FirmGreen’s CEO, Steve Wilburn, commented, “Our world continues to face significant economic challenges, yet this project demonstrates how bi-cultural teamwork can generate hundreds of jobs, in this case throughout six U.S. states—Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, California, Michigan, and Texas—as well as Brazil. Brazilian contractors are manufacturing some of the Novo Gramacho project components and will take a lead role in the plant’s installation. Together, we are building a sustainable, renewable energy process—environmentally friendly and good for the citizens of both countries.”

In fact, Petrobras, the largest company in Latin America by market capitalization and revenue, will use the biogas from the project to generate over 10% of the thermal energy needed to run its Duque de Caxias Refinery. Petrobras has an impressive record supporting clean energy technologies, and according to the U.S. Government’s EPA LMOP calculator the Novo Gramacho Biogas Plant will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.4 million metric tons, annually. The Novo Gramacho Biogas project is slated to begin commercial operations later this year.

Wilburn asserts, “FirmGreen’s business model demonstrates Americans can, and should, take global leadership roles in renewable technologies. We have the skilled labor pool and ‘can-do’ spirit that makes America great. We can replicate this process in landfills worldwide. We can help rebuild America as an exporter of green technology to the world markets.”

An internationally recognized energy executive and devoted conservationist, Wilburn has had success with similar projects developed in the United States. Most recently, FirmGreen’s Green Energy Center in Ohio won an EPA LMOP Project of the Year Award for converting landfill gas to electricity and CNG for vehicle fuel. Remarkably, FirmGreen has achieved this success without any federal, state, or government subsidies.

Biogas To Power Austin Sewage Treatment Process

2011-05-27T14:44:00.001-04:00

The purchase of a green-powered generator made possible with federal stimulus funds will provide all the electricity needed to run the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant in Southeast Austin.

The Austin City Council approved the $1.2 million purchase on Thursday, May 26. Funding is from a $7.5 million federal stimulus grant awarded to Austin Energy to increase the energy efficiency of municipal facilities. Austin Energy is the energy manager for the City of Austin.

The biogas generator will utilize methane from the sludge treatment process at Hornsby Bend and will be able to consistently generate 700 kilowatts (kW) of power, more than the 500 kW needed to run the treatment plant. The excess electricity produced and fed back into the electric grid will enable Austin Water, which manages the treatment plant, to receive a credit on its electric bill.

Because the generator uses the methane and not a fossil fuel, the electricity produced is considered renewable energy. It is estimated that more than 4.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity will be generated annually, the equivalent of powering 370 average-sized Austin homes year round. The clean generation also will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2,867 tons or the equivalent of avoiding 5 million vehicle miles traveled in Austin.

The Council action also includes an option for Austin Water to enter into an eight-year maintenance agreement for $1.5 million if funding is available to provide regularly scheduled preventative maintenance and corrective maintenance to extend the life of the generator.

The generator is funded separately but related to green infrastructure improvements currently under way at Hornsby Bend by Austin Water to enhance the energy efficiency of the biosolids processing and increase biogas production.
Hornsby Bend receives the sewage solids reclaimed from the millions of gallons of wastewater that Austin’s wastewater plants treat every day. All of Austin’s sewage solids are pumped to Hornsby Bend where they are treated to kill pathogens and the resulting biosolids are recycled as the compost product ‘Dillo Dirt.’

Electricity From Food Scraps and Manure

2011-05-25T17:08:00.001-04:00

The first of five farm-based biogas plants that convert manure and food scraps into electricity for hundreds of homes will be dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, May 31^st at the Jordan Dairy Farm in Rutland, Massachusetts.

Governor Deval Patrick will join local farmers and other project partners to officially open the plant that helps solve several problems for the state's dairy industry: it will allow farms to better manage their manure, lower their energy and operating costs, and sell electricity to the grid to provide a new source of revenue. (One cow will create enough electricity to power a single home for a year.)

Along with farm manure, the facility's anaerobic digester will also recycle food scraps and residue from food manufacturers that would normally end up in landfills, and convert it to energy and organic fertilizer. Hood, Kayem, Cabot and Cains have signed contracts to supply food scraps to the plant, and buy renewable power from the farm company formed to manage the venture -- Agreen Energy.

This unique project is the culmination of a 10-year dream by local dairy farmers and Agreen who developed a first-in-the-nation business model. quasar energy group perfected the made-in-US technology, and New England Organics, a division of Casella Waste Systems, will operate the facility. Coordinated state and federal energy and permitting policies also played a major role in making the facility possible, including the creation of the first pathway to permit smaller farms to use digesters as a business.

Fremont Community Digester Commences Construction

2011-05-22T19:31:00.001-04:00

NOVI Energy LLC announced the Fremont Community Digester (FCD) power project has secured financing and begun construction. The complete mix anaerobic digester plant in Fremont, Michigan closed financing on May 13, 2011 and is scheduled to begin commercial operation in summer 2012. It is one of the first large-scale anaerobic digesters using co-digestion to be built in the United States.

The $22 million project will utilize proven co-digestion technology to process approximately 100,000 tons per year of both organic waste and agricultural waste into "green" biogas (methane) which will be used to generate approximately 3 megawatts of renewable electricity. The power will be sold to Consumers Energy under a long term contract. The plant will also produce dilute liquid fertilizer and compost for purchase by regional agricultural businesses.

The Fremont Community Digester will reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills near its feedstock suppliers, improve the sustainability of area farms as they use FCD's organically- based fertilizer instead of traditional fossil fuel-derived fertilizers and improve the environmental quality of runoff water in the area. The project has signed feedstock supply contracts with Fremont-based Gerber Products Company and several other major regional food processors and agricultural operations. Supplying organic waste to the digester can be a key component of an organization's zero-landfill strategy.

NOVI Energy is FCD's developer and NE BioFuels, a NOVI subsidiary, is the managing partner and minority owner of the project. "This project will help the West Michigan regional economy by adding investment, jobs and taxes locally, bringing together local industrial and agricultural interests and adding reliable, renewable electricity to Michigan's electric grid," said Anand Gangadharan, president and CEO of NOVI Energy. "Fremont Community Digester can be the first of many such projects to convert industrial and agricultural wastes into electricity or other needed commodities, thereby addressing a significant environmental concern in the U.S."

Fremont Community Digester's majority owner is INDUS Energy, LLC, an investment group located in Bingham Farms, MI. North Central Cooperative of Wabash, IN is a minority owner and will market the plant's fertilizer and compost. Comerica Bank is providing debt financing for the project with the backing of a debt guaranty awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under its 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program.

Fremont Community Digester LLC, the project company, has hired DeMaria Building Co. as its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor. FCD issued a notice to proceed to DeMaria to begin building the plant.

NOVI Energy is an entrepreneurial company that provides a broad range of services in energy consulting, energy management and energy infrastructure project development for utility, industrial, institutional and commercial clients across the United States and the world.

Landfill Gas Powers GM Orion Assembly Plant

2011-05-19T14:05:00.001-04:00

When production of the fuel-efficient 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano begin this fall, 40 percent of the energy to power the General Motors Orion Assembly Plant where they are built will come from burning landfill gas created nearby.

The use of the landfill gas, which saves GM $1.1 million a year in energy costs, also cuts the amount of greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released in the air. During most of the year, the system runs exclusively on landfill gas primarily to generate steam for heating and compressed air.

"Orion is a great example of the latest technologies employed by GM manufacturing around the globe," said Eric Stevens, GM vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering. "As we converted the facility to support the small car program, we took every opportunity to engineer in flexibility and lean manufacturing concepts."

Use of landfill gas is just one of the sustainable methods that lessen the plant's environmental impact. Others include:

Lighting system upgrades that saved more than 5,944 megawatts of electricity per year and $430,000 while also cutting CO2 by 3,676 metric tons. Plant workers track energy use on an hourly basis with sophisticated software, enabling them to see real-time usage by department to improve their equipment shut-down activities.

Plant workers reduced total waste by 26 percent from 2005 to 2009.

An upgraded paint shop is heated by natural and landfill gas, and uses half of the energy per vehicle of the one it replaced. Both the Sonic and Verano use a new eco paint that eliminates the need for a primer oven and increases quality and appearance due to waterborne base coats.

"Environmentally friendly choices often translate to higher efficiency and quality," said Maureen Midgley, GM executive director of Global Manufacturing Engineering. "Take our new paint shop – it was designed for optimal efficiency and delivers premium paint appearance for our vehicles.

"With these improvements, we'll reduce greenhouse gas production by about 80,000 metric tons at a full three-shift capacity," Midgley said. "This is equivalent to the emissions from 14,000 vehicles per year, and the electricity reduction equals at the output from 3,500 homes."

Some of the diverted material is directed to the cars being made. Recycled cardboard packaging from Orion and other GM plants and used denim are part of the Verano's sound insulation.

Orion also has embraced flexible manufacturing, allowing it to quickly respond to changes in customer preferences. Production lines were reworked, creating more space to house material onsite that once took up space in other buildings. This approach reduces the overall environmental impact of the plant's material systems, but it also provides significant cost savings to the overall small car program.

The 2012 turbocharged Chevrolet Sonic is a small car available in five-door and sedan models.

The 2012 Buick Verano compact sedan includes 10 standard air bags, an available heated steering wheel and a next-generation radio system with OnStar-powered connectivity.

Production of both vehicles will begin at Orion later this fall. They will be on sale by the end of the year.

GE to Showcase Biogas Technology for EPA, US Farmers

2011-05-14T18:44:00.001-04:00

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 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.

Raytheon to Use Green Power from McKinney Landfill for North Texas Sites

2011-04-19T23:55:00.001-04:00

Raytheon Company has contracted renewable energy from a landfill electricity-generation project in McKinney, Texas, as part of the company's commitment to sustain the environment.

Raytheon is acquiring the power through Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC from Montauk Energy's McKinney landfill gas-to-energy facility. The landfill is part of the North Texas Municipal Water District.

"Five Raytheon north Texas sites will benefit from the green power supplied by the project," said Mike Allgeier, vice president, Raytheon Network Centric Systems, and Raytheon north Texas regional site executive. "This reflects our corporate responsibility and is just one example of Raytheon's sustainability efforts to engage with the community to conserve energy and natural resources."

Raytheon will receive Green-e certified renewable energy credits as part of this agreement. The contract also supports the company's 2015 goal to reduce its greenhouse gases by 10 percent from a 2008 baseline.

Methane gas, a natural by-product of landfill decomposition, will power generators to commercially supply electricity. The landfill project broke ground December 2010 and is on track to provide Raytheon north Texas sites with green power by the second half of this year.

New Energy Capital Announces Groundbreaking of San Diego Wastewater Treatment Gas Clean-up Project

2011-04-19T00:10:00.001-04:00

The New Energy Capital Cleantech Infrastructure Fund (NECCIF) today held a formal groundbreaking ceremony for the Trident BioFuels Energy gas processing facility at the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Diego County, California. The facility will process biogas received from wastewater treatment digesters, removing contaminants and moisture and creating clean renewable methane which will be injected into a natural gas pipeline system operated by San Diego Gas & Electric Company.

"The biogas clean-up processing facility will be the first in the State of California to inject treated biogas into the utility gas distribution system since the Public Utility Commission authorized the concept in late 2009. This project will pave the way for similar future applications," said Frank Mazanec of BioFuels Energy LLC, the project developer. The raw biogas produced as a bi-product of the wastewater treatment process is currently burned in the atmosphere. The project will eliminate millions of tons of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur oxides to help Southern California meet stringent air quality targets. Furthermore, the clean biogas will replace non-renewable natural gas in the SDG&E system, helping to reduce the region’s dependence on fossil fuels.

"The citizens of San Diego will benefit from this project as we protect our air quality while also generating revenue for the City," said Jerry Sanders Mayor of the City of San Diego. "This is yet more proof that San Diego is leading the charge in the exciting world of clean energy technology."

Initial foundations for the project were set in December 2010, and the project is expected to be operational in October 2011. The designer and general contractor is SCS, Inc. of Long Beach, California, an industry leader in biogas technology and plant construction. The facility will deploy state-of-the-art gas clean-up technology produced by Air Liquide, a world leader in gas processing systems. The project is supported by the sale of pollution control bonds authorized by the California Pollution Control Finance Authority, and will create approximately 15 full-time construction jobs for pipefitters, electrical workers and construction labor. Ken Frisbie of BioFuels Energy noted that: "We are extremely pleased that New Energy Capital has stepped forward to finance this important pollution control project which will represent one of the largest renewable energy projects within the City of San Diego."

Progress Energy signs contract for first poultry waste-to-biogas plant

2011-04-17T00:37:00.001-04:00

Progress Energy Carolinas has signed a contract with Poultry Power USA to purchase the output of a poultry waste-to-biogas energy plant to be located in Montgomery County, N.C. Poultry Power USA will build, own and operate the 36-megawatt (MW) power plant and sell the electricity to the utility for use with its customers.

“Turning poultry litter into power is an important milestone in the development of bio-waste energy resources in our state,” said Lloyd Yates, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Carolinas. “Innovative renewable energy technologies, aggressive energy efficiency programs and a state-of-the-art power system are important parts of a balanced approach to meeting our region’s future energy demands.”

Progress Energy Carolinas is aggressively pursuing renewable energy projects to meet the targets of North Carolina’s renewable energy portfolio standard (REPS), established in 2007. The REPS includes a statutory requirement that a portion of statewide electricity comes from poultry waste. The state’s utilities must together provide a total of 900,000 megawatt-hours per year from poultry waste, beginning in 2014. This project will help Progress Energy Carolinas meet its share of this requirement.

The plant will be built in Biscoe and is scheduled to begin operation in early 2013. Poultry Power USA estimates the project will be an investment of $125 million and bring about 100 direct and indirect jobs to the area. The plant will use 350,000 tons of poultry litter per year. Terms of the contract were not announced.

“We are pleased to bring jobs and commerce to North Carolina,” said George Erickson Sr., the chief executive officer of Poultry Power USA. “Our clean technology will provide renewable energy to consumers in the state, and we are excited about being a solution to the litter disposal challenges facing the poultry industry. Our commitment is to be a clean and solid corporate citizen with a small carbon footprint.”

Poultry Power USA is based in Jacksonville, Fla., and is a subsidiary of Green Frontiers Energy. The company will use a clean gasification technology at the Biscoe plant to turn poultry waste into a biogas to be burned inside a boiler. The heat in the boiler creates steam that then turns a turbine and generates electricity. The plant will have environmental controls and will have to meet all state and federal environmental standards.

Progress Energy Carolinas has several other biomass projects, such as wood waste-to-energy or landfill gas plants, but this is the first poultry waste-to-energy project in North Carolina. The utility also has about 7 MW of solar energy operating in the state.

Cornerstone Announces New BioCNG Alternative Vehicle Fuel System

2011-04-15T01:24:00.001-04:00

Cornerstone Environmental Group, LLC announced that its new BioCNG™ alternative vehicle fuel system is up and running. The patent-pending biogas conditioning system economically produces biogas-based fuel to power compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. The first full scale project, at Rodefeld Landfill, in Dane County, Wisconsin, began operations in March 2011.

The landfill's BioCNG vehicle fueling station will operate in conjunction with an existing landfill gas electrical generation system. The BioCNG system will fuel site vehicles, with the potential to expand to supply fuel to waste trucks and other county vehicles.

"The BioCNG system is the first truly economic use for small quantities of biogas," said Richard A. Peluso, PE, President of Cornerstone. "This system provides a simple technology for private industries and municipalities to produce their own vehicle fuel at a fraction of the cost of gasoline or diesel and get similar or better engine performance."

BioCNG can be produced from a variety of biogas sources, including landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and agricultural and food waste digesters. The fuel can be used in vehicles that are manufactured or converted to use CNG vehicle fuel.

The basic BioCNG system uses 20 to 200 scfm of biogas to produce 100 to 1,000 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE) of BioCNG per day and can be expanded if necessary. After cleaning and conditioning, BioCNG fuel meets SAE J 1616 and engine manufacturers' fuel specifications. It can be used directly or mixed with natural gas to produce a blended vehicle fuel. The cost of installing a BioCNG system depends upon actual site conditions, but is expected to be substantially less than earlier systems developed to convert biogas to CNG vehicle fuel.

(Crossposted from American Fuels)

Researchers ID Microbe Responsible For Methane From Landfills

2011-04-10T16:36:00.001-04:00

Researchers have long known that landfills produce methane, but had a hard time figuring out why – since landfills do not start out as a friendly environment for the organisms that produce methane. New research from North Carolina State University shows that one species of microbe is paving the way for other methane producers.

Specifically, the researchers found that an anaerobic bacterium called Methanosarcina barkeri appears to be the key microbe.

Researchers can use these findings to accelerate methane production for power generation.

“Landfills receive a wide variety of solid waste, and that waste generally starts out with a fairly low pH level,” says Dr. Francis de los Reyes, an associate professor of civil engineering at NC State and co-author of a paper describing the research. “The low pH level makes it difficult for most methanogens – methane-producing organisms – to survive. We started this project in hopes of better understanding the mechanism that raises the pH level in landfills, fostering the growth of methanogens.”

What the researchers found was M. barkeri – a hearty methanogen that can survive at low pH levels. M. barkeri consumes the acids in its environment, producing methane and increasing the pH levels in its immediate area. This, in turn, makes that area more amenable for other methanogens.

As moisture leaches through the landfill, it disseminates those high pH levels – making other parts of the landfill habitable for M. barkeri and other methane-producing microbes. M. barkeri then moves in and repeats the process, leaving neutral pH levels – and healthy populations of other methanogens – in its wake.

Since M. barkeri and its methanogen cousins produce large quantities of methane, and methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, this could be bad news for the environment. But not necessarily. Methane can be, and often is, collected at landfill sites and used for power generation. Furthermore, methanogens break down solid waste as they go, compacting it so that it takes up less space.

“The research community can use our findings to explore ways of accelerating the methane-generation process,” de los Reyes says, “creating methane more quickly for power generation, and making additional room in the landfill for waste disposal.”

The paper, “Effect of Spatial Differences in Microbial Activity, pH, and Substrate Levels on Methanogenesis Initiation in Refuse,” will be published in the April issue of Applied and Environmental Microbiology. The paper was co-authored by Dr. Bryan Staley, who did the work while a Ph.D. student at NC State; de los Reyes; and Dr. Morton Barlaz, professor and department head of civil, construction and environmental engineering at NC State. The research was funded by Waste Management, Inc. and the Environmental Research and Education Foundation.

NC State’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering is part of the university’s College of Engineering.

Source : North Carolina State University

Clean Energy Subsidiary Announces Pricing of $40.2 Million Bond Issuance

2011-04-01T01:54:00.001-04:00

Dallas Clean Energy McCommas Bluff, LLC, a subsidiary owned 70% by Clean Energy Fuels Corp., has arranged for a $40.2 million tax-exempt bond issuance led by Senior Managing Underwriter FirstSouthwest Company. The bonds will be repaid from the revenue generated by Dallas Clean Energy McCommas Bluff, LLC (“Dallas Clean Energy”) from the sale of renewable natural gas (or biomethane). The bond obligations are secured by the revenue and assets of Dallas Clean Energy and are non-recourse to Dallas Clean Energy’s parent companies including Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

The bond proceeds will primarily be used to finance further improvements and expansion of the landfill gas processing facility owned by Dallas Clean Energy at the McCommas Bluff landfill outside of Dallas Texas. A portion of the proceeds will be used to retire an approximately $11.4 million Clean Energy bridge loan.

The bond repayments are amortized through December 2024 and the average coupon interest rate on the bonds is 6.596%. The bond issuance is expected to close March 31, 2011.

“This financing provides funds for the highly successful biomethane facility owned and operated by our Dallas Clean Energy subsidiary and will enable the plant to increase production,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy President and CEO. “McCommas Bluff is the first facility in our new Renewable Fuels initiative and now produces more than nine million gasoline gallon equivalents of renewable biomethane annually.”

While natural gas is 23% cleaner in carbon emissions than diesel in heavy-duty vehicles — and far cleaner in NOX and PM emissions — biomethane enables an 88% reduction in carbon emissions when displacing diesel or gasoline.

The McCommas Bluff landfill — the third largest landfill gas operation in the United States, opened in 1975 and is scheduled to close in 2042. It is estimated that pipeline quality biomethane gas will continue to be produced for approximately 30 years after the landfill closes. The plant is currently capable of processing 9.4 million cubic feet a day of landfill gas into approximately 36,000 gasoline gallon equivalents of pipeline quality biomethane. Dallas Clean Energy plans to increase this capacity to approximately 14.9 million cubic feet a day and make further improvements that should enable the production of approximately 60,000 gasoline gallon equivalents a day of pipeline quality biomethane.

New Plan Details Wisconsin’s Potential to Turn Millions of Exported Energy Dollars into Revenues

2011-03-28T12:51:00.001-04:00

A collaboration of researchers, business leaders, policymakers and industry experts has identified a plan for capitalizing on the biogas energy opportunity in Wisconsin. The strategic plan, titled “The Biogas Opportunity in Wisconsin,” was released today.

Biogas is a product of anaerobic digestion, a process that decomposes organic matter like manure, crops or food waste to produce biogas and other byproducts. The gas can be combusted to produce electricity or combined heat and power, cleaned and upgraded to pipeline quality gas for injection into existing natural gas systems or cleaned to create compressed natural gas for vehicle fuels.

While Wisconsin leads the nation with 31 anaerobic digesters, there is ample opportunity to expand homegrown energy use throughout the state. The plan, published by the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative (WBI), is the first step in a comprehensive series of efforts to bring more biogas systems to farms, communities and food processing facilities statewide.

“As this report shows, biogas can represent economic opportunities for rural Wisconsin – a new revenue stream for farmers, reduced costs for food processors and new jobs for rural communities,” says Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Ben Brancel. “The examples of new partnerships and innovations reported here can be a real boon to agriculture and our food industry, both of which are vital to Wisconsin’s economy.”

Biogas is a natural extension of Wisconsin’s showcase dairy sector and thriving food processing industry. Annually, the state spends an estimated $16-$18 billion for energy to run businesses, power and heat homes, and fuel vehicles. Utilizing waste streams to create energy from biogas would help build and retain wealth within the state.

“Wisconsin is positioned to be a leader in turning waste products into renewable biogas energy,” says Gary Radloff, WBI director of Midwest energy policy analysis and author of the report. “Implementing the report recommendations and establishing more biogas production plants could lead to greater rural wealth accumulation and new job creation.”

Next month, the stakeholder group will meet again to form action plans around specific recommendations in the report.

Innovative Washington Dairy Project Addresses Climate Change

2011-03-22T23:48:00.001-04:00

A project in Washington State will support local dairy farms and reduce approximately 4,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year. eBay, Stonyfield Farm, Brita, and Effect Partners are enabling this project through the purchase of NativeEnergy’s Help Build carbon offsets.

Conventionally, manure storage on dairy farms results in the release of methane—a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than CO2—into the atmosphere. The Rainier Farm Biogas Project in Enumclaw, WA, will avoid this pollution through the construction of a manure digester.

Three family-owned farms will feed their manure to the sealed, heated system. None of the farms is large enough to support a digester by itself, but through collaboration, they can jointly support it. The digester will capture and burn the methane to produce electricity in a 1-megawatt electric generator, which will deliver renewable energy to the region’s electrical grid.

The developer, Rainier Biogas LLC, turned to NativeEnergy to help provide financing for the project. By selling the carbon reductions that will result from the digester, NativeEnergy was able to provide critical upfront funding for construction. Through NativeEnergy’s innovative Help Build carbon offsets, eBay, Stonyfield Farm, Brita, and Effect Partners were able to purchase a share of the verified emissions reductions that the project will produce over a 10-year period.

Jeff Bernicke, President of NativeEnergy, said: “This project shows that, through a cooperative effort, our Help Build carbon offsets bring new carbon reduction projects on line.

Kevin Maas of Rainier Biogas, the project developer, noted: “Everyone in the community will benefit from this project. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the area’s sensitive rivers and streams, and provide low-cost bedding for local farmers.”

State of Wisconsin Issues Air Permit for EISENMANN BIOGAS-TS System at United Ethanol Plant

2011-03-22T02:11:00.001-04:00

The Air Permit was recently approved by the State of Wisconsin for United Ethanol to begin construction of the EISENMANN BIOGAS-TS Anaerobic Digester. The $6.75 million project will install an anaerobic digester and biogas boiler at the 50 MMgy United Ethanol plant in Milton, WI. EISENMANN’s BIOGAS-TS will utilize a portion of the plant’s thin stillage to improve the quality of the plant’s backset and create biogas. Improved backset quality reduces the organic content and alleviates water balance issues. The biogas generated reduces natural gas usage by 20-25% ultimately lowering the carbon footprint of the plant.

“EISENMANN has a long history of partnering with ethanol plants,” Mark West, President of EISENMANN Corporation said. “We saw an opportunity to improve recycle streams and increase efficiency with our proven global technology.”

Dave Cramer, President and CEO of United Cooperative and United Ethanol, LLC commented, “It’s a way to extract more value out of our inputs, the corn, and make the plant greener and more energy efficient. The project has an estimated four-year payback.” The system is expected to be on line by the end of 2011.

EISENMANN BIOGAS-TS

TVA Signs First Renewable Standard Offer Contract

2011-03-20T01:48:00.001-04:00

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has signed an agreement with Waste Management Renewable Energy LLC as the first participant in TVA’s new Renewable Standard Offer initiative.

The 20-year contract will add 4.8 megawatts of power to TVA’s renewable energy portfolio from Waste Management’s landfill gas facility located in Camden, Tenn.

“This contract with Waste Management marks the successful beginning of a new renewable power initiative for TVA and the region,” said John Trawick, TVA senior vice president for Commercial Operations and Pricing. “We look forward to working with power distributors and developers to continue growing our Renewable Standard Offer resources in 2011.”

The facility is scheduled to begin delivering power in September 2011 through Benton County Electric System in Camden, subject to applicable environmental requirements and securing transmission arrangements.

TVA added the Renewable Standard Offer in October as a new initiative for mid size generators of biomass direct-combustion, co-firing or gasification; methane recovery, wind or solar that produce 201 kilowatts to 20 megawatts of electricity. The initiative is designed to accommodate projects too large for TVA’s Generation Partners program, which was developed for residential and small commercial customers that generate 200 kilowatts or less.

The Renewable Standard Offer allows developers in the region to enter into contracts for up to 20 years. The long-term contracts will help TVA avoid rising purchased power prices and keep consumer prices down, while also making financing the projects easier for developers.

TVA pays a set price for renewable power based on the time of day the electricity is available to the TVA grid. The new initiative will help TVA meet peak power demand as well as increase renewable generation that emits no pollution or greenhouse gases. The Renewable Standard Offer initially will be limited to a total of 100 megawatts from all participants, with no single renewable technology representing more than 50 megawatts of the total.

ZeroPoint Clean Tech, Inc. Announces Solution That Extends Life of Landfill Gas Energy Projects

2011-03-18T01:41:00.001-04:00

ZeroPoint Clean Tech, Inc. announced an initiative to extend the life of landfill gas energy projects. Biomass gasification can extend the life and value of these energy-producing assets through on-site production of gas for existing gas engines and transmission grid connections. The ZeroPoint Renewable CHP Solution produces synthesis gas that is suitable for blending with landfill gas to operate existing engines. Preexisting engines can also run solely on the syngas produced from the ZeroPoint Solution. Project IRRs for this type of investment are as high as 30-40%. The Company's CHP Solution is optimally sized for projects producing 1 to 15 MW and was recently shipped to multiple distributed power generation projects in Europe. Additionally, the ZeroPoint biomass gasification solution produces sequestered carbon in the form of biochar as a co-product. Biochar offers a number of positive environmental and agricultural uses to sequester carbon including at landfills.

Climate Change Policy and the Adoption of Methane Digesters on Livestock Operations

2011-03-14T02:09:00.000-04:00

By Nigel Key and Stacy Sneeringer

Economic Research Report No. (ERR-111) 47 pp, February 2011

Methane digesters—biogas recovery systems that use methane from manure to generate electricity—have not been widely adopted in the United States because costs have exceeded benefits to operators. Burning methane in a digester reduces greenhouse gas emissions from manure management. A policy or program that pays producers for these emission reductions—through a carbon offset market or directly with payments—could increase the number of livestock producers who would profit from adopting a methane digester. We developed an economic model that illustrates how dairy and hog operation size, location, and manure management methods, along with electricity and carbon prices, could influence methane digester profits. The model shows that a relatively moderate increase in the price of carbon could induce significantly more dairy and hog operations, particularly large ones, to adopt a methane digester, thereby substantially lowering emissions of greenhouse gases.

Report Summary

Full Report

Sustainable Energy Solutions LLC Begins Electrical Generation Project at Wolf Creek Landfill in Dry Branch, Georgia

2011-03-11T16:37:00.000-05:00

Sustainable Energy Solutions LLC (“SES”), a developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy projects, has begun construction on a 2.8 Megawatt Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Generation Facility at Wolf Creek Landfill, located in Dry Branch, Georgia.

The project is scheduled to begin producing electricity in Fall 2011. In addition to producing a long term source of Green Energy, this $4.5 million project will provide significant environmental benefits to the surrounding area. By voluntarily capturing the landfill gas produced at Wolf Creek Landfill and utilizing it as a fuel to produce Green Energy, the environmental benefits will be equivalent to removing 22,700 passenger vehicles from area highways, while providing enough electricity to power 1,650 homes.

SES, through its wholly owned subsidiary - SESCO Wolf Creek LFG, LLC – has entered into both an Interconnection Agreement with Oconee EMC and a Power Purchase Agreement with Green Power EMC for the project. The Power Purchase Agreement was facilitated by Green Power EMC on behalf of its member cooperatives.

“We are extremely pleased to begin construction on this exciting project,” said Bill Gibbes, president of SES, “not only for being able to utilize this landfill gas resource to provide a long term source of Green Renewable Electricity for the citizens of Georgia, but more importantly, for the valuable partnerships with Oconee EMC, and Green Power EMC, as well as its subscribing member EMC’s. In particular, I would like to thank Michael Whiteside of Green Power EMC for facilitating the power purchase agreement, as well as David Hartley of Oconee EMC, for guiding our technical staff through the interconnection requirements.”

SES currently has four landfill gas-to-energy projects located in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. Wolf Creek Landfill is owned and operated by Advanced Disposal Services, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Virginia Villatoro serves as general manager for Wolf Creek Landfill.

Regional Biogas Plant Creates Renewable Energy From Campbell Soup Company Wastes

2011-03-05T13:11:00.000-05:00

Local organic wastes from the Campbell Soup Company and other area suppliers will soon be generating renewable energy, thanks to a new regional biogas plant currently in development in Napoleon, Ohio. Hull & Associates, Inc., an industry leader in engineering, energy and environmental consulting, and CH4 Biogas, LLC, a firm dedicated to pursuing opportunities for the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes, are currently working to permit and construct the project, which will be located on a 7.3-acre parcel on Township Road P3 across from the Campbell plant in Harrison Township.

Organic wastes from food processing remain largely untapped as a source of renewable energy in Ohio and across the country. Hull and CH4 studied the availability of organic waste streams in the region and determined that sufficient feedstocks are available from the Campbell plant, area food processors and waste recyclers, and local dairy farms to support the development of the regional biogas facility. Hull and CH4 entered into a development agreement with Campbell in October 2010 and the parties are currently working to secure the required permits for the project.

Once operational, the new facility will have capacity to anaerobically digest 450 tons per day of mixed organic waste. Biogas from the digester will fuel a 2.2 MW electric generator that will produce 22,660,000 kWh per year of renewable electricity and low-pressure steam. The biogas plant will operate as a zero-discharge facility. All incoming wastes will be pasteurized prior to anaerobic digestion. Post-digestion liquids will be dewatered, and the separated solids will be used as a soil amendment on regional farms.

The parties have formed Napoleon Biogas, LLC to build, own and operate the $10 million facility. The project will be partially financed with tax-exempt bonds issued by the Regional Port Authority of Northwest Ohio and equity provided by Hull and CH4.

Department of Defense to Turn Landfill Gases into Sustainable Renewable Clean Energy with FlexEnergy Powerstation™

2011-02-28T06:42:00.000-05:00

FlexEnergy announced its Powerstation™ technology will allow the Department of Defense's (DoD) Fort Benning, Ga. base to convert its landfill gas, an unconventional energy source, into renewable energy. FlexEnergy will deliver two powerstations in collaboration with Southern Research Institute (SRI) through the DoD's ESTCP (Environmental Security Technology Certification Program).

"The Department of Defense is at the forefront of deploying breakthrough technologies. The installation of the Flex Powerstation at Fort Benning, GA enables the Army to generate its own continuous, clean, renewable energy from an on base landfill," said Joseph Perry, CEO of FlexEnergy.

Currently, a successful Powerstation™ pilot program operates at the Lamb Canyon Landfill in Riverside County, Calif. The smaller, 10-ton test unit has the capability to produce enough electricity to power 30 homes in the community. Once installed at Fort Benning, the 250 kW Powerstation™ can potentially provide electricity for 250 homes.

FlexEnergy will showcase its Powerstation™ February 28-March 2 at the second annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. The Summit, co-hosted by the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) and the Clean Technology and Sustainable Industries Organization (CTSI), features cutting-edge cleantech organizations that are helping to determine the future of energy. FlexEnergy's plug-and-play system was selected for its ability to oxidize gases as low as 1.5 percent methane, a greenhouse gas with 20-25 times the environmental impact of carbon dioxide.

"Exhibiting among the key players in the energy community at ARPA-E is a great opportunity to reach more potential customers who want to control pollution, generate clean sustainable energy and help save the U.S. up to 60 million barrels of oil imports annually," Perry said.

FlexEnergy will exhibit to nearly 2,000 researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, corporate executives and government officials at the Gaylord Convention Center just outside of Washington, D.C. The ARPA-E Summit's high-profile speakers include U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, ARPA-E Director Arun Majumdar and U.S. Navy Secretary Raymond Mabus.

Lime Energy Announces Acquisition of Landfill Gas Rights for Development of 4.2MW Electricity Generating Facility

2011-02-22T05:39:00.001-05:00

Lime Energy Co. announced the recent creation of a new subsidiary, Lime Energy Asset Development, LLC (LEAD). LEAD has been created to develop, manage and in some situations own energy producing assets such as landfill gas to electricity, combined heat and power, on-site generation, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, biomass and geothermal energy projects. Eric Dupont was promoted to President of LEAD and Don White was named Vice President of Business Development for LEAD. Previously, Mr. Dupont was the Chief Financial Officer of Applied Energy Management, Inc. (AEM), a subsidiary of Lime Energy, responsible for its financial controls, management and oversight. Prior to joining AEM, Mr. Dupont was Director of Structured Finance for DukeSolutions/Ameresco where he developed, analyzed and financed numerous multi-million dollar renewable and traditional energy projects for a wide variety of industrial, commercial and governmental clients. Mr. White was previously Vice President of Global Energy Holdings Group responsible for development, marketing and strategy.

As its first project, LEAD has acquired the gas rights to the Zemel Road landfill in Punta Gorda, Florida for $2.65 million and entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with a utility for the sale of electricity and certain environmental attributes to be generated by a 4.2 megawatt landfill gas to electricity generating facility it will construct on the site. The company projects the construction of the facility will cost approximately $7.3 million and should be operational during the third quarter of 2011. The Company has retained an investment bank to arrange approximately $7.5 million in long-term debt for the project. In addition, the Company believes that the project will qualify for a renewable energy grant from the U.S. Treasury of approximately $2 million.

“I am very excited about this new leadership opportunity to generate additional long-term sustainable revenue sources for the company in this dynamic energy market,” stated Eric Dupont. LEAD will have unique strategic advantages in this fast growing market. We will leverage our engineering, implementation and project finance experience and capabilities to provide energy asset development and management services to our large, diversified base of commercial and industrial, utility and public sector customers who wish to benefit from alternative and/or renewable energy sources. In this role we serve two sets of clients: the energy consumer and the project finance investors. For the energy consumer we perform project feasibility assessments, evaluate alternative technologies, estimate economic returns, arrange debt and equity financing, manage the design and construction process, and operate the asset under a long-term power purchase agreement. For our project finance investor clients we source, qualify and structure investment opportunities to maximize risk-adjusted returns, then manage the design and construction process and operate the assets under long-term power purchase agreements. In some limited situations we may take equity positions in these investments.”

“Lime Energy is excited about this new business unit and additional opportunity it creates for the company,” stated John O’Rourke, Chief Operating Officer of Lime Energy. “LEAD will further leverage the company’s platform to grow a business at a time when renewable energy and distributive generation are key components to many of our client’s future energy plans.”

“The Zemel Road project is an excellent first project for LEAD,” concluded Jeff Mistarz, Lime’s Chief Financial Officer. “The timing of the project allows us to take advantage of the U.S. Treasury’s 1603(b) renewable energy grants, thereby minimizing our capital investment, while establishing LEAD in the energy asset development business. The project should generate long-term recurring revenue and earnings, as well as a strong return for our stockholders.”

2010 Record Year for Methane Gas Extraction at Short Mountain Landfill

2011-02-15T00:12:00.000-05:00

2010 was a record year for electricity production at the Short Mountain Methane Power Plant run by EPUD. In 2010, the plant at Short Mountain produced 22.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power approximately 1,500 homes for a full year. The output was 23 percent higher than 2009 levels, 26 percent higher than 2008 levels, and 12 percent higher than expected for the year. The previous high was set in 1999, with 21 million kilowatt hours produced.

Increases are due to multiple factors, including growing landfill size, improved landfill practices employed by Lane County, additional wells, and landfill section closures.

“2010 was the first year any section of the landfill was fully closed and sealed,” said EPUD Shop Supervisor Bill Wilson. “Before a section is closed, we can capture about 70% of the methane being produced and convert it to electricity. After a section is closed and sealed, that percentage rises to 92%.”

With help from Lane County, EPUD staff installs new wells to extract methane as the landfill grows. By installing the wells itself, EPUD saves more than 80% by not employing contractors to complete the work.

“Short Mountain Methane Power Plant is a great facility for a variety of reasons,” said Wilson. “It turns a potentially harmful gas into needed electricity for our customers, it reduces green-house gas emissions, and profits from the plant offset rates for EPUD customers.”

As of February 2011, Short Mountain is currently operating above 2010 production levels.

Xebec and Southern California Gas Co. Launch Technology to Turn Sewage Waste into Renewable Energy

2011-02-08T23:50:00.002-05:00

Xebec Adsorption Inc. ("Xebec"), watched today as their innovative biogas technology was used to launch the first renewable energy project in California to purify biogas from a wastewater treatment facility (WWTF), to meet California’s stringent natural gas quality standards. The new biogas purification plant at the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility in Escondido, CA is a joint project of the city, Southern California Gas Co. and Xebec. Xebec has provided the engineering, procurement, construction and management (EPCM) for this $2.7 million US project.

“Today represents an important achievement for Xebec,” said Kurt Sorschak, President and CEO of Xebec, a provider of biogas upgrading, natural gas and hydrogen purification solutions for the clean, energy market. “Using Xebec’s technology, the city of Escondido has the potential to produce enough natural gas to serve 1,200 homes with absolutely no negative impact on the environment, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering the overall dependence on fossil fuel derived products. As the first Canadian company to introduce this groundbreaking technology to the state of California, we believe we are one step closer to achieving our company’s vision of a world powered by clean energy.”

California is one of the world’s most advanced markets for green energy and is rapidly increasing its interest in using biogas as a source of renewable energy. Biogas produced by wastewater treatment facilities represents a large source of previously untapped renewable energy. The United States has approximately 16,000 WWTF of which 540 have been identified as being large enough to warrant biogas utilization, and only two currently produce renewable gas. Normally, biogas is burned off or “flared” and released into the atmosphere, a process that generates greenhouse gas emissions. This new facility, and others that may follow, could help California meet its Renewable Portfolio Standard goal of 33 per cent of energy being from renewable sources by 2020.

“Our revolutionary kinetic pressure swing adsorption technology enables us to remove nitrogen and oxygen in a single process step, while at the same time separating carbon dioxide and water,” said Mr. Sorschak. “This gives us a solid competitive advantage in an ever-growing marketplace that needs to address ways of producing renewable gas that meets government renewable energy targets and environmental goals like lower carbon footprints.”

Over the next twelve months, the newly purified gas at the Escondido site will be monitored and tested for potential injection into the natural gas pipeline system.