Integrated Biogas Alliance Announces First Dairy Biogas Project in North America

The IBA, in concert with EIP Ventures is in final stage development of a 7 dairy, 16,500 head biogas project. The project is expected to close in late Q1 2021.

“We are excited to announce our first dairy biogas project” stated Christopher Maloney, President of the IBA. “This is a culmination of over two years of terrific development work by the Boise Biogas Group, led by IBA Partner and lead project manager Digester Doc. The project is located on approximately 50 acres near Boise Idaho and ideally situated near a natural gas pipeline. This project is the first phase of a much larger biogas facility planned for the site and will generate over 1,200 MMBtu of renewable natural gas per day. When completed, this project is expected to create more than 300 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase, and the facility will ultimately employ 15 full-time staff on-site with an additional 40 jobs associated with hauling and off-site processing. The project will bring together the technologies, equipment and related consulting, engineering, and construction services of many of the IBA companies.”

“This project has cleared all major permits and approvals and has strong local and State support said BBG spokesman and Digester Doc President, Will Charlton. ”We are excited to advance this project in collaboration with Chris, Tom, Beverly and the IBA team. The project will be a strong addition to the renewable energy capacity coming from the Idaho dairy community”.

EIP Ventures out of New York will be leading the final phase of development for the IBA ensuring completion. “This project will remove the equivalent of 260 gallons of diesel per hour derived pollution from the atmosphere and will prevent the emissions of approximately 2.2 million gallons of diesel annually, which is equivalent to planting a 36,000-acre forest – every year. EIP Ventures is excited to collaborate with the IBA to ensure the project’s success” stated Beverly Westle, Managing Director of EIP Ventures.

Schumann Tanks from Germany which has hundreds of references around the world and a 20-year reputation for excellence and quality. Schumann Tanks is considered one of the top companies in the world-wide tank construction industry, accounting for over 25% of all biodigester tank sales globally and has deployed equipment on biogas and water treatment projects in 8 U.S. states. Global anaerobic digestion expert, Zenviro Tech US Inc., based in Crystal Lake, Illinois (formerly US based Eisenmann Environmental Technology) will provide the AD process engineering and design for the project. Greenlane Renewables based in Vancouver Canada is expected to provide the required biogas upgrading system. Symbiont, Science, Engineering & Construction, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin will lead the balance of plant design and construction of the plant. Symbiont SEC is a market leader in North America for EPC, general contracting and design-build execution of renewable natural gas and energy projects.

BIOGEST builds 1st biogas plant in Idaho

• 90,000MMBTU/year of installed capacity
• 120,000t of cow manure
• Dairy farm in Idaho

BIOGEST received its first US order to build an agricultural biogas plant in Idaho. The plant has a thermal output of 90,000 MMBTU p.a. and operates on 120,000t of cow manure per year. During the process, the manure is transformed into high-quality organic fertilizer that acts as a substitute for chemical products. BIOGEST’s proven biogas plant technology offers significant advantages in energy efficiency and operational safety as well as an easy and cost-efficient maintenance system.

The expanding energy gap, technology growth and population density has greatly increased the importance of renewable energy resources. Biogas production from animal, agricultural and food waste is one of the most rapidly expanding sectors of renewable energy in the United States. Federal and State Governments support this development through several programs such as the Californian Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), which has led to major investments in the construction of biomethane plants that will become renewable fuel suppliers for the transport sector.

BIOGEST America CEO Martin Schlerka “The local agriculture in Idaho is vast and impressive, allowing for ample opportunity to utilize alternative energy sources. This first project will be a best practice example for our US project pipeline and we can’t wait to show our reference plant to potential clients live!”

BIOGEST America CFO Gregor Vogrin “Our first project in the US will combine proven, high-efficiency digestion with the excellent market conditions the US has to offer. It will also serve as a key reference for future renewable biomethane projects. We look forward to supporting more farms as they diversify their income and embrace renewable energy technology!”

Florida PSC Approves Renewable Natural Gas Service for Florida City Gas

The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved a new Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Service tariff for Florida City Gas (FCG).  FCG can now offer services to convert biogas into usable renewable natural gas, and receive and transport RNG through its distribution system on behalf of the biogas producer.

RNG—biogas that has been processed to meet pipeline quality standards--is produced from materials such as wastewater treatment plants, landfills, municipal solid waste, livestock manure, and agricultural waste. Once conditioned, RNG can be interchangeable with natural gas from other sources.

According to FCG, RNG use reduces total greenhouse gas emissions, and RNG use offsets natural gas demand for the utility’s biogas-producing customers. This potential offset could allow for new growth in FCG’s service territory. 

Under the tariff, FCG would contract to construct and operate RNG facilities on behalf of the customer. The RNG produced would be used onsite by the customer or injected into FCG’s distribution system on behalf of the customer. 

All capital and operating costs associated with the RNG conversion process will be borne by the customer requesting and agreeing to the FCG service contract. Tariff safeguards will ensure that the utility’s general customers will not subsidize biogas customers.

 FCG has received inquiries from residential, commercial, and industrial customers about RNG availability. FCG serves approximately 114,000 natural gas customers in southern Florida.

Gevo Announces Net-Zero 1 Project

Gevo, Inc. announces the concept of Net-Zero Projects for the production of energy dense liquid hydrocarbons using renewable energy and Gevo’s proprietary technology. The concept of a Net-Zero Project is to convert renewable energy (photosynthetic, wind, renewable natural gas, biogas) from a variety of sources into energy dense liquid hydrocarbons, that when burned in traditional engines, have the potential to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the whole lifecycle of the liquid fuel: from the way carbon is captured from the atmosphere, processed to make liquid fuel products, and including the end use (burning as a fuel for cars, planes, trucks, and ships). Gevo announces that its project currently planned to be constructed at Lake Preston, South Dakota will be the first Net-Zero Project and will be named “Net-Zero 1.” Gevo expects that Net-Zero 1 would have the capability to produce liquid hydrocarbons that when burned have a “net-zero” greenhouse gas footprint.

Net-Zero 1 is currently expected to have a capacity of 45MGPY of hydrocarbons (for gasoline and jet fuel, based on current take-or-pay contracts), to produce more than 350,000,000 pounds per year of high protein feed products for use in the food chain, to produce enough renewable natural gas to be self-sufficient for the production process needs, and also to generate renewable electricity with a combined heat and power system. Net-Zero 1 is also expected to utilize wind energy.

Because of the low-carbon footprint feedstocks, the sustainable agricultural practices used to produce feedstock, and the use of renewable energy for the production processes, much of which is expected to be generated on-site, the hydrocarbon fuel products produced at Net-Zero 1 have the potential to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as measured across the whole of the lifecycle based on Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model, the pre-eminent science-based lifecycle analysis model. The GREET model takes into account emissions and impacts "cradle to cradle" for renewable resource-based fuels including: inputs and generation of raw materials, agriculture practices, chemicals used in production processes of both feedstocks and products, energy sources used in production and transportation, and end fate of products, which for fuel products is usually burning to release energy.

The capital cost for Net-Zero 1 is projected to be on the order of $700M including the hydrocarbon production and related renewable energy infrastructure which includes anaerobic digestion to produce biogas to run our plant and generate some electricity on-site. Citigroup is assisting Gevo in raising the necessary capital for Net-Zero 1.

“This is not a new project but rather the first of the projects that we have been working on with Citigroup to get financed. We are naming our future projects Net-Zero to make clear the mission we are on to reduce GHG emissions. By using carbon from the air as our raw material source with its inherent low-carbon footprint, sustainable agriculture, a combination of renewable energy obtained from photosynthesis, wind, and biogas, we see that it is possible to transform renewable energy into liquid hydrocarbon fuels that work with combustion engines typical of cars, planes, and trucks with the added benefit that these fuels have a net-zero carbon footprint across the whole lifecycle. Think about it: it is conceivable to eliminate tailpipe emissions from cars, planes and trucks on a net GHG basis, while leveraging existing cars, planes, and trucks on a full 'cradle to cradle' GHG basis. Our Net-Zero 1 Project isn’t just about capturing renewable energy and carbon, and transforming it into liquid renewable energy; it’s also about generating enormous quantities of protein, and nutrition for the food chain. The high protein feed would be low-carbon footprint too—and we are happy to help farmers raise beef, pigs, chicken, and dairy in a way that lowers GHG emissions. We’ve got work to do to make it all happen,” said Dr. Patrick R. Gruber, Chief Executive Officer, Gevo. “We believe that there will be demand for additional Net-Zero projects in the future,” Gruber continued.

Himark BioGas To Build 3 Anaerobic Digestion Plants

Himark BioGas International has signed an agreement with NEO Energy LLC for the design, construction, and start-up of three integrated anaerobic digestion (AD) and fertilizer plants in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The AD plants will recycle food waste to produce organic-based fertilizer and renewable electricity.

As part of the agreement, Himark BioGas will act as a technology licensor and owner’s representative on behalf of NEO Energy LLC during the design, construction and operation stages of the plants.

AD plants designed on Himark BioGas’ patented “IMUS” technology can produce renewable energy and pathogen-free fertilizer from food waste (which is what NEO is focused on), source separated organic materials, cow manure, ethanol plant waste/thin stillage, slaughter house waste, food processing waste, and agricultural waste (open pen feedlot, sand-laden dairies, etc.). The IMUS technology also can handle feedstock containing large amounts of sand, dirt, rocks, plastic, and cellulose. Furthermore, with its turnkey, guaranteed-maximum capital cost designs, Himark BioGas guarantees electricity, gas and fertilizer outputs with any kind of feedstock. Himark’s AD plants are developed and integrated with the client’s processes at a rapid pace and the best short- and long-range profitability.

The entire catalog of technologies enjoys protection by patents in the U.S. and various other countries.

Shane Chrapko, CEO of Himark BioGas commented, “The development of the anaerobic digestion plants will positively contribute to effective food waste recycling, profitable pathogen-free fertilizer production, energy self-sufficiency and a reduction in carbon emissions for the local communities. Each ton of food waste diverted from the landfill will reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by just over one ton of CO2 (Equivalent).”

Robert Nicholson, President of NEO Energy LLC, says that “NEO’s anaerobic digestion plants will recycle food waste generated by supermarkets, food processors, restaurants and other institutions and divert that waste away from landfills and incineration facilities. Our plants produce a high-quality organic-based fertilizer while reducing greenhouse gases, preserving landfill capacity and producing renewable energy. Our first plants will also be available to those businesses that will need to comply with the 2014 commercial food waste disposal ban in Massachusetts and the recently enacted law in Rhode Island requiring that food residuals produced by large waste generators be recycled starting in 2016.”