Kettering University Hosts Biogas Summit in Flint

Kettering University was the showcase for some of the most innovative minds in the Biogas industry in Michigan during an invitation-only Biogas Summit in Flint Oct. 29.

Dr. Jennifer Aurandt, assistant professor of Chemistry/Biochemistry at Kettering, hosted the Biogas Summit, as part of the Flint Center of Energy Excellence partnering with Swedish Biogas International USA, and Anders Ek, the chief technical officer at Swedish Biogas International-Korea, offered the keynote speech.

"The Center of Energy Excellence at Kettering University is excited to host researchers from across the state," Aurandt said. "The event will foster the collaboration and exchange of ideas between those working in the area of anaerobic digestion in Michigan."

Kettering University President Stan Liberty offered an official welcome to open the event and discussed the importance of bioenergy and researching alternative fuels. Professionals from Michigan's major research universities presented during the summit.

Dr. Dana Kirk, from Michigan State University, discussed research on holistic anaerobic digestion. Dr. Steve Safferman also from MSU presented information on anaerobic digestion performance on blended feedstocks.

Dr. Lutgarde Raskin and Adam L. Smith from the University of Michigan presented research on methane production from domestic wastewater using anaerobic membrane bioreactors.

Dr. Dan Cassidy and Evangelia Belia from Western Michigan University presented findings on methane production from ethanol co-products in anaerobic SBRs.

Dr. Nancy Love and Sherri Cook from the University of Michigan discussed a regional strategy -- from managing food processing to septage waste.

Dr. Jennifer Becker from Michigan Technological University presented information development of a microbial fuel cell to generate electricity from lignocellulosic biomass.

Dr. Nadia Abunassar from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Wayne State University discussed how the MEDC promotes bioenergy in Michigan.

The summit concluded with a tour of the Kettering University/Swedish Biogas International Anaerobic Digestion Lab in the Innovation Center at Kettering University, followed by a dinner reception at the Flint Institute of Arts in Flint.

Source : Press Release

$3.3 Million in Recovery Funds to Help Convert Landfill Gas into Energy

Grants to Help Counties Cut Utility Bills, Save Taxpayer Dollars and Create Jobs

The North Carolina Energy Office today announced the distribution of $3.3 million in federal Recovery Act funds to six counties for the development of projects to convert methane gases from landfills into fuel to produce electricity. Money for the program is from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Grant funds will be used to support design, planning, permitting, equipment purchases, contracting, installation, and other items directly necessary for the successful installation and operation of landfill energy systems, including landfill gas collection, gas conditioning, or end-use equipment such as boilers, generators, or turbines.

The following counties received funding:

* Columbus County -- $544,500 to install landfill gas generators to produce electricity and to develop on-site greenhouses to use waste heat from the generators. Total cost of the project is $951,500.

* Edgecombe County -- $325,000 to install generators to produce electricity and develop uses for the waste heat from the generators. Total cost of the project is $825,000.

* Robeson County -- $1 million to capture, condition and compress methane gas and use it to produce thermal energy for adjacent business use. Total cost of the project is $1,549,900.

* Rockingham County -- $814,300 to install and operate a methane collection system, carbon credit verification equipment and electricity generators and electricity interconnect upgrades. Total cost of the project is $1.9 million.

* Scotland County -- $250,000 to build a gas collection system and use the methane to run an engine/generator for electricity generation. Total cost of the project is $336,045.

* Wilkes County -- $358,635 to complete a gas collection system and use the gas for electricity generation and thermal heat for a greenhouse project.

Gulf Power’s first renewable energy facility now buzzing at Perdido Landfill

Gulf Power’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy facility started commercial operations on Oct. 7, producing 3,200 kilowatts — enough renewable energy to power more than 900 homes.

It is the first renewable energy generation facility owned and operated by Gulf Power, and the first landfill gas facility by its parent Southern Company. The energy capacity can be expanded as landfill methane gas production expands in the future.

The partnership between Gulf Power and Escambia County was launched officially in February, when Gulf Power broke ground on its $5.3-million facility. Gulf Power has a contract with Escambia County for the purchase of landfill gas and with LFG Technologies Development to build and operate the landfill gas-to-energy facility.

Educational tours soon will be available for school groups and the community. A ribbon-cutting event hosted by Gulf Power and Escambia County is scheduled for Oct. 27.

“The project showcases how Gulf Power can partner with Escambia County and other communities to produce affordable renewable energy while providing tremendous benefits for our community and the environment,” said Sandy Sims, manager of Gulf Power Public Affairs. “We will produce renewable electricity that will benefit Gulf Power customers and create revenue for Escambia County. And it gives us an opportunity to teach schoolchildren about renewable energy.”

Landfill methane gas is one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy, forming naturally by bacterial decomposition of organic material in landfills.

Municipal solid waste landfills are the second largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States and methane is one of the most potent forms of greenhouse gases — 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Escambia County has a collection system in place and pipes the gas to the facility, where it is processed for use by the specially designed Caterpillar 1,600-kilowatt landfill gas generators. Water separated from the landfill gas will be re-used by the Landfill for its leachate system.

Source : Press Release

Nation's First Poo-Powered Gas Plant Goes Online

San Antonio Water System and Ameresco, Inc. and local officials joined together today to host the grand opening of their new biogas facility at the Dos Rios Water Recycling Center. The biogas project is the first sustainable project of its kind in the nation, capturing biogas generated during the sewage treatment process and selling it through a commercial gas pipeline.

“SAWS is constantly improving its operations to become more sustainable, and this project is a sound investment for our environment and our community,” said Robert R. Puente, SAWS President/CEO. “By reusing biogas instead of burning it off, we are helping protect the city’s air quality and developing a renewable energy resource.”

Methane gas is generated by biosolids during the sewage treatment process. Previously, SAWS burned off the gas using flares. With this 20-year partnership, Ameresco will treat and transfer at least 900,000 cubic feet of gas to a nearby commercial gas pipeline, where they will sell it on the open market. In return, SAWS ratepayers will receive a royalty on the sale of the gas, estimated at $200,000 a year, reducing the cost of SAWS operations and keeping rates affordable. SAWS is the first large wastewater utility to partner with a private sector company, Ameresco, to actively sell biogas in the United States.

“At Ameresco, we are driven to help our customers find renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions to achieve their goals,” said Michael T. Bakas, Ameresco’s senior vice president of renewable energy. “Whether those goals are a sustainable environment, reducing costs or reusing a resource, our energy engineers, project managers and plant specialists can make these goals a reality. Ameresco is proud to be a part of this team and groundbreaking project.”

With the addition of the biogas facility, SAWS is recycling and reusing almost all of the waste coming into Dos Rios through its “recycling trifecta.” Biosolids are also reused to generate compost, which is used in landscaping, gardening and agriculture to improve soil quality. Finally, the third part of the trifecta is recycled water. About 115 million gallons a day of high-quality recycled water are used for the Riverwalk, golf courses, parks, and commercial and industrial customers as well as in the upper San Antonio River and Salado Creek.

Source : Press Release

IEA Releases Guide For Utilizing Digestate From Biogas Plants As Biofertilizer

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a guide titled 'Utilisation of digestate from biogas plants as biofertiliser'.

This brochure describes how Anaerobic Digestion of manures and other organic residues can be used to produce both renewable energy and organic fertiliser – as biogas and digestate.

The information in this brochure is intended to inform prospective biogas/digestate producers as well as policy makers and regulators.

Utilisation of digestate from biogas plants as biofertiliser