RNG NEWS
Renewable Energy Project will Include Hog Waste-derived RNG Injected into North Carolina Pipeline in 2018
The Winter 2017 edition of NC Pork Report, the official magazine of the North Carolina Pork Council, features the new RNG project in Duplin County that will capture methane gas from hogs and inject it into the natural gas pipeline.
The Winter 2017 edition of NC Pork Report, the official magazine of the North Carolina Pork Council, features the new RNG project in Duplin County that will capture methane gas from hogs and inject it into the natural gas pipeline.
The "Optima KV" project will be the first to do so in the state. The project is a collaboration between Smithfield Foods, two local farmers, investors, and Cavanaugh Associates LLC. They expect the project to be injecting into the pipeline in early 2018.
RNG Coalition member Duke Energy will buy the swine waste-derived RNG, which will help the company meet goals mandated under the state's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard law.
Download the full article HERE.
Texas A&M Study indicates that biochar could significantly improve anaerobic digester performance
By Bioenergy Insight.
In a paper by Texas A&M scientists, biochar shows potential for increasing efficiency of the anaerobic digestion of animal manure.
By Bioenergy Insight.
In a paper by Texas A&M scientists, biochar shows potential for increasing efficiency of the anaerobic digestion of animal manure.
Biochar is a charcoal material composed of agricultural by-products, including manure, crop residues and grasses. The substance can be used as a fertiliser and as a filter to remove contaminants from water and wastewater, including antibiotics, pesticides and hormones; in the process, biochar captures CO2 and ammonia.
Why Some Greenhouses are Sourcing Landfill Gas for Heat and Electricity
By Arlene Karidis, Waste 360.
British Columbia is mandated to have 75 percent landfill gas collection efficiency, and to comply with this mandate, landfills are partnering with greenhouses.
By Arlene Karidis, Waste 360.
British Columbia is mandated to have 75 percent landfill gas collection efficiency, and to comply with this mandate, landfills are partnering with greenhouses.
One of these landfills, Vancouver Landfill, has formed a relationship with Village Farms International, designers and operators of greenhouses in North America that also sell produce. Vancouver Landfill sells about 55 percent of its gas to Village Farms, which uses it to heat one of its greenhouses while generating electricity for Canadian electric utility BC Hydro.
Heating is among these plant growers’ highest expenses, and they require a lot of energy for a relatively small footprint. Further, they typically prioritize reducing their carbon footprint, so a cheaper, cleaner alternative to natural gas appeals to them.
Colorado calls for applications for possible Anaerobic Digester, RNG projects
On January 3, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a Request for Application (RFA) for Recycling Grants entitled "Building Opportunities to Maximize Waste Diversion and Create Jobs in Colorado."
The purpose of this RFA is to fund implementation projects that lead to new opportunities to increase waste diversion as well as to create jobs. Projects may focus on recycling, composting, waste minimization, anaerobic digestion, repurposing, or reuse for a wide variety of materials.
On January 3, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a Request for Application (RFA) for Recycling Grants entitled "Building Opportunities to Maximize Waste Diversion and Create Jobs in Colorado."
The purpose of this RFA is to fund implementation projects that lead to new opportunities to increase waste diversion as well as to create jobs. Projects may focus on recycling, composting, waste minimization, anaerobic digestion, repurposing, or reuse for a wide variety of materials.
In an effort to work toward achieving the goals stated above, the department has developed a tiered system to prioritize the types of projects that will best help the state improve its waste diversion rate and create economic opportunities. Projects that meet the criteria in the first tier will be prioritized over those that meet the criteria in the second and third tiers. The tiers are outlined below.
Interested companies and prospective applicants should submit any initial inquiries in writing by January 17 (3 pm MST). The application submittal deadline is March 2.
How Smithfield Foods partnered with Roeslein Alternative Energy to save one of the largest hog farms in the U.S.
By Betsy Freese, Successful Farming at Agriculture.com.
The history of the former Premium Standard Farms (PSF) hog operation in northern Missouri is as tortured as any in the modern swine industry. (See the 30-year time line at the bottom of this story for details.)
When Smithfield Foods bought the formerly bankrupt 221,000-sow complex in 2006, PSF was the second-largest pork producer in the U.S. (behind Smithfield). It was bogged down in nuisance lawsuits, the barns were in disrepair, and pig performance was poor.
By Betsy Freese, Successful Farming at Agriculture.com.
The history of the former Premium Standard Farms (PSF) hog operation in northern Missouri is as tortured as any in the modern swine industry. (See the 30-year time line at the bottom of this story for details.)
When Smithfield Foods bought the formerly bankrupt 221,000-sow complex in 2006, PSF was the second-largest pork producer in the U.S. (behind Smithfield). It was bogged down in nuisance lawsuits, the barns were in disrepair, and pig performance was poor.
Keeping the operation running was a struggle for several years after the purchase. One industry analyst told Successful Farming magazine in 2011, “I advised them to get a bunch of bulldozers and push it in a hole and walk away. That would be cheaper than feeding it.”
Smithfield stuck with the business, now called Smithfield Hog Production - Missouri, bringing in a new general manager, Michael Rainwater, more than six years ago and infusing substantial capital to turn the operation around.
Brazil establishes national biofuels policy
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
Brazilian President Michel Temer has approved legislation creating RenovaBio, a new national biofuels policy. The law was published in the official federal gazette of Brazil on Dec. 26. The Brazilian Senate approved the bill on Dec. 12.
RenovaBio aims to increase the use of all biofuels, including ethanol, biodiesel and biomethane, in Brazil with the aim of increasing energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
How EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program has supported LFG to Energy projects
By Arlene Karidis, Waste 360.
As of 2016, there were 648 landfill gas-to-energy (LFGE) projects in the U.S., and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has supported many of them. Its partners are communities, landfill owners and operators, utilities, power marketers, states, project developers, tribes and nonprofit organizations.
By Arlene Karidis, Waste 360.
As of 2016, there were 648 landfill gas-to-energy (LFGE) projects in the U.S., and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has supported many of them. Its partners are communities, landfill owners and operators, utilities, power marketers, states, project developers, tribes and nonprofit organizations.
The voluntary program, which launched in 1994, has grown to 1,100 partners who tap into varied supports, sometimes to develop first-of-a-kind projects that have gone on to serve as industry models.
“As the industry matured, LMOP has focused on the development and dissemination of technical tools and resources, including a comprehensive database on landfill gas-to-energy projects and candidate landfills, a cost-estimating tool that provides an initial economic feasibly analysis for developing a landfill gas-to-energy project and a handbook that provides an overview of energy project development,” says Kirsten Cappel, LMOP program manager.
U.S. Gain hires new marketing manager Stephanie Lowney
By USGasVehicles.com.
U.S. Gain, a division of U.S. Venture, Inc., is pleased to announce the hiring of Stephanie Lowney as the division’s marketing manager.
By USGasVehicles.com.
U.S. Gain, a division of U.S. Venture, Inc., is pleased to announce the hiring of Stephanie Lowney as the division’s marketing manager.
In the position, Lowney will focus on helping customers achieve their sustainability objectives by communicating the environmental and economic benefits of implementing GAIN Clean Fuels within customers’ operations, and sharing the differentiated value proposition to position GAIN as the trusted clean fuel advisor and partner through a variety of strategic marketing initiatives.
Longmont, CO Awarded $1M for Project to Convert Sewage Treatment Gas to RNG Fuel
By City of Longmont, Colorado.
In 2018, the City of Longmont will begin construction of a project at its Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) to make fuel from gas produced in the treatment of Longmont's sewage. The project will convert dirty biogas (generated through anaerobic digestion) into clean Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The RNG produced will then be used to power the City’s trash trucks. Longmont will be the first city on Colorado's eastern slope to convert biogas to vehicle fuel.
By City of Longmont, Colorado.
In 2018, the City of Longmont will begin construction of a project at its Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) to make fuel from gas produced in the treatment of Longmont's sewage. The project will convert dirty biogas (generated through anaerobic digestion) into clean Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The RNG produced will then be used to power the City’s trash trucks. Longmont will be the first city on Colorado's eastern slope to convert biogas to vehicle fuel.
The project will require new biogas cleaning equipment at the WWTP and fueling infrastructure. To support this effort, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs recently awarded the City with a $1,000,000 grant to offset a portion of the capital costs required. Upon completion of the RNG fueling station in 2019, 11 of the City’s 16 diesel trash trucks will be replaced with trucks capable of using RNG fuel (this change-out aligns with the existing replacement schedule for those trucks). The remaining five diesel trucks will be replaced in 2021. The Colorado Regional Air Quality Council awarded the City with a grant for $35,000 per truck ($385,000 total) to cover 80% of the difference in cost between an RNG truck and a diesel truck.
When the project is complete, it is estimated that the City will be offsetting over 60,000 gallons of fossil fuels annually, reducing greenhouse gases by nearly 800 metric tons of CO2-eq per year. The project will also eliminate the variability in fuel costs for trash services and provide a revenue stream to fund future WWTP projects through the sale of federal renewable fuel credits.
The RNG fueling station is an example of the City pursuing an innovative project that provides economic value to the community while also aligning with multiple goals in the Envision Longmont & Sustainability Plans. Learn more about these goals at LongmontColorado.gov/community/sustainability.
Plans for redevelopment of Hartford, CT recycling facility call for both Anaerobic Digestion and Waste-to-Energy
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection has selected the Sacyr Rooney Recovery Team to redevelop Hartford's Materials Innovation and Recycle Authority (MIRA) waste-to-energy facility, as reported by the Hartford Courant. The team comprises the Spanish company Sacry, Manhattan Construction Group, Synagro and CWPM.
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection has selected the Sacyr Rooney Recovery Team to redevelop Hartford's Materials Innovation and Recycle Authority (MIRA) waste-to-energy facility, as reported by the Hartford Courant. The team comprises the Spanish company Sacry, Manhattan Construction Group, Synagro and CWPM.
The plan calls for recycling an estimated 40% of incoming waste, either through anaerobic digestion, composting or enhanced recycling technologies. The remainder would be processed via combustion. Sacyr Rooney must now reach a final agreement with Hartford, which DEEP hopes will happen by August, before the plan can proceed. he developer would need a year to obtain permits and two years for construction, with a target of 2022 for full operation.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin promised to fight the plan or negotiate for additional environmental protections and higher payments to the city. Bronin said that incinerating and processing trash could not be "the highest and best use for approximately 100 acres of riverfront land." DEEP officials say the developer's plan would result in lower tipping fees and contract rates for customers.