RNG NEWS
Blue Ridge Landfill RNG Project Registered for Generation of Cellulosic RINs with EPA
Element Markets is pleased to announce that the Blue Ridge Landfill in Fresno, Texas has been registered under a new Renewable Identification Number (RIN) pathway utilizing renewable natural gas (RNG) to compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquified natural gas (LNG). The Blue Ridge facility came online on November 30, 2018 and is marketed by MEM RNG, LLC (MEM), a joint venture between Element Markets and Morrow Renewables to bring RNG to the transportation fuels market.
The Blue Ridge facility serves business and residential customers in the Houston Metro Area, by providing safe and environmentally responsible waste disposal services. The landfill gas project is one of the largest in the United States.
By Element Markets
Southern California Gas Company Receives CPUC Approval for Next Development Phase of Four Dairy Waste-to-RNG Projects
Southern California Gas Co.(SoCalGas) today announced the utility received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to begin the next phase in construction of four new dairy biomethane projects in California. Last week, the CPUC approved the contracts signed between SoCalGas and the developers of the four projects for the construction of infrastructure that will connect each biomethane facility to the SoCalGas pipeline system. This approval now allows SoCalGas to move forward, starting with the design and engineering phase. When completed, biogas from anaerobic digesters at 35 dairies will be collected and then cleaned to produce pipeline-quality renewable natural gas. The new projects represent four of six pilot projects in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys selected by the CPUC, the Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Department of Food and Agriculture in December 2018. These new dairy biomethane facilities will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by harnessing methane emissions from dairy digesters and converting that energy into renewable natural gas (RNG) which can be used to heat homes and businesses, for cooking and to fuel trucks and buses.
By Market Watch
GESS International & Capstone Turbine Corp to Partner, Promote RNG with Indy Car Racing
Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq: CPST), the world’s leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, announced today that Capstone and Green Energy Sustainable Solutions, Inc. (GESS) have entered into a joint marketing agreement to further the awareness of biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) as the fuel of the future at the 103rd Indianapolis 500.
Capstone has agreed to join GESS in their partnership with Harding Steinbrenner Racing in a multi-race sponsorship of the #88 Honda-powered Indy car. Capstone and GESS will sponsor the #88 Honda-powered Indy car at the Indianapolis 500 and a variety of other races throughout the remainder of the 2019 IndyCar Series season under the terms of the joint marketing agreement. In 2019, IndyCar events will be distributed exclusively across NBC Group platforms in the USA. IndyCar reaches an audience of approximately 160 million people around the globe.
By West
RNG Coalition & Clean Energy Speak to the Benefits of RNG in GreenBiz
Across the United States and Canada, interest is accelerating in the potential for renewable natural gas (RNG), otherwise known as biomethane, to decrease transportation fleet emissions. RNG generates further interest for its potentially lower price point than competing fuels, as well as minimal friction to incorporate into existing operations. Yet, concerns with RNG’s emissions and supply security remain.
According to industry leaders, the findings are clear. "Renewable natural gas can be used in nearly every application that gasoline and diesel vehicles can be. ... Operationally, there is no limit," noted Ashley White, director and head of corporate sustainability of Clean Energy Fuels, which sells RNG.
By Gregory Heilers, GreenBiz
RNG is Heating Homes in the UK, Supplying 10 Million UK Homes by 2050
Biomethane is big news lately. In the United Kingdom, a reported 1 million homes are now using what they call “green gas” from farm and food waste for heating and cooking. There are 60 biomethane plants now in the UK, according to The Guardian. And according to the Green Gas Certification Scheme, the number of homes supplied with green gas has leapt 13-fold since 2017. Campaigners say it could supply as many as 10m UK homes by 2050.
The anaerobic digestion of food leftovers could cover a third of the gas or power demand in the UKand create 35,000 new jobs, according to the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA).
But it goes beyond the UK. Beyond Europe. Beyond the cow.
By Helena Tavares Kennedy, Biofuels Digest
Canadian NGV Market Poised for Expansion
Canada’s natural gas vehicle market has been relatively slow to develop but that may be about to change. Canada is well endowed with 300 years of natural gas reserves and is the home of leading NGV technology and dedicated NGV proponents. A new Natural Gas Solutions document from Canadian Gas Association and advocacy and leadership from the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance are raising awareness of natural gas as a potential major contributor to the nation’s environmental objectives.
Canada is the world’s fifth-largest producer of natural gas. However, as stated by Forbes, “In this booming age of natural gas, high-resourced Canada has seen flat production and demand over the past decade”. Its natural gas market is heavily integrated with those of the U.S. largely due to the location of supply basins, demand centres, and the availability of transportation infrastructure, as well as existing Canada – U.S. trade agreements. The Government of Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) reports that natural gas exports from all Canadian sources in 2018 declined by 6% compared to 2017, with almost all of that gas going across the border. Furthermore, NEB predicts that southern market to become “negligible” by 2040. This situation lends impetus to explore new export markets by way of shipped LNG, but also to look at ways to stimulate domestic consumption.
By NGV Global News
University Partners with Center for Sustainable Energy for Green Energy Research
Sustainable energy research will be accelerated though a partnership between Stony Brook University and the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) that will support, foster and accelerate cutting-edge research being conducted in Stony Brook’s Research & Development Park. A memorandum of understanding signed by both parties will also work to secure additional funding for projects and assess the regional and global commercial potential of clean energy strategies that contribute to the U.S. transition to a low-carbon economy.
The collaboration combines the research and development expertise of Stony Brook University’s Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) and Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) with the market transformation and program management experience of the CSE. CSE efforts will focus on fostering research that transitions to low carbon technologies, provide energy technology gap analysis, incorporate workforce training and education, and seek global R&D collaborations.
By Stony Brook University News
Bluesource Named Energy Excellence Awards Champion for Methane Reduction Solution
The Daily Oil Bulletin’s first annual Energy Excellence Awards were held in Calgary on Thursday, May 2. Awards were handed out in 12 categories under the banners of Operational and Project Excellence, Innovation and Research Excellence, and Exporting Excellence.
Over the next two weeks we will be profiling the champions in each of the 12 subcategories. Today’s instalment profiles the champion in the category Operational Excellence: Industry Accelerator.
Click here to read about all of the champions and finalists.
By JWN
Republic Services' Solution to the California 'Organics Challenge'
One special piece of equipment may be handling less material amid the high-volume bustle of Republic Services' large waste and recycling operation in Anaheim, California, but it's still seen as equally important for the company's local operations. Slowly but surely, this unit is helping make California's food waste recycling quest a reality.
The Mega Thor Turbo Separator is capable of processing up to 20 tons of source-separated organic waste per hour. Taking up a relatively small footprint on the tip floor, the unit sends material through a horizontal process, relying on a rotating set of hammer-like paddles that press and push it through screens. An estimated 5-10% of all incoming loads is contamination, so bags, utensils and more get shot out into a container for eventual disposal. The final product from this whole operation, which comes out with an oatmeal consistency, is compost-ready.
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive
Court: EPA Must Review Landfill Emissions Plans After Years of Delay
Dive Brief:
The EPA has been required by a federal judge in California to move forward on implementation of 2016 Emission Guidelines for landfills. Per the ruling, the agency must now review compliance plans from the five states that have submitted them by Sept. 6 and set forth a federal plan by Nov. 6.
The judge did not rule on when or how EPA should review future plan submissions from the remaining states, given that its jurisdiction is "limited to compelling EPA to perform mandatory duties it has already failed to perform." The agency's previously proposed submission deadline is Aug. 29.
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive