April 2015 News and Matters of
Interest
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Remember to check our Highlights for new postings on other areas of
Teru Talk.
Viridor's Beddington EfW Plant Gets Judicial Approval to
Proceed
Viridor has announced that the final judicial ruling has been issued confirming
that due process was followed by the London Borough of Sutton when deciding to grant planning permission for the
company’s proposed Energy Recovery Facility in Beddington. Viridor entered into a 25 year waste treatment contract with the South London
Waste Partnership in 2012 that included a requirement to construct the facility. In March 2014, the London
Borough of Sutton granted planning permission with an associated section 106 legal agreement that includes
significant benefits for the local community: Since then, a legal challenge filed by Mr Sasha Khan’s legal team
has resulted in the London Borough of Sutton’s decision to be further scrutinized by the High Court and the
Court of Appeal. The Beddington ERF facility will process 275,000 tonnes of residual, post-recycling waste with
substantial environmental benefits including the landfill diversion of up around 95 percent of waste delivered
to the facility. It will generate 26MW of electricity to be supplied to the National Grid – enough to power
around 30,000 homes and contributing towards a more resource efficient Britain.
04/29/2015
RSB Releases Draft Standard for Low Indirect Impact iLUC
Biofuels
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) has released the draft “Low iLUC Risk Biomass Criteria and Compliance Indicators.” iLUC refers
to the indirect impacts of biofuels due to land-use changes induced by the expansion of croplands for ethanol or
biodiesel production in response to the increased global demand for biofuels. By complying with this new
criteria, producers will be able to demonstrate that biomass was produced with no indirect impact on food
production or biodiversity. For example, they could do this through an increase in yield, intercropping, using
unused/degraded land, or waste/residue materials. The new criteria and indicators will form the basis of an add-
on module to the RSB standard for biofuels and bio-products is based on the Low Indirect Impact Biofuels (LIIB)
Methodology, developed in collaboration with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Ecofys. RSB-certified
operators that comply with the new criteria and compliance indicators will be entitled to an extra “low iLUC
risk” on-product claim. The new iLUC standard is undergoing consultation with RSB members and will be finalized
by the Assembly of Delegates at the June 1st General Assembly meeting in Geneva. Companies may contact the RSB
Secretariat at <> for details on preparing for the low iLUC audit process.
04/29/2015
Due 05/21/2015: Proposals to City of Palo Alto for Renewable Electric
Power
The City of Palo Alto, California has released a Request for Proposals RFP 156876 to provide electric power generated by renewable resources
to meet the City’s long-term renewable portfolio needs. The City intends to negotiate and execute one or more
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), for terms of 5 to 30 years. The City’s resource eligibility standards are the
same as those established by the California Energy Commission. However, the City has a very strong preference
for Proposals that would qualify as Portfolio Content Category 1 (PCC1). Eligible resources include biodiesel,
biomass, biomethane (digester or landfill gas), fuel cell using renewable fuels, or municipal solid waste, as
well as other renewable sources. A non-mandatory, pre-proposal teleconference is scheduled for Friday, May 1,
2015 at 10:30 a.m. In order to participate, call 1-877-336-1831 using Access Code: 5301570. Questions or
comments must be received no later than 1:00 pm on Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Inquiries shall be e-mailed to
<> and <>. All Proposals shall be submitted via email to
<> no later than 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2015. Proposal material submitted in
hard copy will not be considered. 04/29/2015
European Parliament Supports 2nd Generation Waste and Residual
Biofuels
The European Parliament has voted to put a 7% maximum cap on land based biofuels, those made
from maize, sugar cane, corn or rapeseed. The draft law also accelerates the shift to alternative feedstocks,
such as wastes and residuals, for the production of 2nd generation biofuels. The adopted text of the bill has
just been made available on-line in the Parliament's briefing packet (scroll to P8_TA-PROV(2015)0100: Fuel quality
directive and renewable energy directive). Much of the decision is based on detailed analyses of the greenhouse
gas emissions (GHG) related to indirect land use change (ILUC): "Based on forecasts of biofuel demand provided
by the Member States and estimates of indirect land use change emissions for different biofuel feedstocks, it is
likely that greenhouse gas emissions linked to indirect land use change are significant, and could negate some
or all of the greenhouse gas emission savings of individual biofuels." The decision expands upon past
legislation in support of making biofuels from wastes and residuals: "Advanced biofuels, such as those made from
wastes and algae, provide high greenhouse gas emission savings, with low risk of causing indirect land use
change, and do not compete directly for agricultural land for the food and feed markets." Member states must
enact the legislation by 2017. 04/28/2015
Global Bioenergies Receives Tech40 Designation from French
Ministry
France headquartered Global Bioenergies reports that it has been selected as only one of two French companies in the field of
biotechnology to receive the Tech40 designation. Global Bioenergies' patented fermentation process converts
low-value renewable feedstock to high-value biochemicals. Last month, the company reported the first production
of isobutene from waste biomass. The newly launched Tech40 label
highlights 40 high-tech companies listed on the European trading platform Alternext, indicating highly performing companies which are now
regrouped in a dedicated market index. The list of the 40 companies that constitute the Tech40 label was
revealed on April 27, 2015 during a ceremony held at the French Ministry of Economy and Industry. Companies
included in the Tech 40 group are listed on Euronext markets in Amsterdam, Brussels, Lisbon or Paris.
04/28/2015
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant to Celebrate 5 Years, Dedicate New
Bioreactors
Bio Base Europe has released an invitation to attend the organization's celebration of 5 years
of Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant and the Inauguration of 15,000 Liter
Bioreactors. The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a flexible and multipurpose pilot plant that develops and scales
up biobased products and processes to production scale. The facility custom manufactures bioproducts and operate
from the kilogram to multi ton scale, within a "one-stop-shop" that can perform the complete bioprocesses, from
biomass raw material to the pure and refined bioproduct. Technologies include biorefining, biomass pretreatment,
biocatalysis, fermentation, downstream processing and green chemistry, and operations are designed to serve
companies and research institutes worldwide. The 5 Year Celebration will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 from
14:00-18:00 at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. Participation is free, but online registration by June 9th is required.
04/28/2015
All US Nestle Factories Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill
Nestle USA has announced that all 23 of its factories are now landfill-free. The
industry spans confections, dairy, frozen and refrigerated meals, ice cream, baking ingredients, and beverages.
Nestlé USA notes that the company is continually looking for new ways to reuse, recycle, and recover energy when
disposing of manufacturing by-products. The company's current efforts include composting, recycling, energy production, and
the provision of safe products for animal feed. Globally, Nestlé has committed to improving resource efficiency in its operations, pledging
in 2013 to achieve zero waste to landfill across its business by 2020. Fifteen percent of all of Nestlé's
factories worldwide (72 in total) achieved zero waste for disposal for all of 2014. This achievement exceeds
Nestlé's goal of having 10 percent of its global factories at this stage by 2015.
04/23/2015
Battelle Team Passes Important DOE Biomass Pyrolysis
Milestone
Ohio based Battelle Memorial Institute has announced its success in the US Department of Energy (DOE) challenge
of making commercially viable transportation fuels from biomass pyrolysis. Battelle demonstrated the durability
of a continuous process that converts bio-oil from biomass pyrolysis into transportation and aviation fuels with
more than 1,200 hours on its hydrotreatment catalysts. The DOE's specific challenge was to demonstrate at least
1,000 hours of bio-oil hydrotreatment on a single catalyst charge, while producing a fuel product suitable as a
transportation fuel-blend stock at commercially realistic yield. Longevity of hydrotreatment catalysts has long
been the Achilles' heel for converting biomass pyrolysis oils to biofuels. Scientists and engineers have now set
their sights on achieving the commercial standard of 4,000 hours in the near future. Marathon Petroleum
Corporation provided Battelle with some support in the DOE and helped in assessing the biofuel product.
Scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) developed bio-oil stabilization catalysts for
Battelle's process. 04/23/2015
Biome Bioplastics Leads £3m Sustainable Chemicals Development
Program
United Kingdom based Biome Bioplastics has begun a major development program to advance successful bio-based
chemicals research through to industrial scale production. The program's aim is to harness industrial
biotechnology techniques to produce bio-based chemicals from lignin at a scale suitable for industrial testing.
Lignin is an abundant waste product of the pulp and paper industry. The extensive £3m, three-year work program
led by Biome Bioplastics has received significant support from Innovate UK, the Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), among
others. The scale-up work will involve several parallel projects undertaken in partnership with specialist units
at the Universities of Warwick, Liverpool and Leeds as well as the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) on
Teesside. In addition to converting lignin feedstocks, Biome Bioplastics will also be leading a one-year
feasibility study with the University of Liverpool into the possibility of extracting similar organic chemicals
from the cellulose portion of lignocellulose. This work is expected to broaden the possible raw materials that
can be used in the manufacture of bioplastics to include waste streams such as agriculture.
4/22/2015
Valmet and Metsä Finalize Technology Order for Äänekoski Bioproduct
Mill
Finnish company Valmet Corporation and Metsä Fibre have signed the agreement for supply of key technology to Metsä Fibre's
new Äänekoski bioproduct mill in Finland. Valmet announced the letter of intent of the delivery on February 13, 2015. Valmet;s
delivery includes recovery boiler, pulp drying line, gasification plant, lime kiln, and a mill wide Valmet DNA
automation system. The estimated value of Valmet's delivery, which includes only the core equipment supplied by
Valmet, is about EUR 125-150 million. The construction of the bioproduct mill will start immediately and the
production at the new mill is scheduled to begin during the third quarter of 2017. The new bioproduct mill in
Äänekoski is the largest investment of the forest industry in Finland. Metsä Fibre's total investment will
amount to approximately EUR 1.2 billion and the mill's annual pulp production will be approximately 1.3 million
tonnes. 04/22/2015
Detroit Zoo Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for Zoo Poo to
Bioenergy
The Detroit Zoological Society has begun raising funds toward installing an anaerobic digester at the Detroit
Zoo to convert about 400 tons per year of animal manure into biomethane. The effort is the latest project in the
Zoo's "Greenprint" initiative, along with lighting and energy efficiency upgrades and introduction of
solar-powered carts. The biogas will power the 18,000-square-foot Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex at the
Detroit Zoo, the state-of-the art veterinary hospital for the animals. The campaign is through Michigan-based
crowdfunding platform Patronicity, where additional details of the project are available. If the Zoo can reach
its current goal of $55,000 by June 15, 2015, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will provide a
matching grant. Go to the Patronicity website to donate.
04/21/2015
Blue Sphere Forms JV for 3.2 MW Biogas Generation Facility in Rhode
Island
Israel based Blue Sphere Corporation has announced the closing of a Joint Venture (JV) with an affiliate
of York Capital Management to develop, construct, and operate a
3.2 MW biogas generation facility in Johnston, Rhode Island (Project)
under the management of Entropy Investment Management. Under the terms of the Joint Venture, Blue Sphere owns
22.75% of the Project and received an initial payment of $1,481,900 in cash at the closing. Two payments of
$562,500 each are expected to be paid later this year upon the Project achieving mechanical completion and
commercial operation milestones. Orbit Energy, Inc ("Orbit"), based in Raleigh, North Carolina, co-developed the Project. Blue Sphere
has made arrangements for the inclusion of two of Orbit's high solid anaerobic digester units to work in parallel with the
digesters of Austep S.p.A., the Project's EPC contractor, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions. Blue
Sphere CEO Shlomi Palas: "We closed on a joint venture to develop a second significant food waste to energy
facility in the United States, which, under the current construction timeline for the Project, is anticipated to
commence production and sale of electricity during the fourth quarter of 2015." Blue sphere announced a JV
closing in February for a new biogas facility in North Carolina. 04/21/2015
UC Davis ITS Releases April 2015 Status Review of California's
LCFS
University of California Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) has released the April 2015 Status Review of California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The
LCFS is a key element of California's greenhouse gas reduction strategy. The California Air Resources Board
(CARB) as administrator of the program, researches and certifies the carbon intensity (CI) of
renewable, alternative, and standard transportation fuels. Increasingly, CARB's tracking identifies pathways for
the conversion of wastes and residuals to fuels as providing the lowest possible CI values. The 2015 ITS report
reviews LCFS compliance metrics from 2011 through 2014: credits and deficits generated and transport fuel
energy, fuel carbon intensity, and credit trading and prices. The report explores in-state biofuel production
and consumption, revisits fuel price impacts of the LCFS and the Cap-and-Trade Program, and interactive effects
of the two. A summary of the proposed changes in the LCFS re-adoption is also provided. ARB is expected to vote
on re-adoption of the LCFS in July 2015 in response to a ruling by California Court of Appeal’s Fifth Appellate
District. The report notes that re-adoption would likely involve a new compliance schedule to 2020, a credit
price cap plus provisions for limited deficit rollover under special circumstances, adjustments in carbon
intensity ratings including indirect land use change (ILUC), and a streamlining of fuel pathway certification.
04/21/2015
SCOPE Releases Report on International Bioenergy and
Sustainability
The Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) has released "Bioenergy and Sustainability: Bridging the Gaps". The
SCOPE rapid assessment process workshop on Bioenergy and Sustainability has engaged 137 contributors from 82
institutions in 24 countries, building on over 2,000 scientific studies and major assessments. The authors of
the 700-page e-publication considered how bioenergy expansion and its
impacts perform on energy, food, environmental and climate security, sustainable development and the innovation
nexus in both developed and developing regions. The report also highlights numbers, solutions, gaps in knowledge
and suggests the science needed to maximize bioenergy benefits. With current knowledge and projected
improvements, 30% of the world’s fuel supply could be biobased by 2050. SCOPE is an international
nongovernmental organization founded in 1969 as a cross-sectoral and trans-disciplinary network, connecting
experts and institutions around the world. It collaborates with inter-governmental agencies such as UNESCO and
UNEP and with other partners in the development of its scientific program and outreach activities.
04/17/2015
USDA Awards Funds for Wood Energy and Wood Product Markets in 23
States
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced award of over $9 million to expand and accelerate wood
energy and other wood product markets. The federal funds will leverage $22 million in investments from partners,
resulting in a total investment of $31 million in 23 states. This year over 100 proposals were received for the
Wood Innovations grant program, highlighting the expanding use of wood as a renewable energy source and as a
building material. The awarded funds are intended to stimulate the use of hazardous fuels from
National Forest System lands and other forested lands to promote forest health while simultaneously generating
rural jobs. 43 projects in 23 states received awards. The USDA also announced a
new partnership agreement between USDA and the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) to help coordinate research,
demonstration and market development for innovative wood building technologies in the built environment.
04/17/2015
Shanks Secures 6 Year Contract Extension for ICOPOWER® Energy
Pellets
United Kingdom based Shanks Group plc has secured an important six year contract extension with Heidelberg
Cement Group for the supply of ICOPOWER® energy pellets. Under the contract, Icopower, part of Shanks’ Solid
Waste Division, will supply Heidelberg Cement Group with an increased volume of 54,000 tonnes per year of its
unique ICOPOWER® energy pellets. The fuel is used to power cement kilns and
is also used to produce cement clinker. This strategic partnership provides Heidelberg Cement Group with
guaranteed high-quality sustainable fuel while also securing an outlet for Shanks’ fuel production for the next
six years. Shanks uses specifically collected industrial waste to ensure the high calorific
ICOPOWER® energy pellets meet strict
production specifications. Unlike solid recovered fuel (SRF) or refuse derived fuel (RDF),
ICOPOWER® energy pellets are not classified
as a waste product in the Netherlands (Case C-417/98, Arco Chemie), due to their consistent and specific
chemical composition. Shanks is investing in a 2,300m2 storage shed at its Icova site in Amsterdam which will
optimize operations, increase efficiency and reduce costs. 04/15/2015
LanzaTech Teams with ORNL and NCSU on Biofuels Bug DNA
Dataset
Illinois based biofuels firm LanzaTech commercialized microbial fermentation of industrial emissions and other waste and
synthesis gases laden with carbon dioxide, into liquid biofuels. Recently the company teamed with scientists at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge
National Laboratory (ORNL) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) to map the DNA of the primary
bacterium responsible for this bioconversion, Clostridium autoethanogenum. The findings and underlying raw data
have now been published as a publicly-accessible Nature Science Data paper, enabling researchers can modify and
optimize the microbes to convert waste into fuel or chemicals. The research was supported by the DOE
Office of Science (Office of Biological and Environmental Research),
LanzaTech, and NCSU. 04/15/2015
Minnesota Schedules
First Stakeholder Meeting for CHP Deployment in State
The Minnesota Department of Commerce was awarded a US Department of Energy grant to carry out a strategic
stakeholder engagement process and develop an action plan for combined heat and power (CHP) deployment in
Minnesota. As part of this project’s scope, a series of stakeholder meetings is being held to provide
information and facilitate discussion on CHP issues involving Minnesota’s regulatory framework,
technical/economic potential, and education/training needs. CHP Stakeholder Meeting #1 is scheduled for September 3, 2015, and
will cover the CHP baseline, explore the value proposition, and discuss the path forward. A webinar is set for April 28, 2015 to review the stakeholder engagement
process and draft action plan; free webinar registration on-line is requested. If
you have any questions about the upcoming webinar, please contact Michael Burr (Microgrid Institute) at
320.632.5342 or. 04/15/2015
Cambi Awarded Contract for South Korean Sewage Treatment Plant
Project
Posco E&C, one of South Korea's largest EPC Turnkey
contractors, has awarded Norway based Cambi a contract for a Cambi B12 Thermal
Hydrolysis Process plant (CambiTHP TM) for the Anyang Sewage Treatment and co-digestion Project. The
CambiTHP TM system will treat all the sludge from a new underground
wastewater treatment plant serving 700,000 people in the municipality of Anyang, one of 15 satellite cities
surrounding Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The CambiTHP TM system is designed for a maximum capacity of 84
metric dry tons per day, and will co-digest about 27,000 dry tons of organic waste per year, of which 65 per
cent is sewage sludge and 35 food waste. The biogas produced from the co-digestion plant will be turned into
renewable energy, both as green electricity and as heat for the CambiTHP TM and digestion processes. The
remaining high dry solids dewatered product after digestion will be dried and blended with millet grass to
produce a renewable biomass fuel for co-firing in existing power plants. 04/15/2015
Ontario Canada Adopts Cap and Trade System to Reduce GHG
Pollution
The Canadian province of Ontario joins California and many other jurisdictions in the Western Climate Initiative by adopting a Cap and Trade system to
impose a hard ceiling on the pollution allowed in each sector of the economy. The control mechanism is designed
to effectively reduce the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution in our atmosphere by setting a limit on
emissions, rewarding innovative companies, providing certainty for industries and creating more opportunities
for investment in Ontario. The government will reinvest the money raised through cap and trade into projects
that reduce greenhouse gas pollution and help businesses remain competitive. In California's Cap and Trade
implementation, GHG off-site protocols can include forestry and livestock residual waste
conversion efforts. Ontario will host a Climate Summit of the Americas from July 7-9, 2015, to advance
collaborative action on climate change ahead of the Conference of the Parties in Paris in December.
04/14/2015
Cool Planet Wins
Bloomberg Award for CoolFuel™ and CoolTerra™
Colorado based Cool Planet has been named winner of the New Energy Pioneer Award 2015 for its hydrocarbon
and biocarbon products that address three of the world’s largest markets: energy, food, and water. The award
from Bloomberg’s New Energy Finance annually recognizes 10 global, game-changing companies for their
transformative potential and scale, technological innovation and business momentum. Cool Planet accepted the
award at The Future of Energy Summit 2015, a global summit that brought together leaders in energy, finance and
policy. Cool Planet’s hydrocarbon CoolFuel™ products such as gasoline, jet, and diesel fuel are
chemically identical to fossil fuels. These products can be blended into the current fuel supply and reduce
greenhouse gases without sacrificing performance or increasing prices at the pump. CoolTerra™ Biocarbon is an enhanced biochar that is highly porous,
acting like a sponge to retain water and nutrients at a plant’s root zone, increasing water use efficiency and
reducing the need for fertilizer. 04/14/2015
Cascades Invests in New Technology for Biorefinery Project at Cabano
Plant
Quebec based Cascades Inc. has announced its investment in a new technology at its Norampac - Cabano facility that is used to extract hemicellulose, a
cellulosic sugar with high value-added potential from wood chips. This project is worth a total of $26M and will
replace the Cabano plant's current process with this new, more environmentally friendly and economical one that
was developed in conjunction with a US partner. This new process – the extraction of hemicellulose from
deciduous woodchips – will replace the use of chemical products. Hemicellulose, a natural polymer found in plant
cell walls, presents opportunities ranging from power generation to biofuels such as ethanol, as well as the
production of natural sugar-based value-added products. Mario Plourde , President and Chief Executive Officer.
"This project represents a unique advance in biorefinery technological development. This new process will enable
improvements in the efficiency and competitiveness of our Cabano plant's current corrugated paper production
process, thus making existing jobs more secure." 04/14/2015
SeAB Launches New Generation Flexbuster Micro-AD Power Plant
United Kingdom based SEaB Energy has launched its new generation Flexibuster™ micro power plant that
convert food scraps into energy, with guest of honor, Caroline Nokes MP, Member of Parliament for Romsey and
Southampton North, opening the site on the 10th April 2015. The Flexibuster™ is a self-contained anaerobic digester, designed to
process food and organic waste. The patented system turns food and organic waste into heat, electricity, water
and fertilizer, all of which can be re-used on site. The new Flexibuster™ is now housed in a compact 20 foot
container making it easier for customers to site. SEaB Energy has also boosted the performance of the unit
further by lowering the parasitic load and increasing the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion. The system
configuration has also been markedly simplified to allow for plug and play installation and reduced footprint.
04/14/2015
Council
Plans North Fork Community Forest Bioenergy Plant Meeting
The North Fork Community Development Council (NFCDC) will hold a community meeting on April 29, 2015 in the North Fork Fire Station at
the town's old sawmill site to provide an update on their recently-funded North Fork Community Power Forest
Bioenergy Facility Demonstration project. NFCDC was assisted in application toward a
California Energy Commission grant by the Watershed Research and Training Center (WRTC) in Hayfork, Trinity County. WRTC will coordinate and administer
the grant of $4,965,420 with funds coming from the CEC's Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC; PON-14-305).
The grant will fund the installation and demonstration of a commercial scale forest waste bioenergy
gasification-to-electricity facility utilizing Phoenix Energy's thermal biomass conversion system. Incorporated in
1994; NFCDC's primary project is the North Fork Mill Site Reuse Project designed to convert the former South
Fork Sawmill into economically productive and environmentally safe property. This project will remove excess
woody forest material in order to provide renewable energy, thereby resulting in reduced fire risk, watershed
protection, air quality benefits, greenhouse gas benefits, local jobs, and forest ecosystem protection. The
grant recipient and administrator WRTC is a community-based non-profit organization based in Trinity County in
northern California. 04/13/2015
Due 05/08/2015: Clean Energy Generation Proposals to NYSERDA
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has issued
Request for Proposals (RFP) 3084 to procure the environmental
attributes created by eligible generation resources under the Renewable Portfolio Standard Program (RPS
Attributes). This funding will support significant private investment in renewable energy
sources such as wind farms, fuel cells, biomass facilities, renewable biogas and the upgrading of small- to
medium-sized hydropower projects that provide power to the electric grid. The $160 million competitive
solicitation promotes development of a broad range of new clean energy resources. Contracts for these projects
will be awarded for a term of up to 20 years. Recognizing the maturation of fuel cell equipment, for the first
time ever, fuel cell projects will also be eligible for 20-year contracts. While not required, NYSERDA
encourages entities interested in participating in this procurement to submit the Notice of Intent to Bid Form
(Attachment F to the RFP) as soon as possible. Those entities filing a
Notice of Intent to Bid Form will be notified by email of any changes to this RFP.Application Packages must be receivedby NYSERDA by 5:00 pm. Eastern Time on May 8, 2015. 04/13/2015
Clean Methane Systems Upgrades Orange County Biogas Conditioning
Plants
The Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) is upgrading two biogas conditioning systems to meet
more stringent emission regulations at their Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach locations. Oregon company Clean Methane Systems, LLC
(CMS) was selected to provide four larger vessels and was able to reutilize
one of the original vessels. The more robust system means the 1.4 billion cubic feet of digester gas produced
each year will now be able to meet the stricter air quality standards. That’s enough gas to power eight engines
with a total capacity of 23.5 MW. The CMS system incorporates three carbon-based media to filter the biogas.
Media are stacked in each vessel with gas flowing into one vessel then onto the others. Based on this system,
the average flow rate, and the makeup of the biogas, the OCSD should only have to change out the media four
times a year. The initial project was built in 1994 for $25 million. The project saves OCSD $3.5 million per
year with a 7.2 year payback period. 04/11/2015
Energy Vision and Urban Future Lab to Host Power of Waste
Reception
Energy Vision and the Urban Future Lab will host The Power of Waste: Extracting the Greatest Value from NYC's Organics,
introducing New York City's (NYC) organic waste and recycling efforts on May 20, 2015 at the Urban Future Lab's
downtown NYC office. Energy Vision notes that New York City has made great strides over the last 18 months in
implementing residential and commercial organic waste collection programs. At this special reception, guests
will learn more about how our organic wastes can be turned into biogas fuel, where composting fits into the
picture, what the best uses of biogas may be, and how this strategy can save money, help tackle climate change
and bring cleaner air to New Yorkers. The event is free, but space is limited and on-line registration is required. 04/10/2015
Bouygues Energies to Design and Construct UK WtE Gasification
Plant
AssetGen Partners, a specialized investment fund, has
signed a contract worth roughly £82 million with Australia
based Bouygues Energies & Services for the turnkey construction of a
waste-to-energy (WtE) gasification plant in the Hertfordshire town of Hoddesdon in the United Kingdom. Bouygues
Energies & Services will be responsible for the engineering and construction of this 10 MWe facility and
procurement of equipment, followed by operation and maintenance for a period of ten years. The gasification
plant will generate 41.6 MW thermal, which, once converted through a steam turbine generator, will deliver 10
MWe. This represents a yearly net export of green electricity to the grid of 76,000 MWh which is enough to meet
the annual demand of roughly 7,000 homes. Over 90,000 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel sourced from local
commercial and industrial sectors will be supplied by two of the country’s leading specialists in waste. This
will be the largest waste-to-energy gasification plant in the United Kingdom. 04/09/2015
US DOE Announces Webinars on Biofuel Sustainability and More
The US Department of Energy (DOE) offers webinars to the public on a range of subjects, from adopting
the latest energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, to training for the clean energy workforce. The
DOE will present a live webinar titled “Biofuels for the Environment and Communities” on Wednesday April 22,
2015, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EDT. Biomass-derived fuels are a promising, domestically sourced replacement for
fossil-based fuels that can provide benefits to the environment, the economy, and society. The DOE, through the
Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), is supporting research and development to ensure the long-term
sustainability of biofuels. In this webinar, Drs. Virginia Dale (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) and Cristina
Negri (Argonne National Laboratory) will discuss the results of their BETO-sponsored research on how to develop
biofuels that positively impact the environmental, socioeconomic, and technoeconomic sustainability of biofuel
development in the United States. There is no cost to participate, but advanced registration is required. 04/09/2015
SCS Is Now Applicant Certification Body for Sustainable Biomass
Partnership
California based SCS Global Services (SCS) has announced that it has been accepted as an applicant Certification Body
for the Sustainable Biomass Partnership (SBP). SBP is an industry-led
initiative formed in 2013 by major European utilities to ensure that woody biomass producers meet the rigorous
requirements of energy production in Europe while simultaneously supporting countries in their efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The SBP Framework enables producers to demonstrate compliance with legal, regulatory
and sustainability requirements, with certification based upon a set of standards and processes established
through the collective efforts of diverse stakeholders. SBP also creates an efficient system for biomass
producers to meet industry-specific requirements, such as energy and carbon data collection, and ensure a
sustainable biomass supply chain. 04/08/2015
Ener-Core Partners with Hofstetter B.V. for European Market
Access
California company Ener-Core, Inc. has announced a partnership with The Netherlands based Hofstetter B.V. that is expected to expand the company’s revolutionary
technology to markets throughout Europe. Ener-Core designs and manufactures Power Oxidation systems that generate base load, clean power from
polluting waste gasses, including methane. Hofstetter specilizes in flaring technology and degassing systems,
and will provide Ener-Core, through its distributor, Holland Renewable Energy Technologies, with significant
European market access. Ener-Core executives estimate the amount of waste gases that are discharged annually
into the atmosphere in the form of wasted methane could be used to generate enough clean energy to power 100
million homes. 04/08/2015
Virginia Tech Researchers Make Low Cost Hydrogen Fuel from Corn
Stover
A team of Virginia Tech researchers have discovered a way to create hydrogen fuel using a biological method
that greatly reduces the time and money it takes to produce the zero-emissions fuel. This method uses abundantly
available corn stover – the stalks, cobs, and husks – to produce the hydrogen. The team’s findings,
published in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, could help speed the widespread arrival of the hydrogen-powered vehicles in a way that is
inexpensive and has extremely low carbon emissions. Unlike other hydrogen fuel production methods that rely on
highly processed sugars, the Virginia Tech team used dirty biomass — the husks and stalks of corn plants — to
create their fuel. This reduces the initial expense of creating the fuel and enables the use of a fuel source
readily available near the processing plants, making the creation of the fuel a local enterprise. The team
already has significant funding for the next step of the project, which is to scale up production to a
demonstration size. 04/08/2015
CalRecycle to Present Eligibility Criteria for Organics Grant Program
California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) staff will present details and receive comments regarding proposed eligibility
criteria for the up-coming Organics Grant program cycle during the April 21, 2015 Business Meeting. The 2015-2016 grant cycle is focused on the Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Programs: Organics Grant Program; Recycled Fiber, Plastic, and Glass Grant Program; and Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Revolving Loan Program (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Revolving Loan
Fund). Contact <> for information regarding this agenda item.
04/07/2015
USFS Releases 5-Year Report on Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration
The US Forest Service (USFS) is celebrating the five-year anniversary of the Collaborative Forest
Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program this year, and has released a public version of its report to Congress. The Collaborative Forest
Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) was created under Title IV of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of
2009. Title IV established the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund, providing funding authority to
receive up to $40,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2009 through 2019. Proposals were selected in 2011 and 2012
to advance beneficial use of residual biomass. The purpose of the CFLRP is to
encourage the collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes. The CFLRP
expands collaborative landscape partnerships to encourage ecological, economic, and social sustainability;
leverage local resources with national and private resources; facilitate the reduction of wildfire management
costs, through re-establishing natural fire regimes and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire;
demonstrate the degree to which various ecological restoration techniques achieve ecological and watershed
health objectives; and encourage utilization of forest restoration by-products to offset treatment costs, to
benefit local rural economies, and to improve forest health. 04/07/2015
Due 06/15/2015: Pre-Proposals to NFF for US Forest and Grassland
Innovation
The National Forest Foundation (NFF) is now accepting pre-proposals for the 2015 Barrett Foundation Business
Concept Challenge. Sponsor Craig R. Barrett, former Chairman and CEO of Intel and current Chairman of the NFF
Board of Directors, described the purpose of this competition as "stimulating new ideas and cultivating the next
generation of entrepreneurial natural resource and business leaders." The NFF recently announced the Challenge's
2014 winners in Washington, DC. The 2014 winning proposal seeks to grow a commercial agricultural market for
biochar, a soil amendment that can be made from low-value woody biomass left over from forest restoration
projects. Qualifying pre-proposals must be submitted by 11:59 pm MDT, Monday, June 15, 2015. Visit
the website for more information on the Barrett Foundation Business
Concept Challenge. 04/07/2015
ILG Hosts Webinar on Streamlining Planning Process for Recycling
Facilities
The Institute for Local Government (ILG) will host a free webinar from 10:00am to 11:00am on April 14, 2015
entitled, Tips to Streamline the Planning Process for Recycling Facilities. This webinar will focus on methods
for streamlining the planning process to help site these recycling projects. Panelists will provide an overview
of the planning process and opportunities to streamline the process. The benefit of developing a local zoning
overlay for recycling facilities will be explained, and a case example will be presented of how Butte County
streamlined the planning process for recycling infrastructure process. Register on-line for the webinar. You may also contact
<> with any questions. 04/04/2015
Due 05/01/2015:
Proposals to Develop Certification Course for Zero Waste P&P
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and California Resource Recovery Association
(CRRA) have jointly released a Request for Proposals seeking a Contract Project Manager for the
development of a Zero Waste Principles and Practices Certification Course. A pre-proposal conference call has
been scheduled for April 9, 2015 at 2:00pm EST; call details will be provided to respondents expressing an
interest. The conference call is mandatory for prospective prime contractors, but not mandatory for
subcontractors. Proposals are due May 1, 2015. For more information and the dial-in information, contact SWANA
Deputy Executive Director Sara Bixby at <> or 240-494-2236.
04/04/2015
VTT Spin-off Spinnova Spins Yarn Directly from Wood Fiber to Make
Fabric
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd has announced its latest spin-off, research, and product development
company Spinnova Ltd, which was launched in January. Spinnova is developing
fiber to yarn (F2Y) technology which is totally different from traditional textile yarn production. F2Y
technology uses no dissolution chemicals to dissolve wood fiber to a polymer level and regenerate cellulosic
filaments. Instead, the technology allows the production of novel, low cost, and environmentally friendly
textile yarns for filaments made directly from wood fibers through a wet spinning process. Spinnova's technique
is ideal for refining Finnish long fibre length woods, such as that of pine and spruce species. It is the only
technology which can be used to manufacture yarn directly from wood fibers without chemical processing.
04/01/2015
IH2 Thermal Catalytic Platform Licensed to Global Forest Products
Company
A leading global forest products company headquartered in Northern Europe has entered into an FEL-1 license agreement with Texas based CRI Catalyst
Company (CRI). IH2 technology is a thermal catalytic process, which produces liquid
transportation fuels from forest residues, and other renewable resources. The forest products company will
collaborate with CRI and its partners to further evaluate implementation of the technology with the aim of
producing commercial volumes of high quality transportation range renewable hydrocarbons (gasoline, kerosene and
diesel fuels) once the proposed plant is constructed. The design feedstock for the facility includes a broad
range of forest residues including slash, sawdust, bark, and wood chips. IH2 hydrocarbons produced from these
feed stocks currently meet the ASTM specifications for their respective fuels, positioned for the US market as
an E10 gasoline fully renewable product, or as a 100% renewable diesel. CRI Catalyst Company is part of
CRI/Criterion Inc, the global catalyst technology company of the Shell
Group.04/01/2015
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