February 2014 News and Matters of Interest
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Teru Talk.
Fleet Tests of UPM’s Wood-Based BioDiesel Show Great Results at
VTT
Finland based UPM Corporation has announced that the first fleet tests of UPM’s renewable diesel proved
that UPM BioVerno works in cars just as well as regular diesel. This
biofuel is produced from residues of the forest industry, with no food materials being used. The fleet tests
were conducted by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The tests began in May last
year and ran until early 2014. The UPM BioVerno diesel fleet tests focused on investigating UPM’s renewable
diesel in terms of fuel functionality in engine and fuel consumption. The tests were conducted with a fuel blend
including 20 per cent UPM BioVerno and 80 per cent fossil diesel. With this blend, fuel consumption matched the
consumption of fossil diesel. Petri Kukkonen, Vice President, UPM Biofuels: "The fleet tests showed the same as
the previous engine and vehicle tests – renewable diesel UPM BioVerno is working exactly like any regular
diesel. The results were according to our expectations, because our renewable diesel echoes fossil diesel also
in its chemical structure, unlike first generation biodiesels." Fleet testing of UPM BioVerno diesel will
continue, together with VTT, using busses in the Helsinki metropolitan area in late 2014.
02/28/2014
Valmet to Deliver Wood-Chip Heating Plant for District Heating in
Finland
Finland based Valmet Corporation has announced that it will supply a EUR 27 million wood-chip-fired heating
plant to Tampereen Energiantuotanto Oy, located in the Hervanta area of
Tampere, Finland. The new 49.5 megawatts (MW) plant is part of Tampereen Sähkölaitos Group's investment program
and will increase the share of renewable fuel sources in its energy production. The new plant, fired by wood
chips and peat, will reduce the need to use heavy-fuel-oil-fired heating plants, thus lowering the
carbon-dioxide emissions generated in district heat production. The plant will serve as a base-load power plant
annexed to Tampere's district heating grid and it will primarily serve the Hervanta area. The new wood-chip
plant is scheduled to begin producing heat in May 2015. The plant is based on Valmet's HYBEX bubbling fluidized bed combustion
technology with special attention paid to reducing noise and emissions through noise suppression technology,
machinery choices, a triple-field electrostatic precipitator and a flue-gas scrubber. The plant will be operated
remotely from a control room in Lielahti using a Metso automation system.
02/28/2014
Cool Planet Starts Construction on First Commercial Biofuels
Facility
Colorado based Cool Planet Energy Systems has announced that it has broken ground on the company’s first commercial
facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, dubbed Project Genesis. The facility is designed to produce 10 million
gallons per year of high-octane, renewable gasoline blendstocks and biochar from sustainable wood residues.
Permits have been received to begin earthwork and grading, with construction to immediately follow. The
facility is located at the Port of Alexandria, on the Red River Waterway in
Central Louisiana. The site was chosen because of its excellent wood biomass availability, interstate and rail
access, and direct barge access to more than nine refineries. Cool Planet’s technology turns biomass into green fuels and biochar and has the
capability to be carbon negative. The company’s green fuels are able to be blended directly into the current
fuel supply to reduce greenhouse gases from the air without sacrificing performance or increasing prices at the
pump. The biochar product sequesters carbon and delivers transformative benefits to industries as diverse as
agriculture, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. 02/27/2014
Green Investment Bank and SBEF to Finance Energy Improvement
Projects
The United Kingdom's (UK) Green Investment Bank (GIB) has announced that it has joined forces with Societe Generale Equipment Finance (SGEF) to provide £50m of financing
for energy efficiency projects. Funding from the alliance will allow organizations to put in place energy
efficiency measures without having to fund the finance upfront. Projects could include combined heat and power
plants, boilers, building retrofits, and lighting and energy reduction technologies for production processes,
among others. The first project to benefit from the GIB-SGEF partnership is at Rampton Hospital, managed by
Nottinghamshire Healthcare. The £5m investment will finance the installation of a combined heat and power (CHP)
plant, dual fuel boilers, biomass boilers, and an effluent treatment plant. Shaun Kingsbury, chief executive, UK
Green Investment Bank: " The project at Rampton Hospital is a great example of how an institution can lower its
energy costs, produce on-site heat and power, manage waste and cut its carbon emissions."
02/27/2014
Teams Shortlisted for the Surrey Organics Biofuel Processing
Facility
The City of Surrey in British Columbia, Canada has announced the three qualified teams shortlisted to participate in the
next stage of the competitive selection process to deliver the Surrey Biofuel Processing Facility project. Of
the 11 teams that responded to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), three teams have been invited to
move forward to the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage: Iris Solutions, Plenary Harvest Surrey, and Urbaser S.A.
Following the RFP process, the City expects to select a preferred proponent team by the fall and finalize an
agreement by late 2014. Construction is expected to get underway in early 2015 and the facility will be
operational by late 2016. Once the facility is operational, Surrey will be home to the first closed-loop
fully-integrated organics waste management system in North America. The facility will convert residential
kitchen and yard waste into renewable fuel that will be used to power the city’s natural gas waste trucks. This
project is part of Surrey’s Rethink Waste program that was launched in October 2012, which
includes curbside organics collection and an entire fleet of compressed natural gas waste collection trucks.
02/27/2014
FCC Environment Begins Operating Micro-Turbine at Lancashire
Landfill
United Kingdom (UK) based FCC Recycling (UK) Ltd dba FCC Environment has announced that it has begun operating a micro-turbine at its Deerplay
landfill site on the outskirts of Burnley Lancashire, UK. The micro-turbine, a Turbec T100 which can be combined
heat and power (CHP) enabled, has been supplied and installed by the Cheshire-based company Newenco. Micro-turbines can operate at 80 per cent efficiency and
require significantly less maintenance compared to a standard gas engine. FCC Environment’s Senior Environment
Manager Shaun Trigg: "The move to using a micro-turbine provides viable power production long after conventional
power generation has ceased, delivering considerable energy efficiencies and reduced emissions compared to a gas
engine, and its modular design makes it suitable for most applications." FCC Environment is the largest landfill
operator in the UK, owning some 120 operational and former landfill sites.
02/27/2014
New Report: High Potential for Waste Sourced Advanced Biofuels in
Europe
Finland based UPM Corporation has announced a newly released report entitled “Wasted: Europe’s Untapped Resource.” an assessment of advanced
biofuels from wastes and residues. The report is the result of a project convened by the European Climate Foundation and supported by a coalition of technology
innovators and green non-governmental organizations. The study found that if all sustainable waste from farms,
forests, households and industry were used for transport fuels, there could be sufficient fuel to displace about
37 million tonnes of oil annually by 2030. The research in this project was conducted by the International
Council on Clean Transportation and the NNFCC, and it was reviewed by the Institute for European Environmental Policy. The project was supported
by Biochemtex, Birdlife Europe, British Airways, European Climate
Foundation, the European Environmental Bureau, European Waste to Advanced Biofuels Association, Institute for
European Environmental Policy, LanzaTech, Novozymes, Petrotec, Transport & Environment, UPM, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and WWF.
02/26/2014
US DOE BETO Releases New Bioenergy KDF Legislative Library
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has announced the release of a new Bioenergy Knowledge Discovery Framework (Bioenergy KDF) resource:
the Legislative Library. Site visitors can use this database to track
federal legislation relevant to the production and use of biofuels in the United States. By choosing from a
variety of search filter options, including congressional session, political party, state, chamber, and status,
users can learn about the work being carried out by specific members and committees to advance the US biofuels
industry. The Legislative Library also provides links to full-text versions of the bills and other relevant
websites so users can access more in-depth information about the legislators and policies that interest them.
02/26/2014
Waste2Tricity Moves to Accelerate Waste-to-Energy Projects in
Thailand
Waste2Tricity International (Thailand) Ltd has just announced that it signed a new co-operation agreement in Bangkok with
AFC Energy plc and Alter NRG Corp to accelerate the adoption of the AFC Energy fuel cell systems for
energy-from-waste (EfW) projects in Thailand. The agreement builds on the commercialization deal
announced in October 2013, granting exclusive rights to Waste2Tricity
to use AFC Energy’s low-cost fuel cell systems to generate power from hydrogen gasified from municipal solid
waste and on the later announcement in December 2013 that Waste2Tricity had acquired exclusive rights for the Westinghouse Plasma Corporation
technology from Alter NRG. PK Thummukgool, Director of Waste2Tricity Ltd and Project Director for the Thailand
project: "This agreement clearly demonstrates Waste2Tricity’s intentions to shorten the time-to-market for our
energy-to-waste systems incorporating AFC’s low cost fuel cell systems."
02/25/2014
New PICS Report Says Biochar Is Fuel Substitute for Coal And Natural
Gas
The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) has announced a new policy paper that identifies biochar as a renewable
fuel substitute for all coal and some natural gas burned in British Columbia (BC), that would result in a 22%
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The report, Industrial and Market Development of Biochar in BC, is the latest white
paper from PICS, a collaboration of BC’s research-intensive universities led by the University of Victoria. Lead
author Dr. Geoff de Ruiter, University of Northern British Columbia: "BC has enough excess forest residue and
wood waste to create five million tonnes of biochar per year, which would account for 270 per cent of the
province’s internal coal usage. While biochar cannot currently compete with fossil fuels on cost, this could
change if BC gives biochar carbon offset status, or if BC’s revenue-neutral carbon tax is increased." The report
contains six recommendations on biochar policy and planning, economics, environmental regulations and research,
especially related to the use of biochar in agriculture and potential high-value products.
02/24/2014
Iona Capital Finances 1st Gas-to-Grid Anaerobic Digestion Plant in
Scotland
Iona Capital, Ltd in conjunction with Scotia Gas Networks, has announced the successful completion of an investment in Keithick
Biogas Ltd., a joint venture company with Keithick Farms Ltd. in Coupar Angus, Perthshire, Scotland. Iona has
been heavily involved in the development of anaerobic digestion (AD) infrastructure in the United Kingdom (UK)
having financed nine AD plants in England, Scotland, and Wales. This project is expected to commence operations
later this year and will be the first gas-to-grid AD project operating in Scotland. Keithick Biogas will work
closely with Scotia Gas Networks who have undertaken to provide the gas upgrading plant and oversee the
connection of the plant to the local gas grid. The AD plant is being supplied by MT-Energie, a German producer of turnkey biogas plants and will process
over 36,000 metric tons per annum of whole crop rye, maize, sugar beet off-cuts, raw silage, and chicken litter
from local businesses. MT-Energie also manufactures and supplies the biogas cleaning and upgrading systems
to convert raw biomethane to pipeline quality. 02/24/2014
UMD Selects Heyl & Patterson Rotary Calciner for Biocoal
Research
Pennsylvania company Heyl & Patterson Inc (H&P) has announced the sale of an indirect-fired rotary calciner to the
University of Minnesota (UMD), Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute (NNRI). The unit will be
installed at NRRI’s Coleraine, Minnesota, facility and will be used to transform wood biomass into torrefied
wood (biocoal). NRRI will deploy the H&P torrefaction unit, M-E-C Company drying technology, and other components as the key parts
of an integrated system of technologies, to facilitate the efficient generation of carbon-neutral electricity on
a distributed basis. The project will focus on the cost and thermal effectiveness of the value-added conversion
of wood biomass into biocoal. The biocoal will have an energy content of over 10,000 BTUs per pound and have
other properties similar to those of coal. The calciner will produce approximately 28,800 pounds of biocoal per
day. The biocoal will be used to support the University’s research on modern steam-based electricity generation
and the categorization of viable fuel options from various biomass sources, including biomass wastes, crop
residues, and various forest resources. 02/24/2014
Swindon RDF/SRF Waste Plant Officially Opens with Machinex
Technology
The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) Minister
George Eustice has cut the ribbon at the official opening of the Swindon Commercial
Services (SCS) municipal solid waste (MSW) plant in the United Kingdom (UK). Canadian equipment
manufacturer Machinex successfully bid to supply the custom made technology in May
of last year following planning permission in February, and the Swindon Borough Council’s decision to offer an eight-year loan to SCS,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of the council, to develop the plant. The contract is estimated to allow savings of
£16 million over its eight year lifespan, with the possibility of an extension. The facility,
which will treat 48,000 tonnes of Swindon’s household, commercial, and industrial waste per annum, will separate
materials and produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and solid recovered fuel (SRF). RDF and SRF are produced by
shredding and dehydrating municipal solid waste with waste converter technology. The final product will be
exported to Germany until RDF/SRF users become available in the UK. 02/21/2014
CARB Will Host Two Low Carbon Fuel Standard Workshops in
March
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will conduct two public workshops on March 11, 2014. The morning workshop will provide
an overview of the program's progress to date and address proposed implementation scheduling for the 2014 Low
Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) rulemaking. The afternoon workshop will consider updates to the indirect land use
change (iLUC) metrics. Both meetings will be webcast; staff are requesting public comment during and following
the workshops. Staff presentations, the agenda, and additional meeting information can be found at
www.arb.ca.gov. 02/21/2014
Harvest Power Unveils
Central Florida Energy Garden Biogas Facility
Massachusetts based Harvest Power, Inc has announced that the Central Florida Energy Garden organics management
and renewable energy facility is now open to convert food waste into renewable biogas and natural fertilizers.
The anaerobic digester combines a unique set of proven technologies and
will divert hundreds of thousands of tons of organic waste from Central Florida landfills. Located within the
Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), the Energy Garden uses anaerobic digestion, a biological process that
relies on trillions of naturally occurring bacteria – to produce renewable biogas. When operating at full
capacity, the facility will process more than 120,000 tons of organic materials annually while producing 5.4
megawatts of combined heat and power. Restaurants, hotels and food processors throughout the region are now able
to send food scraps to the Energy Garden. Walt Disney World Resort, which is located within RCID, is the
facility’s first customer with additional businesses in surrounding communities signing up every day.
02/20/2014
Zero Waste Scotland and
Scottish Enterprise Launch £3.8MM Recycling Fund
Zero Waste Scotland has announced that a £3.8 million fund to help businesses develop green
infrastructure proposals is now open. The Scottish Recycling Fund (SRF) is a limited fund (£3.8M over 3 years)
that has been established by Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish Enterprise to develop or expand materials reprocessing capacity and remanufacturing
facilities in Scotland. Eligible waste materials include plastics, tires, textiles, glass, industrial food and
drink processing waste, waste electrical and electronic equipment, and plasterboard. The materials/sectors
included within the loan fund have been selected based on environmental impact, potential job/GVA opportunities,
and activities supporting a more circular economy. The fund is able to offer loans, repayable over a 3-5 year
period on commercial terms, to organizations that are interested in developing the relevant infrastructure in
Scotland. 02/20/2014
Alstom Signs Second UK
Biomass Steam Turbine Contract
France based Alstom has announced a contract with Danish power plant specialist
Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S (BWSC) to design and
supply a 45 MW Geared Reaction steam turbine (GRT) for the Brigg renewable energy
plant in the United Kingdom (UK). The Brigg power station, which is expected to be operational from early 2016,
will be commissioned primarily fuelled using locally sourced straw but will also burn wood. It is expected to
produce enough energy to supply around 70,000 homes with power and will result in the displacement of around
300,000 tonnes of CO2 every year. This is the second contract signed between the two companies for a UK GRT in a
biomass power station, following an agreement last year on the 15.8 MW wood-fuelled Lisahally scheme in Northern
Ireland. 02/20/2014
BioConversion Solutions
Secures AD Contracts in Australia and South Korea
BioConversion Solutions, LLC (BCS) has announced contracts to install its biomass to biogas system at
facilities in Australia and South Korea. BCS' Advanced Fluidized Co-Digestion and Co-Generation (AFC2) anaerobic
process provides up to 90 percent conversion of organic waste feedstock solids with no residual sludge. The AFC2
produces renewable energy and other value-added products including saleable fertilizer and clean water for reuse
in agricultural or industrial applications. The $43 million system to be installed at Bindaree Beef’s new Bio-digester and Rendering Plant in Inverell, New
South Wales, will generate electricity, steam, and clean water. Bindaree Beef received a $23 million Australian
Federal Government grant for the full-scale beef abattoir biogas project. BCS is also contracted to install an
alternative energy system at a municipal plant in Daejeon, South Korea; the 4th largest City in South Korea. The
system will eliminate over 300 million pounds of sludge per year. 02/20/2014
Due 03/04/2014: Comments
to CEC on Draft 2014 IEPR
The California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Integrated Energy Policy Report Lead Commissioner Janea
Scott is requesting comments on the proposed scope and general schedule for
the 2014 Integrated Energy Policy Report Update (2014 IEPR Update). Senate
Bill 1389 (Bowen and Sher, Chapter 568, Statutes of 2002) requires the CEC to “conduct assessments and forecasts
of all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery and distribution, demand, and
prices.” The Lead Commissioner is proposing to focus the scope of the document on: (1) Alternative and Renewable
Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP), (2) Renewable projects in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation
Plan, (3) Energy Efficiency Program for Existing Buildings, and (4) Electricity Update. ARFVTP is arguably the
most progressive and important state funding mechanism for support of waste conversion to fuels. All written
comments will be considered before the final 2014 IEPR Update Scoping Order is released. Written comments are
due by close of business March 4, 2014. 02/20/2014
Zilkha Biomass and Valmet Partner on Torrefied Pellet
Commercialization
Finnish company Valmet and Texas based Zilkha Biomass Energy LLC have announced signing a five-year collaboration agreement for global
commercialization of steam exploded black pellets. These pellets are principally used for replacing fossil coal
as the energy source in heat and power generation. The parties will work together to develop a joint global
offering. Steam exploded black pellets provide a number of benefits compared to traditional wood pellets. These
include improved durability, water-resistance, higher energy content, lower shipping costs, and reduced dust
problems compared to other types of bio-based pellets. Due to their properties, these black pellets can be
handled in similar manner to fossil coal. This significantly reduces, or even removes, the need for expensive
investments in logistics and plant rebuilds. Jack Holmes, CEO of Zilkha Biomass Energy: "Valmet is a highly
regarded technology provider in the pulp, paper and energy industry. Their network will provide a great channel
for introducing manufacturers to the advantages of the Zilkha Black® Pellet. Through this five-year collaboration, we are
partnering with a well-established technology and equipment supplier to offer advanced solutions for the growing
biomass market." 02/19/2014
CSM Becomes Exclusive SRS™ Distributor for Applied CleanTech in
Canada
Israeli based Applied CleanTech (ACT) has announced a 13.5 million USD distribution alliance with Canadian
Sewage Mining Corporation (CSM), making CSM the exclusive Sewage Recycling System (SRS™) distributor in Canada. SRS™ extracts rather than digests the
fibrous biomass fraction from sewage influx, reducing the load on digesters while producing a dry "Recycllose"
product. Dr. Refael Aharon, ACT CEO and Founder: "The SRS™ will transform the existing wastewater treatment
process, from sewage treatment to Sewage Mining. The SRS™ traps the cellulose component inherent in wastewater,
and returns it to the industrial cycle as raw material. Sludge formation is reduced by up to 50%, WWTP
dramatically reduces expenses, and the raw material - Recyllose™, is used as a resource for Paper, Plastic,
Energy, Construction and other industries." 02/19/2014
SITA Atlas Starts Work on 20-Year Recycling and WtE Contract in
Morocco
France based Suez Environnement has announced that its subsidiary SITA Atlas has been awarded a 20-year,
€90 million recycling, waste-to-energy (WtE), and disposal contract with Meknes, Morocco. The Meknes municipal
authority has commissioned SITA Atlas to rehabilitate its household waste landfill site starting last month, and
to design, build, and operate a waste elimination and recycling facility. The Meknes landfill site is located 5
km from the city center and has been used in an uncontrolled way since 2002. Spread over nearly 25 ha, it
receives 185,000 metric tons a year of waste produced by 650,000 inhabitants. SITA Atlas will landscape the
access roads and the actual landfill site, add a vegetative cover, and drainage, leachate, and rainwater
collection systems. It will also perform drilling work to equip the site with biogas capture wells. The new
recycling facility will include a sorting center consisting of a 3,000 m2 sorting hangar and a 3,000 m2
logistics dock to recycle materials. The remaining waste and sorted refuse will be eliminated in accordance with
environmental standards. A 3,000 m2 biological recovery plant will produce compost from green waste mixed with
certain types of organic waste to be used as a soil amendment. Biogas will be captured from the landfill to be
turned into energy for the heat treatment of leachate concentrates. A complementary use for biogas is being
studied as a fuel for electricity production or to fire the ovens of neighboring brickworks. SITA Atlas
specializes in the creation and rehabilitation of Elimination and Recycling Facilities.
02/17/2014
Wärtsilä Biogas
Plant Converts Food Waste to Biofuel for Buses in Norway
Wärtsilä Corporation has announced that its biogas liquefaction plant delivered to the Norway
based Cambi AS was inaugurated on February 12, 2014. The plant, operated by
Cambi AS on behalf of the Waste-to-Energy Agency (EGE) and the City of Oslo, will produce biomethane from
household food waste to be used as biofuel for up to 135 buses in Oslo. The Wärtsilä liquefaction
technology is based on more than 50 years of experience in the marine,
and oil and gas markets. The new facility’s liquefaction plant design uses conventional components in a mixed
refrigeration process. The technology is scalable upwards to a capacity of at least 60 tons per day. The plant
is located in Nes, Romerike, an agricultural region close to Oslo. When fully operable it will treat 50,000 tons
of food waste a year to produce around 14,000 Nm3 (normal cubic meters) per day of biomethane. The liquefied
biogas (LBG) can be efficiently transported for use as fuel. The City of Oslo contracted with Cambi in March 2012 to design, construct, and operate
the plant. 02/14/2014
DECC Opens 'Offtaker of Last Resort' Consultation for Renewable
Electricity
The United Kingdom (UK) Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has opened a public consultation on its Offtaker of Last Resort proposal, which would provide eligible
renewable electricity producers with a guaranteed backstop route-to-market at a discount to market prices. The
proposal is essentially designed to help independent renewable generators gain access to the energy market. The
Government’s Electricity Market Reform (EMR) programm provides an ambitious package of measures to incentivize
the investment needed to replace the UK’s aging electricity infrastructure with a more diverse and low-carbon
energy mix. Up to £110 billion of capital investment is needed from now until the end of the decade. the
consultation closes at 11:45pm on March 24, 2014. 02/14/2014
NYSERDA Awards $3MM for HE Low Emission Wood-Fired Heating
Projects
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that $3 million has been awarded to 18 research
institutions, technology developers, and biomass-fuel businesses to encourage the growth of high-efficiency
(HE), low-emission wood-fired heating equipment. The funding is awarded through the New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Biomass Heating R&D Program, which encourages the entry of
high-efficiency biomass technologies into the marketplace. Projects will also evaluate real-world conditions of
biomass-fired heating systems, expand the bulk wood pellet delivery market and assess the health risks of wood
smoke in rural valley communities. John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA: "The projects awarded today will
support the continued development of biomass heating technologies that achieve greater levels of efficiency and
large reductions in emissions of particulate matter and carbon monoxide."
02/14/2014
University of Hawaii, Pacific Biodiesel Partner to Reclaim Grease Trap
Water
The University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa has announced that its researchers at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute are collaborating with Maui
based Pacific Biodiesel Technologies LLC to reclaim water from restaurant
grease traps while creating energy. Wastewater from dishwashing and cleaning kitchens would clog sewer lines
because of the oils it contains. Restaurants are required to have grease traps to capture the oily water before
it reaches the sewer system and pay companies like Pacific Biodiesel to remove and transport it to sewer plants.
Pacific Biodiesel wants to recycle the grease trap water, which would be better for the environment, increase
the company’s profit margin, and reduce grease trap service fees for restaurants. UH researchers developed a
High Rate Anaerobic Digestion system (HRAD) that uses biochar to treat the wastewater while creating methane.
After successful lab experiments, a test scale system was built and installed at Pacific Biodiesel’s Oʻahu
facility. In this partnership, UH researchers and the people who will actually use the technology work together,
solving problems as they come up. Bob King, founder and owner of Pacific Biodiesel Technologies: "UH has brought
the technology to apply to this problem that we have that has a real world economic model that’s waiting for it
to be invented." 02/13/2014
EWI Tire Recycling Technology Significantly Reduces Carbon
Emissions
Ontario, Canada based Environmental Waste International Inc (EWI) has announced that its Reverse Polymerization™ process and proprietary microwave delivery
system significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to the two most commonly used waste tire recycling
options. According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, approximately 45% of waste tires in
the United States are incinerated and approximately 29% are converted to crumb rubber. Based on the results,
EWI's technology emits significantly lower amounts of carbon dioxide compared to the actual and avoided
emissions associated with each alternative. The disposal of one million scrap tires via the EWI process emits
12,166 tonnes fewer carbon dioxide equivalents compared to incineration, and 3,136 tonnes fewer carbon dioxide
equivalents compared to the production of crumb rubber. The analysis was conducted by Pinchin Environmental Ltd, and a copy of their report is available
upon request. EWI completed a continuous four day run of its TR-900 tire recycling facility in Sault
Ste Marie last November. 02/13/2014
Due 03/13/2014: Responses to City of Lancaster RFI for MRF and CT
Project
The City of Lancaster, California, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) in order to evaluate the feasibility of
developing a material recovery facility (MRF) and conversion technology (CT) project as an alternative to
landfilling municipal solid waste (MSW) at the Lancaster Landfill. MRF/CT companies responding to this RFI are
requested to provide information that enables the City to review and evaluate the capabilities of the proposed
technology and the experience and qualifications of the project team. The City currently disposes approximately
118,000 tons per year (tpy) of MSW. If feasible and desirable for the City, a project will be developed to
divert MSW from landfill disposal. Such a project would implement recycling efforts and convert the non-recycled
material into beneficial products such as energy, fuels, or other marketable products. Addendum No. One was issued today to clarify dates and respond to
early questions. The deadline to submit questions is March 4, 2014. Responses to the RFI should be submitted
electronically to the City of Lancaster by 11:00 AM, Pacific Standard Time on March 13, 2014 to Heather Swan,
Lancaster Power Authority, at <>. 02/13/2014
CPIA Releases Trial Results of Marine Plastic Litter Conversion to
Fuel
The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) has announced results of Yukon based trials using a Blest pyrolysis retort to convert plastic
litter collected from the shorelines of Northern
Vancouver Island in 2013, and comparing that to conversion of land based plastic wastes. It is difficult
to recycle marine plastics due to contamination from debris such as sand, plant and algae material, barnacles,
and salt, but the pyrolyser was able to convert 99% of the collected plastics. According to the report, the results from the testing were essentially the same as
those reported for land based plastics collected from the Whitehorse area.
The CPIA helped fund the trial, and is now supporting UpGyres to do a feasibility study for collection for conversion to
fuel in remote communities all along the West Coast of Canada, as part of the CPIA’s continued efforts in Canada
to reduce marine litter. 02/12/2014
NSERC Trials of Solarvest's Algal Conversion of CO2 to H2
Successful
Solarvest BioEnergy Inc has announced third party confirmation of its bio-hydrogen expression
system following the successful completion of a six month NSERC Engage project (previously announced) with Dr. Hallenbeck at the Université de
Montréal. Solarvest uses a proprietary strain of genetically engineered microalgae in
photobioreactors to sequester industrial CO2 and release hydrogen. The study indicated that the Solarvest strain
of microalgae produced six times more hydrogen per cell as compared to the industry standard wild-type strain.
In addition, the algal strain demonstrated continuous hydrogen production; producing hydrogen ten times longer
when compared to the industry standard wild-type microalgae, even though the laboratory growth conditions were
less than optimal. The promising trial results have encouraged Solarvest and Université de Montréal to pursue
another collaborative agreement to continue their work to move the program toward industrial production.
02/12/2014
Empyro Starts Construction on 25 MWth Biomass to Oil Pyrolysis
Facility
Empyro BV has announced that construction of its 25 MWth pyrolysis oil production
plant has begun at the AkzoNobel site in Hengelo (The Netherlands). Construction is scheduled to be completed by
the end of this year. The Empyro plant will convert 5 tonne of biomass per hour into 3.5 tonne of pyrolysis oil.
The plant will also produce enough electricity for its own use and steam will be supplied to the salt production
of AkzoNobel located next to Empyro. Once operational, production capacity will be gradually increased to its
maximum of over 20 million litres of pyrolysis oil per year. This amount of renewable oil will replace 12
million cubic meters of natural gas, the equivalent annual consumption of 8,000 Dutch households, which saves up
to 20,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Empyro BV is jointly owned by BTG BioLiquids (supplier of the technology), Tree Power (investor in renewables), the province of Overijssel, and a
private investor. The company was founded to demonstrate the technology at a commercial scale. The Empyro
project is financially supported by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission (Grant number
239357). BTG CEO René Venendaal: "This investment is an important step towards a biobased economy, in which
bio-energy, biofuels and biomaterials will go hand in hand." 02/10/2014
Swedish Research Finds Biogas Potential in Pulp and Paper Mill
Wastewater
The Linköping University in Sweden has announced that its Water and Environmental Studies (WES) researchers
have found that wastewater from pulp and paper mills contain large volumes of organic material that can be
converted into biogas. The findings are the result of a two-year pilot study conducted in collaboration with
Pöyry Sweden AB and seven pulp and paper industrial mills. The researchers took samples from 70 wastewater
streams at seven mills, and calculated that the potential to extract biogas from the material is at least 70
million normal cubic metres of methane per year. The encouraging tests have resulted in additional SEK 14.8
million in funding from the Swedish Energy Agency for the next two years of research. Bo Svensson, professor at
WES: "We hope to achieve 100 million Nm3, which we probably will when we have fine-tuned the
processes. This volume would mean an increased biogas production of roughly 65 per cent, compared to Sweden’s
total production for 2012." 02/10/2014
Due 03/05/2014: Qualifications for Waste Conversion Technology
Services
The City of San Jose Environmental Services Department has released Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 22014 - Conversion
Technology Services for consulting services to assist with strategic planning and acquisition of funding to
expand the development and implementation of conversion technology projects supporting the City's Green Vision
2012. The City is committed to diversion of waste from landfills through efficient and best use principles,
including reuse and recycling. Materials that are harder to recycle require converting organic waste to energy
through technology. Conversion technologies will reduce the volume of hard-to-process materials, such as food
waste, and capture energy in the process. The successful RFQ submittal shall demonstrate that the
consultant/firm has the appropriate professional and technical background as well as access to adequate
resources to fulfill the stated scope of services. Interested parties must register with the BidSync online
service to access and respond to the RFQ. Questions may be submitted until February 27, 2014 to Andrew
Hitchcock, (408) 975-2572, <>. Statements of Qualifications are due March 5, 2014.
02/10/2014
Due 05/05/2014: Comments to EPA's Draft Standards for New Wood
Heaters
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters,
New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces, and New Residential Masonry Heaters. The Alliance for
Green Heat has provided a review of the proposed rule. Comments are due May 5, 2014
using EPA’s submission web page for Rulemaking, identified as Docket
EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0734FRL-9904-05-OAR. Questions may be addressed to Gil Wood, (919) 541-5272
() or David Cole, (919) 541-5565 (). The EPA expects to issue a
formal Final Rule in November 2014. 02/10/2014
CARB to Release Proposed 1st Update to AB 32 Climate Change Scoping
Plan
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced that it will release the Proposed First Update to the
Climate Change Scoping Plan (Proposed First Update) on Monday, February 10th at 5:00 pm (PST). This
Proposed First Update is a key step in the implementation of Assembly Bill (AB 32), the California Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The Scoping Plan identified numerous sectors of the California economy where
improved efficiencies can result in lower climate-related impacts. The California Department of Resources
Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) and the CARB continue to collaborate on ways that changes to the Waste
Management sector can reduce the release of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the air. In October 2013, the CARB
released a discussion draft for stakeholder review and comment. For waste
management, the draft recommended: “Develop a comprehensive and sustainable waste management system for
California that maximizes reducing, recycling, and composting material (diversion); supports the development of
appropriate infrastructure and markets for reused waste; and reduces the volume of waste generated.” The
agencies sought and received substantial public comment (including our own), that based agency assessment will be reflected in this First
Update. The First Update is scheduled to be discussed at the CARB meeting on February 20, 2014. Written comments on the Proposed First
Update may be submitted to CARB’s Scoping Plan website. The Final Proposed Scoping Plan Update will then be presented
for Board consideration for approval at a late-Spring Board Hearing.
02/09/2014
CEC Awards $5MM to Crimson for Bakersfield Biodiesel Plant
Expansion
Colorado based Crimson Renewable Energy LP (Crimson) has announced that the California Energy Commission (CEC) has
awarded a $5 million grant to support expansion of the company's
biorefinery in Bakersfield, California. The proposed award under the CEC's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and
Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP).was initially announced by the CEC in November 2013, and was subsequently
approved and contracts executed. The Crimson Bakersfield Biodiesel and Glycerin Production Plant currently uses
waste animal fats and used cooking oils to produce an ultra-low carbon biodiesel. Crimson has already completed
certain portions of its engineering and design work, and has begun the process for obtaining all necessary
permits and procuring equipment. Crimson expects to begin construction of the first portions of the expansion
project in the spring, and realize initial production increases in the second half of 2014. The expansion
project will also allow Crimson to increase the use of ultra-low carbon materials such as corn–oil byproduct
from ethanol plants, and utilize a broader range of raw materials, including newly emerging sustainable
materials, such as algae oil. 02/07/2014
Constellation Will Develop 27 MW Biogas Co-Gen Plant for Los Angeles
WWTP
Constellation, a subsidiary of Chicago based Exelon
Corporation, has announced that it has signed an agreement with the City of Los Angeles
(L.A.) to design, build, and operate a 27-megawatt (MW) renewable energy power plant at the L.A.
Bureau of Sanitation's Hyperion Treatment Plant. According to a 2012
Engineering News Record report, Hyperion is among the 10 largest wastewater treatment
facilities in the world with 20 anaerobic digesters. The new $130 million power plant will use the digester gas
(biogas) as its primary fuel source. The power plant will be designed to produce steam and electricity through
co-generation (co-gen) to operate the Hyperion WWTP. Constellation and its subcontractors will develop,
construct and operate the co-generation facility for 10 years, with an option to extend the agreement for five
additional years. Commercial operation of the Hyperion co-generation facility is expected by the end of 2016.
Traci Minamide, L.A. Sanitation’s chief operating officer: "This state-of-the-art facility will reduce emissions
at the Hyperion plant and secure for our city a new energy source that is reliable, efficient and sustainable."
02/07/2014
Due 02/14/2014:
Comments to CalRecycle on $30MM Grant and Loan Program
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is requesting comments
to a proposed $30MM grant and loan program to increase California’s processing infrastructure for organics
diversion from landfill disposal, increased recycled materials manufacturing, and overall greenhouse gas
reductions. CalRecycle staff conducted a well-attended workshop yesterday, with around 75 on-site and 250 webinar
participants. Staff presentations and the website indicate that funding is contingent upon
approval by the legislature of Governor Brown’s January 9, 2014 draft budget. The CalRecycle staff are
coordinating the effort with the Air Resources Board (CARB), linked to on-going revisions of the AB 32 Scoping
Plan. The source of the proposed funding will be California’s Cap and Trade Program; the presentation emphasized that this first
implementation would be crucial to establishing the use of Cap and Trade for future grant and loan support for
greenhouse gas reduction programs through improved waste management. Staff have asked that comments be submitted
by February 14, 2014 to <>. Questions about the program should be directed to Brian
Larimore, <>. Staff intends to present a final proposal to the agency’s
administration during the March 18, 2014 monthly meeting to be held in Oxnard, California.
02/07/2014
Commissioning Begins at Viridor's Runcorn Energy from Waste CHP
Plant
United Kingdom (UK) based Viridor has announced that commissioning of the first phase of its
energy from waste (EfW) facility in Runcorn near Manchester has begun
after a two week delay. Construction of the facility began in 2010 and is being delivered in two phases. The
facility received its environmental permit for operation in May 2011. Construction of phase
one is nearing completion, with this phase due to start operating in early 2014. Phase two will be complete by
early 2015 and start operating later that same year. Once fully operational, the facility will be able to
process up to 850,000 tonnes of pre-treated waste (Refuse Derived Fuel or RDF) each year. It will be capable of
generating up to 70MW of electricity and up to 51 MW of heat, all of which will be used by neighboring chemicals
manufacturer INEOS ChlorVinyls. The facility will supply INEOS with up to 20% of
its total energy needs, significantly cutting the Company’s annual energy bill at its Runcorn site and improving
energy security by reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. Phase one of the facility is being developed by a
joint venture of INEOS, Viridor, and Viridor Laing. It will be operated by Viridor.
02/06/2014
New Biodiesel Distillation Unit at Aemetis' India Plant is Now
Operational
California based Aemetis, Inc has announced that its 50 million gallon per year capacity biodiesel and
refined glycerin production facility in Kakinada, India has been upgraded to produce high-quality distilled
biodiesel. Sanjeev Gupta, Managing Director of Aemetis’ subsidiary in India, Universal Biofuels Private Ltd:
"The new distillation production unit is fully commissioned and the India facility now produces biodiesel
meeting or exceeding the highest standards for biodiesel quality worldwide." The Aemetis plant is the only
distilled biodiesel producer in India and is one of the only plants in Asia capable of producing large supplies
of biodiesel that meet the rigorous European Union (ISCC) standards. The Aemetis plant was built in 2008 using
advanced technology to produce biodiesel and refined glycerin using large volumes of lower-cost, non-food
by-products from the edible oil industry as feedstock to supply the biofuel, pharmaceutical, and industrial
markets. 02/06/2014
NSERC Awards Grant to Explore New Applications for Lystek
Technology
Ontario, Canada based Lystek International, Inc has announced that, together with the University of Waterloo, it has been awarded a research grant by
the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The purpose of the grant is to explore how Lystek technology can be further developed to improve anaerobic
digestion for energy recovery in a variety of settings. The funding will support lab-based research around a
specific step of the patented Lystek process. With this grant support, Dr. H.S. Lee from the University and Dr.
Singh will combine their academic and industrial research backgrounds to explore new applications for the Lystek
technology in a novel three-stage anaerobic digester for enhanced hydrogen and methane production. Dr. Ajay
Singh, Technical Director for Lystek: "We are thrilled to be partnering once again with the University of
Waterloo. The original Lystek biosolid technology was incubated at Waterloo and we have relied on scientists
from the university at every stage of our commercial development." NSERC grants are awarded to help academic and
industrial researchers collaborate and bring new technologies to market."
02/06/2014
UC Davis Researchers Make Biogasoline from Plant Waste
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis), has announced that researchers in its chemistry department have invented a
new process to make gasoline-like fuels from cellulosic plant materials such as farm and forestry waste. The
process could open up new markets for plant-based fuels, beyond existing diesel substitutes. Biodiesel, refined
from plant-based oils, is already commercially available to run modified diesel engines. A plant-based gasoline
replacement would open up a much bigger market for renewable fuels. The feedstock for the new process is
levulinic acid, which can be produced by chemical processing of materials such as straw, corn stalks, or even
municipal green waste. It's a cheap and practical starting point that can be produced from raw biomass with high
yield. Mark Mascal, professor of chemistry at UC Davis and lead author on the paper published January 29th in the journal Angewandte Chemie:
"What's exciting is that there are lots of processes to make linear hydrocarbons, but until now nobody has been
able to make branched hydrocarbons with volatility in the gasoline range." UC Davis has filed provisional
patents on the process. Coauthors on the paper are postdoctoral researchers Saikat Dutta and Inaki Gandarias.
02/04/2014
Neste Oil Converted More Waste than Vegetable Oil to Biofuels in
2013
Finland based Neste Oil Corporation has announced that it used more waste and residues than vegetable oil to
produce renewable fuel for the first time in 2013. Waste and residues accounted for 52% of the 2.3 million tons
of renewable feedstocks used last year, while vegetable oil, mainly crude palm oil, accounted for the remaining
48%. Neste Oil increased its use of waste animal fat and palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), a residue generated
during palm oil production, in particular, and also began using three new waste- and residue-based inputs: tall
oil pitch, technical corn oil, and spent bleaching oil. Neste Oil's usage of waste and residues in renewable
fuel production increased by 64%, to more than 1.2 million tonnes last year. This compares to 740,000 tonnes in
2012 and 330,000 tonnes in 2011. Matti Lehmus, Neste Oil's Executive Vice President, Oil Products and
Renewables: "We have quadrupled our use of waste and residues in just two years and developed a broad and
flexible renewable feedstock base, in line with our strategy. We now have 12 different renewable inputs in our
feedstock base." 02/04/2014
Wales Centre of Excellence Secures £889,000 for Advanced AD
Research
The Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion (AD Centre) has announced that it has been awarded £889,000 by the Welsh Government’s
A4B project to deliver a Knowledge Transfer Centre in Advanced Anaerobic Processes and Biogas Systems. The AD
Centre is part of the Sustainable Environment Research Centre based at the University of South Wales. The grant
includes provision for £640,000 of new state-of-art analytical equipment and laboratory based digestion systems
to add to existing facilities. This will greatly increase the Centre’s capacity to collaborate with industries
in the development and deployment of novel and efficient waste management and renewable energy projects based
around the production and utilization of biogas and digestates. Dr Sandra Esteves, Director of the Wales Centre
of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion: "This latest award is the result of a real team effort. For several years
we have been working hard to interact with and support the emerging AD industry."
02/04/2014
Solazyme Announces
Commercial Production of Algal Oils at Iowa Facilities
California based Solazyme, Inc has announced that commercial operations have commenced at both
Archer Daniels Midland Company’s (ADM) Clinton, Iowa facility, and the
downstream companion facility operated by American Natural Products (ANP) in Galva, Iowa. ADM
and ANP have successfully manufactured three distinct and unique TailoredTM oil products at the facilities, and
products are currently being sold and distributed in both the U.S. and Brazil. Solazyme's proprietary microalgae are heterotrophic, meaning they grow in the
dark (in fermenters) by consuming sugars derived from plant material such as cellulosic biomass and waste
streams that have already harnessed the sun's energy. By using standard industrial fermentation equipment,
Solazyme can efficiently scale and accelerate microalgae's natural oil production time to just a few days and at
commercial levels. 02/03/2014
BDI Completes Upgrades to Greek Biodiesel Plant for
Multi-Feedstocks
Austria based BDI-BioEnergy International AG (BDI) has announced that the biodiesel plant remodeled by BDI in Volos, Greece
has been officially opened at a ceremony attended by representatives of the local political and business
communities. The goal of the RetroFit optimization project was to increase both raw material flexibility and the
quality of the final biodiesel product. The remodeled plant can now process not only vegetable oils but also raw
materials of lower quality, such as used cooking oil and animal fats, into high-quality biodiesel with a
capacity of about 33,000 tonnes/year. The quality of the distilled biodiesel satisfies the stricter quality
requirements that will have to be met in future (new European Union biodiesel standard, CEN 14214/2013). The
project has now been handed over to the satisfied Greek customer Elin Biofuels S.A officially on time and on
budget. Dr Edgar Ahn, BDI CSO: "Our RetroFit team successfully completed the difficult assignment of integrating
the BDI system in a biodiesel technology which is not state-of-the-art
from a different manufacturer, without any adverse effects on ongoing biodiesel production."
02/03/2014
AVA Biochem's Swiss Plant Starts 1st Commercial Production of
5-HMF
AVA Biochem BSL AG (AVA Biochem) has announced that commercial-scale production of the high-purity
renewable platform chemical, 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) has begun at AVA Biochem's Biochem-1
facility. Biochem-1 is located on Clariant's Infrapark in Muttenz, Switzerland where AVA Biochem is
headquartered. The 5-HMF is made from various types of waste biomass that do not compete with food production and Biochem-1
will, in a first phase, produce up to 20 tonnes 5-HMF per year. AVA Biochem applies a modified version of the
hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process developed by the Karlsruher Institute for Technology for the Industrial production of
platform chemicals. AVA Biochem's CEO Jan Vyskocil: "AVA Biochem's breakthrough HTC technology is opening new
markets for renewable 5-HMF. I am convinced that this will push us to the forefront of the bio-based chemical
industry." 02/03/2014
CARB Schedules Workshop on Proposed Alternative Diesel Fuels
Regulation
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced a public meeting to discuss revisions to the proposed
regulation on the Commercialization of New Alternative Diesel Fuels. The meeting is scheduled for February 13,
2014 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Cal/EPA Building in Sacramento and can be attended in person, or via teleconference or webinar. Staff will
present modifications to the conceptual approach released last spring regarding specifications and
quality controls on biodiesel and renewable diesel, review last September's draft regulations along with more recent Guidance Documents by
the CARB and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Staff will post meeting materials
prior to the meeting on the program home page. General information about the Alternative Diesel
Fuels regulation, as well as biodiesel and renewable diesel, can be found on the program homepage as well.
02/01/2014
CalRecycle Hosts Waste Management Infrastructure Expansion
Workshop
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) will be
hosting a public workshop to
discuss development of proposed new grant and loan programs for greenhouse gas reductions from organics
and manufacturing with recyclable materials (fibers, plastic, and glass). The workshop will be held on February
6, 2014 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Cal/EPA Building in Sacramento and
can be attended in person or via webinar. The Governor’s 2014/15 Draft Budget includes $30 million for
CalRecycle to provide financial incentives for capital investments that expand the waste management
infrastructure in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a priority in disadvantaged communities.
CalRecycle will be administering grants and loans to promote infrastructure development for facilities in
California that accomplish this goal. Grants and loans will be targeted to build or expand organics
infrastructure, such as composting and anaerobic digestion, or reduce food waste in California. Other targeted
activities include new or expanded infrastructure for manufacturing products with recycled content fiber, resin
or glass. Questions and comments may be submitted before, during, and after the workshop to
<>. 02/01/2014
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