October 2014 News and Matters of Interest

Remember to check our Highlights for new postings on other areas of Teru Talk.

Appalachian Biofuels Will Locate New Biodiesel Production Facility in Virginia

Appalachian Biofuels LLC will invest $3.5 million to establish its headquarters and enzymatic biodiesel production facility in Russell County, Virginia. Appalachian Biofuels is a new company that will process multiple waste feedstock material and refine it using an enzyme, developed and manufactured in Haifa, Israel, to produce biodiesel. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe: "The addition of a new company and job creator in Russell County is tremendous for a region that has been hard hit by economic loss. Appalachian Biofuels has the advantage of locating its headquarters and center of operations in a formerly vacant facility that can be retrofitted to meet its needs, allowing for quick start-up to production. This green energy company processes multiple waste feedstock material and refines it to produce biofuel to be blended with petroleum diesel fuel as mandated by the federal government." Governor McAuliffe approved a $200,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Russell County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $210,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company qualifies for rail access funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, and will also be eligible for Sales and Use tax exemptions on equipment. 10/30/2014

Gemma Completes Construction of East Texas 49.9MW Woody Biomass Plant

Connecticut based Gemma Power Systems, LLC (GPS) has completed construction of the East Texas Electric Cooperative (ETEC) Woodville Renewable Power Project three months ahead of schedule. GPS received Notice to Proceed for construction of the plant in May 2012. The 49.9 MW woody biomass plant in Woodville, Texas is fueled by chipped forest waste, and has successfully completed testing and commissioning. The plant features a Shin Nippon steam turbine generator and a Riley Power advanced stoker boiler with integrated air quality control system (AQCS). GPS’ subsidiary, Gemma Plant Operations, will operate the facility under a separate contract with ETEC. GPS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Argan Inc, a leading Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company. 10/30/2014 

Cirque Energy Signs $5MM Equity Agreement with Kodiak Capital

Detroit company Cirque Energy, Inc has announced that it has entered into a $5 million common stock purchase agreement with Kodiak Capital Group, LLC, a Newport Beach, California-based institutional investor. Cirque will have the right at its sole discretion over a period of one year to sell up to $5 million of common stock under the terms set forth in the agreement. Proceeds from this transaction will be used to further develop and commercialize projects using Cirque’s proprietary deployable gasification unit (DGU) technology. This includes the construction and installation of the Midland Biomass Power Station, LLC in Midland, Texas, in addition to implementing our joint development agreement with Northrop Grumman for DGU fabrication and deployment, both of which Cirque expects to begin generating revenue in early 2015. Cirque may also use some of the proceeds to retire more expensive, short-term debt obligations and to explore complementary, accretive, and revenue-generating strategic acquisitions. 10/29/2014

Harvest Power Raises $20 Million in New Financing for Energy Projects

Massachusetts based Harvest Power, Inc has announced a $20 million financing round that will be used to accelerate development of new opportunities with its anaerobic digestion technologies, as well as provide growth capital for both its bulk and consumer organics businesses. The lead investors were True North Venture Partners (Chicago, Illinois), Industry Ventures (San Francisco, California), and Generation Investment Management (London, United Kingdom). Kathleen Ligocki, Harvest’s CEO: "Harvest’s growth over the last few years has been impressive, positioning the company at the forefront of an organics revolution. Food and organic waste diversion is an incredibly hot topic for many communities, as is producing renewable natural gas from anaerobic digestion." 10/29/2014

DTE Biomass Dedicates 9.6 MW Landfill Gas to Energy Facility in NC

Michigan based DTE Biomass Energy (DTE) has announced the completion of its 9.6-megawatt landfill gas-to-energy project with a project dedication at the Uwharrie Environmental Landfill in Mt. Gilead, North Carolina (NC). DTE began operating the facility at the landfill last month, which is owned and operated by Republic Services of North Carolina. Landfill gas at the site is used to generate renewable energy, which is subsequently sold to Duke Energy Progress. The Uwharrie facility will more than double DTE's generation capacity in North Carolina, where it already operates six renewable energy projects. DTE announced at the ceremony that it will fund an endowed scholarship at Montgomery Community College. The scholarship will enable students that meet the financial need criteria to be able to pursue a degree in the college's Electrical Systems Technology Program. 10/29/2014

Due 01/23/2015: Applications to USFS for Wood Innovations Funding

The US Forest Service (USFS) published a Federal Register Notice on October 27, 2014 seeking proposals to expand wood energy and wood products markets to support sustainable forest management, especially in areas of the country with high wildfire risks. The USFS plans to award approximately $5 million through its Wood Innovations Program. The maximum for each award is $250,000 with potential for more if the proposal demonstrates far reaching or significant impacts. A minimum 35% match from non-Federal sources is required to qualify for this proposal. Eligible applicants are for-profit entities; State, local, and Tribal governments; school districts; communities; not-for-profit organizations; or special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, or ports). The USFS will hold an informational Pre-Application Webinar on November 5, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to present this funding opportunity and answer questions. Technical questions regarding Federal Register language and intent should be directed to your Regional Biomass Coordinator. For additional assistance, please contact Dr. Peter Titmann, UC Woody Biomass Utilization, <>, or Larry Swan, Forest Service, <>, (707) 562-8917. The application deadline is Friday, January 23, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. 10/29/2014

Patriot Contracts with ICM for Fiber Separation and Cellulosic Ethanol Systems

Illinois based Patriot Renewable Fuels, LLC has entered into a Professional Services Agreement with ICM, Inc for its patent-pending Fiber Separation Technology™ (FSTTM) and patent-pending Generation 1.5 Grain Fiber to Cellulosic Ethanol Technology™ (Gen 1.5). Patriot Chairman/ CEO, Gene Griffith: "With this step, Patriot will be better positioned to help lead the corn-based ethanol industry into increased production of cellulosic ethanol. With board approval for these projects, Patriot could be the first ethanol plant to produce two Advanced Biofuels (corn based biodiesel, and cellulosic ethanol)." FST™ is a platform technology that is expected to increase ethanol yield and throughput, as well as increase oil recovery. The increased corn oil will be used as feedstock for the new Patriot Fuels Biodiesel, LLC plant which is on schedule to begin production in early 2015. The FST™ process will separate the fiber from the kernel before the traditional fermentation process. The Gen 1.5 process will then ferment the fiber to produce cellulosic ethanol. Total ethanol production is expected to increase by six to ten percent. 10/27/2014

Enerkem Enters China Market for MSW Conversion to Biofuels and Chemicals

Canadian company Enerkem, Inc has announced entering into two agreements with Chinese companies to develop municipal solid waste to biofuels and chemicals facilities in China. Enerkem has signed an agreement with Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute (SMDERI) to develop a project partnership to jointly build a waste-to-biofuels facility in China. Enerkem has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shanghai Environmental Group Co. Ltd, a municipal solid waste management company and a subsidiary of Shanghai Chengtou Holding Co. Ltd, to develop a project partnership to jointly build municipal solid waste-to-biofuels and chemicals facilities in China. Under both agreements, Enerkem will license its exclusive technology to convert a variety of waste feedstocks into biofuels and chemicals. The final business structures and sites are under discussions and will be announced at a later time. Enerkem's first commercial biorefinery began operation in June of this year in Canada.10/27/2014

Due 12/17/2014: Pre-Proposal Abstracts to CEC for Early Stage Biofuels Projects

The California Energy Commission's (CEC) Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) has announced the availability of up to $3 million in grant funds for biofuels projects that are in the early/pre-commercial technology development stage. Eligible biofuels for this solicitation include diesel substitutes, gasoline substitutes, and biomethane. Eligible feedstocks include waste-based biomass, biogenic by-products, and purpose grown crops. Corn grain is not an eligible feedstock. Program Opportunity Notice PON-14-602 will put emphasis on transformative technology solutions to significant biofuels industry problems that increase yields, productivity, or cost effectiveness of biofuel production; and/or that target a significant unmet need in California's biofuels industry.  The maximum award amount is 50% of total allowable project costs or $1.0 million, whichever is less. One optional Pre-Application Workshop is scheduled for November 14, 2014 that may be attended through in-person participation, WebEx, or conference call. Call (916) 654-4381 or refer to the CEC's website to confirm the date and time. The Pre-Proposal Abstract is due December 17, 2014. The deadline to submit full proposals is March 26, 2015 by 3:00 p.m. 10/27/2014 

Due 01/07/2015: Proposals for US Army Combined Heat and Power Facility

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Alabama, in coordination with the Office of Energy Initiatives (OEI), has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Redstone Arsenal Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project. The large-scale renewable energy project will be located at an Army garrison in the Tennessee Valley in Madison County, Alabama. The project will produce steam required by the installation, plus 160,000 MW-h/year of electric power for dedicated installation consumption. This project is anticipated to include a lease and a 30-year energy purchase authorized under 10 USC 2667 and 10 USC 2922a, respectively. The cost of power for the CHP project will be at or below projected utility rates. The project is being coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Alabama, in coordination with the Office of Energy Initiatives. Solicitation Number W912DY-13-R-0051 is available at www.fbo.gov. Proposals are due by January 7, 2014. An Industry Day is being planned at Redstone Arsenal in November 2014. A Notice of Intent to Award is anticipated in mid-2015. The point of contact for this solicitation is Geordelle Brown, (256) 895-1222. 10/26/2014 

Air Products Builds New Hydrotreatment Processing Lab in Pennsylvania

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc (Air Products) is building a new hydrogen lab at their Allentown, Pennsylvania headquarters, including a hydrotreatment unit capable of performing high pressure and high temperature hydrogenation reactions. Air Products' new lab is scheduled to be operational in the third quarter of 2015. The new hydrotreatment unit has been designed to test the hydrogenation of various feedstocks over continuous flow fixed-bed catalytic reactors. The company will use the hydrotreatment unit to evaluate the impact of feed quality, catalysts, and other operating parameters on product quality, throughput, and process economics. Hydrotreatment reaction is widely used to produce various products such as low sulfur fuel, high quality lubricating base oils, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and specialty chemicals used in industrial, personal care, and pharmaceutical applications. The new lab will be used not only to improve the commercial used oil hydrotreatment process, but also to develop other applications, such as biofuel hydrogenation and continuous hydrogenation to replace batch hydrogenation of specialty chemicals. 10/23/2014

Basque Country University Develops Flash Pyrolysis Process Reactor

Researchers at the UPV/EHU University of the Basque Country have developed fundamental thermal conversion processes for producing raw materials and fuels using biomass and tires, constructing a pilot facility in the IK4-IKERLAN research center. The group led by Martín Olazar, researcher in the UPV/EHU's Department of Chemical Engineering, is studying the development of sustainable refineries where it is possible to produce fuels and raw materials providing an alternative to petroleum by using biomass and other waste materials like plastics, tires, etc. The team has developed a reactor based on conical spouted beds which, by means of flash or rapid pyrolysis, produces fuels and raw materials using various types of waste. Olazar has developed two lines, depending on the type of waste: one uses biomass; the other, plastics, tires and similar waste. The first of the lines uses agricultural waste and biomass from forests. According to Olazar, 70% of the mass treated can be turned into bio-oil. 10/23/2014

ESA Lauds EFRA's 4th Report on 'Waste Management in England'

The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has commented on the report released by the United Kingdom Government's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee on Waste Management in England. ESA’s Economist, Jacob Hayler: "ESA welcomes the EFRA Committee's wide-ranging report. There is a growing consensus that England could struggle to meet its household recycling targets. The Government must listen to the Committee before it's too late and support Local Authorities in delivering the services we need to drive up recycling rates across the country. At the same time, we shouldn't overlook the need to invest in more domestic energy recovery jobs and infrastructure. Far too much waste still goes either to landfill or overseas. We should be exploiting this valuable energy resource to light and heat our homes and businesses." 10/23/2014

Indo-US Advanced Bioenergy Consortium for 2nd Gen Biofuels Launches

The government of India’s Department of Biotechnology, Indian corporate leaders, and Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri have invested $2.5 million to launch the Indo-U.S. Advanced Bioenergy Consortium for Second Generation Biofuels (IUABC). The IUABC is a joint bi-national center led by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay (IITB), and Washington University. The goal of the center is to increase biomass yield in plants and algae, enabling downstream commercial development for cost-effective, efficient and environmentally sustainable production of advanced biofuels. The Indian transportation fuel infrastructure is undergoing massive transformation due to increased consumer demand and a growing population, which is estimated to reach 1.6 billion by 2050. Himadri Pakrasi, PhD, director of I-CARES, Washington University: "Over the next three years, the IUABC will invest significantly in the knowledge base in India and the U.S. to meet this challenge." 10/23/2014

Due 10/31/2014: Abstracts for 30th International Conference on Solid Waste

The Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management has announced a Call for Papers for the organization's 30th International Conference, running from March 15 to 18. 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Researchers, educators, government officials, consultants, managers, community leaders, and others with expertise in solid waste are invited to submit papers for oral presentation or poster session at the Conference. Abstracts are due October 31, 2014, and may be submitted on-line. Abstracts are encouraged from all areas of the solid waste technology and management fields including advances in recycling, waste materials utilization, and innovative technologies. Participants are expected from over 40 countries. Additional information and methods for direct submission of abstracts are also available by contacting Dr. Ronald L. Mersky, Conference Chair, Department of Civil Engineering, Widener University,1 University Place, Chester, PA 19013-5792 USA at, by fax: 610 499 4461 or by phone: 610 499 4042. 10/23/2014

Due 11/21/2014: Concept Papers to DOE for Bioenergy Landscape Design

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) is seeking interdisciplinary projects that apply landscape design approaches to integrate cellulosic feedstock production into existing agricultural and forestry systems while maintaining or enhancing sustainability, including ecosystem services and food, feed, and fiber production. Up to $14 million is available to support landscape design approaches that maintain or enhance the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of cellulosic bioenergy through the improvement of feedstock production, logistics systems, and technology development. The full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), DE-FOA-0001179: Landscape Design for Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, is posted on the EERE eXCHANGE website. Applications must be submitted through the EERE eXCHANGE website to be considered for award. The Landscape Design for Sustainable Bioenergy Systems FOA Informational Webinar will be held Monday November 3, 1:30 p.m - 3:00 p.m. EST. Standard application questions regarding the EERE Office and FOA procedures will be discussed. Concept Paper Submission Deadline: 11/21/2014 5:00 PM ET. Full Application Submission Deadline: 1/12/2015 5:00 PM ET. 10/23/2014  

NY Green Bank's First Initial Transactions Support Clean Energy Projects

New York (NY) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the first transactions of NY Green Bank to finance combined heat and power, distributed generation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency projects in New York. These initial transactions, supported and agreed to in principle, will ultimately produce investments totaling more than $800 million. The projects, which are traditionally difficult for the private sector to finance, were made possible by NY Green Bank’s participation and are expected to result in an annual reduction of 575,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The parties to the seven transactions announced today include Ameresco, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BQ Energy, Citi, Deutsche Bank, First Eastern Investment Group, First Niagara Bank, GreenCity Power, M&T Bank, Renewable Funding, Sustainable Development Capital and Tulum Management. Terms are still being finalized and NY Green Bank is working to close the transactions by year-end. 10/22/2014

World Bioenergy Association Releases New Pellet Fuel Fact Sheet

The World Bioenergy Association (WBA) has announced the launch of the fact sheet: Pellets – a fast growing energy carrier. The pellet factsheet is the 6th in a series of documents intended to be utilized by the media and industry as verifiable, easily referenced source of information. The factsheet provides an overview of pellets, their properties, production of pellets in large and small scale technologies, pellet equipment including boilers and stoves, and the economics of pellets. The WBA believes that pellets have the potential to become a fuel with a significant importance in the global energy balance. The availability of wood (a major feedstock for pellets) as raw material is substantial and could be further extended by the establishment of plantations of fast growing trees. Also, the possibility of using agricultural by-products offers a vast amount of resources. Dr. Heinz Kopetz, President, WBA: "Pellets are a well packaged bioenergy carrier – they have high energy content, standardized properties and are easy to transport long distances. 10/22/2014

Boeing, COMAC Pilot Plant Will Transform 'Gutter Oil' into Aviation Biofuel

Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) have opened a demonstration facility that will turn waste cooking oil, commonly referred to as "gutter oil" in China, into sustainable aviation biofuel. Boeing and COMAC have been collaborating since 2012 to support the growth of China's commercial aviation industry. The two companies estimate that 500 million gallons (1.8 billion liters) of biofuel could be made annually in China from used cooking oil. Boeing and COMAC are sponsoring the facility, which is called the China-U.S. Aviation Biofuel Pilot Project. It will use a technology developed by Hangzhou Energy & Engineering Technology Co, Ltd to clean contaminants from waste oils and convert it into jet fuel at a rate of 160 gallons (650 liters) per day. The project's goal is to assess the technical feasibility and cost of producing higher volumes of biofuel. Biofuel produced by the China-U.S. Aviation Biofuel Pilot Project will meet international specifications approved in 2011 for jet fuel made from plant oils and animal fats. This type of biofuel has already been used for more than 1,600 commercial flights. 10/22/2014

Britain's Network Rail Partners to Deliver District Heating from CHP

Britain's Network Rail is joining forces with Birmingham City Council, Cofely and sustainability consultants, Anthesis-SecondNature, to deliver a project which will see 1.5km district heating pipework installed across the station and in the city center so that excess heat produced by a new combined heat and power unit can be exported to the Birmingham District Energy Scheme. A combined heat and power (CHP) plant has been developed as the greenest and most economically viable way to create the necessary energy required, which also reduces the station’s carbon footprint by putting the excess heat created to good use. Connecting the station to the Birmingham District Energy Scheme means excess heat produced by the station’s CHP plant can be pumped to dozens of offices and buildings around the station, including the new adjacent John Lewis store, and will extend to other Southside developments in the future. 10/22/2014  

Crimson Selects BDI-BioEnergy for Bakersfield Biodiesel Plant Expansion

Austria company BDI-BioEnergy International AG has announced signing a contract with Colorado based Crimson Renewable Energy LP to supply engineering services and equipment for expansion and upgrades to Crimson's Bakersfield, California Biodiesel Production Plant. The improvements  will increase plant capacity to 75,000 tons a year and  modernize the existing biodiesel plant. This will also enable waste materials to be processed more efficiently and more sustainably into high quality, ultra-low carbon biodiesel transportation fuel. Crimson was awarded $10 million in two funding rounds by the California Energy Commission for phased expansion of the plant in November 2013 and most recently in May of this year. The plant optimization project represents the next milestone in the 8-step BDI RetroFit programme "One Stop Shop" that BDI began work on in 2013 with Crimson to develop the necessary technical data and basic engineering for the RetroFit to improve Crimson’s biodiesel production operations. 10/20/2014

EPA Awards Funds for Community-Scale Gasification and Biochar Rural Hubs

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an award of $15,000 to a student team from Arizona State University (ASU) for development of gasification and biochar retort technologies, a more sustainable approach to agricultural waste. The ASU team will develop screening-level metrics to evaluate the role physical, biological, operational, and economic factors of biochar and power co-generation play in advancing the deployment of rural community-scale gasification hubs. The ASU students teamed with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Northern Arizona University to develop the winning “closed loop” proposal. The ASU award is one of 42 grants just announced for the 11th annual P3 program to student teams. The Phase 1 award allows the student team to compete for a Phase II developmental grant of $75,000 at the National Sustainable Design Expo in Washington, D.C. during the spring of 2015. EPA administers the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) annual competitive program to encourage college students to design solutions that move the country towards a sustainable future. The 12th annual P3 round opened for application on September 5, 2014 and closes December 16, 2015; application details are available on-line. 10/20/2014

ENER-G Partners with Cornes Biogas to Enter Japanese Biogas CHP Market

United Kingdom based ENER-G Combined Power has appointed Cornes Biogas as its Cogen Partner for Japan to implement its first contract at Shikaoi municipal biogas plant in Hokkaido. A 190kW ENER-G Combined heat and power (CHP) unit will be installed, commissioned, and maintained by Cornes at the agricultural biogas plant in Shikaoi, replacing existing technology. Matthieu Chassagne, Head of International Business Development for ENER-G Combined Power: "We are delighted to welcome Cornes Biogas as our exclusive Cogen partner for Japan, where the company already has an impressive portfolio of biogas CHP projects. With ENER-G's market leading CHP technology and their highly skilled and experienced engineering and maintenance teams, we make an excellent team and look forward to jointly developing many more renewable energy projects." 10/20/2014

Viridor's Energy Recovery from Waste Facility in Exeter Is Officially Open

Viridor’s new Energy Recovery Facility in Exeter, England was officially opened last week with a series of celebrations. Ian McAulay, Chief Executive of Viridor: "We want people to see waste differently and recognise its real value as a resource. Each year, Viridor recycles around 2.4 million tonnes of materials and transforms more into 820 gigawatt hours of renewable energy. Our partnership here with Devon County Council and TIRU will contribute to that ever growing achievement for years to come." The Exeter Energy Recovery Facility will process 60,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste each year from the local catchment of Exeter and surrounding area and will export enough electricity to the national grid to supply around 5,000 homes. 10/20/2014 

Los Angeles County Proposes Sustainable Waste Management Roadmap

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has developed a Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future that will be considered for adoption by the Board of Supervisors at their regularly scheduled meeting on October 21, 2014. The proposal establishes a policy that can be implemented in County Unincorporated Communities, Regional/Countywide, and at County Operations while identifying programs toward achieving California's goal of 95% diversion by 2045. The objective is to decrease reliance on landfills by maximizing the recovery of products, materials, and energy from waste that would otherwise be disposed at landfills, and provides direction to the Department of Public Works and other County departments to initiate the implementation of the Roadmap. County staff will also be directed to solicit feedback from residents, businesses, public agencies, the waste industry, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders regarding implementation of the Roadmap. 10/19/2014

Global Clean Energy Secures Waste Tire Supply Contract with Liberty Tire

Texas based Global Clean Energy, Inc (GCE) has announced securing a long term supply agreement with Liberty Tire Recycling to provide tire chips as feedstock to GCE for its planned tires to fuels project. The proposed project will convert tires through proven pyrolysis gasification technology into transportation fuel and tire derived carbon char. GCE's project will produce 1.5 million gallons of fuel each year while keeping over 800,000 tires from landfills. GCE has plans to develop additional tires to fuels facilities throughout North America. Steven Mann, GCE's Chief Development Officer: "GCE is extremely pleased to finalize this long term agreement with Liberty Tire Recycling; it will be economically beneficial to both our businesses in addition to making positive impacts to the environment and the future of alternative energy production in the US." 10/19/2014 

ILG to Host Webinar on Financing Recycling Programs in California

The Institute for Local Government (ILG) has scheduled a webinar on Financing Recycling Programs: Applying Existing California Law for November 4, 2014 from 10:00am to 11:00am PST. The webinar will focus on how propositions 26 and 218 impact how cities and counties can finance recycling programs and the options available. The presentation will include a case story of how the City of Chula Vista implemented Proposition 218’s Protest Process, and tips for financing these programs in your community. The panelists will be Michael Colantuono,  Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, and Lynn France, Environmental Services Program Manager Public Works Department, City of Chula Vista. Registration for the webinar is available online. 10/17/2014

ADBA Lauds Opening of Bio-Thermal Research Plant at Cranfield University

Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) Chief Executive, Charlotte Morton, officially opened Cranfield University’s new anaerobic digestion (AD) research plant yesterday (October 16). The Bio-Thermal RED pilot plant, partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and supported by Shanks Waste Management, will divert up to 10 tonnes of food waste from landfill annually, while also saving up to 5 tonnes of CO2 and producing up to 8 tonnes of biofertilizer each year. Bio-Thermal RED is a demonstration facility for biological (anaerobic digestion - AD) and thermal (gasification/pyrolysis and combustion) technologies to support the increase of renewable energy share in the East of England region. This unique project sets up a knowledge and networking hub for SMEs (small and medium size enterprises) that are involved in bioenergy. 10/17/2014

Minneapolis Mayor Pushes for Expanded Food Waste Recycling Program

Minneapolis, Minnesota Mayor Betsy Hodges joined city leaders at the home of a local resident last Wednesday to talk about the success of recent drop-off organics recycling programs throughout the city. Mayor Hodges has proposed funding for 2015, including start-up costs for trucks and carts, plus on-going operating costs, which would allow Minneapolis to roll out city-wide curbside organics recycling starting in 2015. About 2,000 pounds of organics is collected each week from just the first drop-off site in Pearl Park. The site started with six carts which were collected twice a week; now there are eight carts collected three times a week. The carts are always full. Mayor Hodges: "Curbside organics is the next step toward creating a Zero Waste Minneapolis. About a third of the waste stream of Minneapolis residents is organics – every bit of material that goes into an organics bin is trash that won’t go to be burned at HERC or sit in a landfill." 10/17/2014

Waste and Biomass Conversion Rank High in Green Chemistry Challenge

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the 2014 Presidential Green Chemistry winners, and as companies making chemical products from waste and biomass sources appear prominently in almost every category. The program highlights the environmental and economic benefits of developing and using novel green chemistry pathways and products, recognizing chemical technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use. The EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention sponsors the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards in partnership with the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute® and other members of the chemical community including industry, trade associations, academic institutions, and other government agencies. Amyris took the Small Business category for development of the breakthrough hydrocarbon farnesene for use in diesel and jet fuel; Solazyme garnered the award for Green Synthetic Pathways for developing proprietary microalgae that are heterotrophic, fermenting in the dark by consuming plant-based sugars. Solazyme also joined Genomatica, LS9, BioAmber, Cargill, Virent, Biofine, Clarian and Metabolix as winners in the broad Bulk and Commodity Chemicals category, an indication of the Green Chemical sector’s rapid pace of commercialization. Throughout the 19 years of the awards program, the EPA has presented awards to 93 winners. Since its inception in 1996, through 2012, EPA has received 1,490 nominations. 10/17/2014 

ANDRITZ to Supply Waste-To-Energy Plant to Finnish Power Company

Austria based ANDRITZ AG has been selected by the local utility company Riikinvoima Oy to supply a waste-to-energy power plant to be sited in Leppävirta, Finland. Start-up is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2016. The new plant is designed to treat 145,000 tons of waste per year coming from eight local waste management companies. The design capacity is 16 megawatts for electricity and 38 megawatts for district heating. ANDRITZ will supply a circulating fluidized bed boiler, waste fuel treatment and flue gas cleaning systems, a steam turbine, electrification, automation, and auxiliary systems. The high efficiency of the boiler plant and the ANDRITZ technology to enhance environmental protection were decisive in the award of this order. 10/16/2014

Green Biologics Named to This Year's Global Cleantech 100 List

England based Green Biologics Ltd has announced that it was named in the 2014 Global Cleantech 100,  a comprehensive list of private companies with the highest potential to make the most significant market impact. Green Biologics' technology platform is built on both biology and chemistry founded on core expertise in advanced Clostridium microbial fermentation. This platform converts a wide range of sustainable feedstocks into high value green chemicals including n-butanol, acetone. This year, a record number of nominations were received: 5,995 distinct companies from 60 countries. These companies were weighted and scored to create a short list of 327 companies. Short-listed nominees were reviewed by Cleantech Group’s Expert Panel, resulting in a finalized list of 100 companies from 17 countries. Green Biologics is a portfolio company of Capricorn Venture Partners, who also saw their investment firm Avantium win recognition. Avantium converts biomass into next-generation bioplastics, green chemicals and alternative fuels. 10/16/2014

Lockheed Martin Will Manufacture Concord Blue Gasification Reformer

Maryland headquartered Lockheed Martin has signed a manufacturing agreement with Concord Blue to provide all manufacturing support for the Concord Blue Reformer® technology, which converts waste to energy using advanced conversion technology. The company is now the exclusive manufacturing provider of the Concord Blue Reformer®. Concord Blue’s unique process employs a patented technology called steam thermolysis to convert waste material using heat transfer instead of incineration – efficiently producing the highest quality syngas without combustion. In 2013, Lockheed Martin and Concord Blue Energy, Inc. reached an agreement to offer an advanced waste conversion system to address waste disposal, energy security and climate control issues. This solution addresses the current burden on landfills, conventional incineration and fossil fuels, as well as the desire for green baseload energy. 10/15/2014

Xergi Biogas Plant Will Convert London Food Waste into Energy and Fertilizer

Denmark based Xergi A/S has announced that it has been selected by Willen Biogas Ltd to build and operate its new 27,000 tpa waste to energy plant in Enfield, North London. The Plant will generate renewable electricity for the grid and recycle nutrients from organic waste matter to make agricultural fertilizer. The contract involves Xergi delivering a turnkey-ready biogas plant to Willen Biogas. In addition, Xergi will be responsible for the commissioning of the plant and the subsequent operation for two years. The plant will be equipped with a pre-treatment facility that sorts plastic residues from organic waste. The plant will also be built with an engine plant that can produce 1.5 MW of electricity, enough to power 1750 households. Construction began in August of this year and the biogas plant is forecast to become operational in May 2016. 10/15/2014 

Valmet to Supply Biomass Power Plant to Skövde Värmeverk AB in Sweden

Finland based Valmet Corporation will supply a complete biomass based power plant to Skövde Värmeverk AB in Skövde, Sweden. The new EUR 30 million power plant will produce district heat to the local district heat network and electricity to the national grid. The new power plant will be located next to Shove Värmeverk's existing waste to energy plant and is scheduled to start up in late 2016. The boiler will be fueled with wood chips and bark. Carl-Johan Andersson, Managing Director, Skövde Värmeverk: "Currently we need to run heavy oil fired power plants as soon as the temperature goes down to -2 C. Once Block 4 goes on stream, we will be able to let the temperature drop down to -15 C before we need to use oil in our production." Valmet's complete process delivery will consist of a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler plant including a biomass-fired HYBEX boiler, a flue gas condensing scrubber, a combustion air moisturizing tower, CO2 and NH3 scrubbers, condensate treatment, electrification, instrumentation and automation. 10/13/2014 

ACC Report Assesses Economic Potential of Plastics to Oil Conversion

Wide-scale deployment of emerging pyrolysis technology that converts used, non-recycled plastics into oil could generate up to $9 billion in annual U.S. economic output and create upwards of 40,000 domestic jobs, according to a report just released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC). The report, "Economic Impact of Plastics-to-Oil Facilities in the U.S. (study, fact sheet)," assessed the economic potential of pyrolysis of waste plastics into oil. ACC's analysis found that the United States could support as many as 600 of these conversion facilities nationwide, which could yield $2.1 billion in annual payroll and create up to $6.6 billion in capital investment. Earlier this year, a separate study by engineers at Columbia University's Earth Engineering Center found that converting non-recycled plastics into oil could generate 6 billion gallons of gasoline -- enough to fuel nearly 9 million cars -- per year. 10/10/2014

DOE Allocates $13.4 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $13.4 million for five projects to develop advanced biofuels and bioproducts to help drive down the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from biomass. These products not only will help reduce carbon emissions, but also advance the DOE's work to enable the production of clean, renewable, and cost-competitive drop-in biofuel at $3 per gallon by 2022. The research and development projects, located in Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, Colorado and Georgia, will focus on developing integrated processes for the production of advanced biofuels and chemicals. Two of these selections will address research efforts on the efficient conversion of biogas (a mixture of gases generated from the biological breakdown of organic material) to valuable products other than power. 10/10/2014

Community Fuels Awarded $4.1MM Grant to Upgrade California Biorefinery

American Biodiesel, Inc doing business as Community Fuels has been awarded a $4,183,421 grant by the California Energy Commission (CEC) to support installation of new equipment to increase efficiencies and expand the range of low carbon feedstocks that can be processed at its existing Port of Stockton advanced biorefinery. Completion of the project will contribute directly towards achieving key policy objectives set forth by the CEC, including reducing emissions, and increasing production and use of renewable fuels within California. Community Fuels' biodiesel has earned both BQ 9000 Laboratory and BQ 9000 Producer certifications, and is primarily used as a premium additive to diesel fuel. Lisa Mortenson, Co-Founder and CEO of Community Fuels: "Community Fuels is currently completing two projects: expanding production capacity and building an advanced biofuel terminal. This new award is for a third, distinct project that is complementary to our current projects." 10/10/2014

BlueFire Renewables Contracts China Company for Cellulosic Ethanol Facility

California based BlueFire Renewables, Inc has announced that it finalized and signed a new Master Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for its planned cellulosic ethanol facility in Fulton, Mississippi. The contract is with the China International Water and Electric, subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), one of the world's largest companies and China's largest renewable energy company. The contract is expected to provide cost savings by leveraging China Three Gorges' relationships and experience to complete the Fulton project. The Fulton project will allow BlueFire to utilize green and wood wastes available in the region as feedstock for the ethanol plant that is designed to produce approximately 19 million gallons of ethanol per year. 10/10/2014

Due 11/06/2014: Feasibility Study Proposals for Biomass Energy Facility

The Camptonville Community Partnership (CCP), grant administrator for the Yuba Watershed Protection & Fire Safe Council (YWP&FSC), has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for preparation of a Comprehensive Feasibility Study for a Biomass Power or Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Facility in Camptonville, California. The study will evaluate the feasibility of siting a small-scale biomass power or combined heat and power (CHP) generation facility (1-3 MWe) to be located at a former mill site. The final project goals are to sustainably utilize biomass resulting from forest management and/or harvesting activities, and provide direct economic development benefits to the rural communities of the Yuba County foothills region. The deadline for questions about the RFP is 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 23, 2014, and should be submitted by email to Chris Friedel, CCP Bioenergy Project Lead, at <>. Reponses will be compiled and posted online by 5 pm on Monday, October 27, 2014. Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Thursday, November 6, 2014. The contract award will be announced by November 21, 2014. 10/10/2014 

Sierra Energy Seeks Support for a Chase Bank Mission Main Street Grant

Sierra Energy has circulated a request for voting support to stay in the running for the Chase Bank grant program. This nation-wide grant for small businesses provides 20 awards of up to $150,000 each, and requires a 250 vote minimum. Sierra Energy is nearly finished with the design of its turnkey, small-scale thermal waste conversion system for the US Army. Sierra Energy applied for the "Mission Main Street Grants" program to generate funding needed to purchase the essential laboratory equipment that will be used to test and validate fielded systems. Winning the grant would immediately allow Sierra Energy to benefit from improved operations, and will ultimately contribute to the expansion of its FastOx® gasification technology platform for long-term clean resource recovery affordability and attainability. Sierra Energy now must accumulate 250 votes to move on to the next round of judging. Go to the Chase Mission Main Street website, log in with your Facebook account, and cast your vote. 10/09/2014

ESA Supports FEAD Circular Economy Strategy for Waste Management

The European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services (FEAD) presented its Strategy “Driving the Circular Economy”, in Brussels on October 7, 2014. The United Kingdom (UK) Environmental Services Association (ESA), the UK member of the FEAD, has announced its support of the Strategy. The FEAD Strategy outlines a seven point plan for developing a more circular economy in Europe that include: Strengthen recyclability in product design & manufacture; Stimulate the market for recovered materials; Ensure fair competition in waste markets; and Stimulate private sector investment in resource management infrastructure The Strategy was launched by FEAD President David Palmer-Jones who is also ESA Chairman, to an audience which included Members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials, and representatives of the European waste and resources industry. 10/09/2014

Webinar Will Focus on Environmental Permitting Issues for Bioenergy Facilities

The American Biogas Council (ABC) and the Bioenergy Association of California (BAC) are jointly hosting a webinar on October 15, 2014 to explore the key first phase of bioenergy project development is permitting. The webinar will addresses topics common to all bioenergy sectors, providing overviews along with specific steps and advice focused on land use and zoning permits and working with Planning and Zoning Departments, CEQA and potential ramifications involving CEQA litigation. Registration for the training session is free to ABC and BAC members, and is offered for $89 to non-members. Julia Levin, Executive Director of BAC, will moderate the panel of scientists, attorneys and project management experts. This webinar is applicable across all states, but will be particularly useful for developers wanting to improve their understanding of project development in California. 10/09/2014 

AECOM Is Awarded Contract for Newtown Creek Renewable Natural Gas Project

Los Angeles based AECOM Technology Corporation has announced that it has been awarded a design-build contract from National Grid, in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for the Newtown Creek Renewable Natural Gas Project in New York City. The project will consist of designing and constructing a purification system that converts biogas by-product from the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas for injection into National Grid's existing gas network. The project will be one of the first in the United States that directly injects renewable gas into a local distribution system. Construction of the purification system will begin this year and is expected to be completed by fall 2016. 10/08/2014

IBI Approves Policy Revisions in Version 2.0 of the IBI Biochar Standards

The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) has announced that its membership has approved significant proposed policy changes for Version 2.0 of the IBI Biochar Standards. Changes address four areas: 1) testing requirements for weathered biochar; 2) timing of testing for post-processed biochar; 3) provisions for high carbon biomass ash; and 4) biochar sampling procedures. The year-long Version 2.0 review period sought both member and general public comments to ensure a broad base of consensus and adoption as the primary industry standard for biochar production and use. Final publication of the V2.0 standards will be made available on IBI's website in the coming weeks; the approved proposed standards may be downloaded now, along with summary of all comments received during the review process. IBI Executive Director Debbie Reed: “The IBI Biochar Standards provide necessary certainty and credibility to the biochar field, and we thank everyone for their contributions and participation in helping to ensure the relevance of the standards to support the continued growth of the biochar industry.” 10/08/2014

LanzaTech Named Global Cleantech North American Company of the Year

LanzaTech has announced it was named to the prestigious 2014 Global Cleantech 100, produced by Cleantech Group, and was awarded North American Company of the Year as the highest-ranked company on the list from the region. Global Cleantech 100 is a comprehensive list of private companies with the highest potential to make the most significant market impact. To qualify for the list, companies must be independent, for-profit, cleantech companies that are not listed on any major stock exchange. A record number of nominations were received this year: 5,995 distinct companies from 60 countries. These companies were weighted and scored to create a short list of 327 companies. Short-listed nominees were reviewed by Cleantech Group’s Expert Panel, resulting in a finalized list of 100 companies from 17 countries. LanzaTech develops a carbon capture and reuse technology that transforms waste and low-cost resources into low carbon fuels and chemicals. 10/07/2014

Liquid Light Designated Rising Star of the Year in 2014 Global Cleantech 100

New Jersey based Liquid Light Corporation announced that it has been honored as the “Rising Star of the Year” in the 2014 Global Cleantech 100 list produced by the Cleantech Group, a leading global research and advisory firm. Liquid Light was recognized for its process technology to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into chemicals through energy-efficient catalytic electrochemistry. The Rising Star of the Year award is presented to the highest-ranked new entrant in the Global Cleantech 100. The list is collated by combining proprietary Cleantech Group research data, with weighted qualitative judgments of hundreds of nominations, and input from a global 84-person expert panel. The list is comprised of the most innovative and promising companies in cleantech and represents a comprehensive list of those best positioned to solve current challenges. 10/07/2014 

GE and PurposeEnergy to Recycle Industrial Wastewater and Generate Energy

GE and PurposeEnergy Inc have announced their collaboration to combine GE’s new anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology and PurposeEnergy’s Tribrid-Bioreactor™ as a solution to reuse industrial wastewater while also turning waste into energy. Combining the two technologies solves the issues associated with traditional anaerobic digestion (AD) processes for food and beverage manufacturers. This breakthrough design results in complete retention of biomass and prevents the discharge of both organic and inert solids. The result is a significant improvement in final effluent quality with zero suspended solids. GE’s new AnMBR, which was introduced last week at WEFTEC, utilizes its ZeeWeed* 500 membranes in combination with an anaerobic bioprocess, offering the ability to generate renewable energy and produce superior effluent quality for reclamation and reuse. PurposeEnergy’s Tribrid-Bioreactor is an anaerobic digester engineered specifically for food and beverage industry byproducts. It converts organic waste into clean water and energy. The Tribrid-Bioreactor separates hydraulic retention time from solids retention time, resulting in a greater than 99 percent reduction in organic load for not only wastewater, but also for solids and slurries that are generated during food and beverage manufacturing. 10/06/2014

Neste Jacobs Is EPCM for Neste Oil's Biopropane Plant at Rotterdam Refinery

Technology, engineering and project management company Neste Jacobs has been chosen as the EPCM contractor to design and implement the new biopropane production process at Neste Oil’s Rotterdam refinery. Neste Oil and Neste Jacobs have worked together to develop the new production process, which enables the separation of biopropane from the sidestream gases of the NEXBTL process. This will add value to the existing production process by adding a new renewable product to Neste Oil’s product portfolio. When the new unit is complete, biopropane production is expected to total 30,000-40,000 t/a. The investment includes storage tanks and interconnecting pipework, in addition to the production unit itself. The project will start immediately and be ready for production before end of 2016. The total value of the investment is approximately EUR 60 million. Neste Jacobs carries out the project from its offices in Finland and the Netherlands in cooperation with its local partners. 10/06/2014 

Cool Planet Begins Commercial Production of CoolTerra™ Soil Amendment

Colorado based Cool Planet Energy Systems has unveiled its first commercial-scale production facility in Camarillo, California, for its CoolTerra™ soil amendment. CoolTerra™ is manufactured from biochar, the residual solid material left over after pyrolysis of biomass for the production of biofuels. Cool Planet’s sources of biomass include corn stover, wood chips, and fast growing, non-food energy crops such as miscanthus. CoolTerra™ is a highly porous soil enhancer engineered to retain water and fertilizer for improving soil health and productivity. For farmers and growers in the Western US and elsewhere, the commercially available amendment gives them the ability to maintain or improve their crop yield with less water and fertilizer, even in drought conditions. Reducing fertilizer use also mitigates water pollution from farm runoff. Cool Plant began agricultural trials last year and CoolTerra™ has now received organic certification from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI®), the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the State of Washington. CoolTerra™ is the first biochar-based product to be certified by the International Biochar Initiative. 10/03/2014

Emerald Biofuels Will Use UOP Technology for Military Spec Biodiesel

UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has announced that its advanced process technology will be used by Chicago company Emerald Biofuels, LLC to produce renewable diesel for the US military through the US Department of Defense Advanced Drop-in Biofuels Production Project. Emerald Biofuels will use the UOP/Eni Ecofining™ process technology to refine non-edible oils and animal fats into renewable diesel, also known as Honeywell Green Diesel™, which is a drop-in replacement for conventional diesel derived from petroleum. Emerald is being supported by a $70 million contract from the Defense department project, which is focused on creating economically viable production capacity for advanced drop-in biofuels, including feedstocks, refining, transportation and logistics. Emerald is expected to produce 85 million gallons of renewable diesel per year under the project. 10/03/2014

Due 11/12/2014: Proposals to NV Energy for 100MWe Renewable Energy

NV Energy, Inc is requesting proposals for up to 100 megawatts of renewable energy resources. This is the first of three 100 megawatt Request for Proposals (RFP) to be issued for the periods of 2014, 2015 and 2016 for NV Energy's operating company in Southern Nevada. This initiative is being conducted in accordance with Senate Bill 123, including NRS 704.7316 and the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's regulations related to implementing the statute (LCB File No. 131-13). Interested parties will first need to register with PowerAdvocate in order to access NV Energy’s RFP process. A Bidder's Conference is scheduled for October 10, 2014 and bids are due by November 12, 2014. 10/03/2014

Due 02/25/2015: EOIs to Innovate UK for Waste Recovery R&D Funding

 Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are planning to invest up to £4.5m in collaborative R&D projects that seek to increase the recovery of valuable materials from waste streams. Applicants will be selected from a two-stage competition that opens on January 12, 2015. The purpose of this competition is to develop processes for dealing with continuously produced waste streams to maximize the value of recovered resources. Proposals should describe how they seek to maximize the value of outputs and, for this reason, those solely seeking to recover energy from waste will not be considered. Projects focused on product-return approaches, such as remanufacture, refurbishment and leasing, are also out of scope. A briefing for potential applicants will be held on January 14, 2015 to highlight the main features of the competition and explain the application process. Applicants are strongly recommended to attend this event. All applicants must first register by noon on February 18, 2015 in order to participate in the competition. The first stage is submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) by noon on February 25, 2015. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit applications, which will be due by April 15, 2015. 10/03/2014  

Hospital Commissions Heating System Fueled with Ensyn's Cellulosic Biofuel

Memorial Hospital hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week at its facilities in North Conway, New Hampshire, to celebrate the commissioning of Memorial's heating system conversion from traditional petroleum fuels to Ensyn's RFO™ renewable liquid fuel. Ensyn's RFO™ is a liquid fuel produced from non-food solid biomass, including forest and mill residues. RFO™, essentially "liquid wood," directly displaces petroleum fuels in heating operations and is also a renewable feedstock for refineries for the production of gasoline and diesel. Ensyn is supplying Memorial under a five-year, renewable contract that provides for the delivery of 300,000 gallons/year of Ensyn's RFO™ cellulosic biofuel. Memorial is using its existing boiler for RFO™ combustion operations. In addition, Ensyn installed on-site tankage and an RFO™ delivery system, including an innovative new burner that provides Memorial with the flexibility to switch back and forth, at will, between petroleum fuels and Ensyn's RFO™. The burner was supplied and installed by Cleaver-Brooks, market leader in package boilers. Memorial's boiler has been operating successfully on 100% RFO™ for approximately one month. 10/02/2014

Due 12/01/2014: Loan Applications to CalRecycle for Organics Projects

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has announced that $4,662,000 in funding through the Organics Loan Program is available for the 2014/15 fiscal year. The maximum loan amount is $2,000,000 or 75 percent of the total project cost, whichever is less, with a 25% matching fund requirement. The Organics Program is a component of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Loan Program established under Public Resources Code sections 42995-42998. The purpose of this program is to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions by providing loans to expand existing capacity or establish new facilities to process California-generated green or food materials into new value-added products. Application guidelines and instructions are available online. Questions must be submitted by email: <> no later than November 20, 2014. Primary application documents are due by December 1, 2014. 10/02/2014 

MagneGas Partners with Urban Fish Farm for Waste Water Treatment Trials

Florida based MagneGas® Corporation (MagneGas) has announced signing a Letter of Intent for the placement of a 50kW Unit for waste water sterilization trials with a fish farm company located in Fort Myers, Florida. The fish farm uses a patented process to treat the waste water, resulting in an effective organic agricultural soil amendment that can be custom formulated for specific crops and turf. The farm is now researching the benefits and test results of sterilizing their waste water with a MagneGas Recycler unit. Incorporating the MagneGas equipment into the current processing stream could classify the processed waste water as a completely organic solution for agricultural crops. Upon successful trial runs and test results, the Companies will work together to pursue aquaponic farms and certain other agricultural applications. They estimate there are up to 200 aquaponic farms in the US and plan to jointly incorporate respective patented process technologies to pursue the market. Following successful testing, the initial 50kW unit will be placed at the farm in Fort Myers to demonstrate the technology and business model to visitors. 10/01/2014

ReFood Produces ReGrow Biofertilizer From Digestion of Food Waste

The United Kingdom (UK) food waste recycler ReFood has launched "ReGrow", a new nutrient-rich biofertilizer produced by recycling food waste by anaerobic digestion (AD). With high levels of key growth nutrients including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, ReGrow can double yields if applied as part of a comprehensive crop strategy. The launch took place at ReFood’s gas-to-grid AD plant in Widnes, which was attended by some of the UK’s leading agronomists, local farmers, and other industry stakeholders. Since ReFood opened its first AD plant in Doncaster in 2011, the company has been developing its ReGrow product and working with lead agronomists, Anna Becvar from Earthcare Technical and Matthew Taylor, Senior Environmental Scientist at ADAS. The first phase of product development was to secure PAS 110 certification for the AD digestate, which establishes a waste material as a product suitable for use on farm land. 10/01/2014

Welsh Minister Advocates Food Supply Chain Review to Reduce Food Waste

Wales' Natural Resources Minister, Carl Sargeant, has introduced the Food Manufacture, Service and Retail Sector Plan, aimed at preventing food waste, reducing its production, and increasing recycling across supply chains. The sector plan advocates a whole food supply chain approach, involving measures to encourage large businesses to collaborate and support their suppliers to adapt and reduce waste, and supporting small and medium sized enterprises to innovate. Addressing inefficiencies in the manufacturing process can enable the entire supply chain to take steps to prevent food waste being created in the first place. According to WRAP estimates, the estimated financial value of a tonne of food and drink waste for food manufacturing is £950 per tonne, rising to £1200 per tonne for the retail sector. 10/01/2014

Arizona County Signs Contract with Anaergia for Biogas Upgrading Plant

Canada based Anaergia Inc. and its project partner Grannus, LLC, have signed a contract with the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (PCRWRD) in Arizona to design-build-finance-own-operate (DBFOO) a large-scale biomethane upgrading facility. In March of this year, Anaergia and Grannus were selected to enter negotiations with Pima, and the resulting service contract has now been executed. The PCRWRD operates nine (9) wastewater treatment facilities in Pima County, which generate biosolids that can be used to create biogas. The majority of biosolids are transferred to a centralized wastewater biosolids handling and treatment facility where the biosolids are processed in anaerobic digesters, producing a continuous supply of digester gas which is currently flared. The new biomethane upgrading facility will treat and compress the biogas, creating biomethane which will be compositionally similar to natural gas, and will displace non-renewable fossil fuels. 10/01/2014

WELTEC Receives Order for French Biogas Project with Gas Processing

Germany based WELTEC BIOPOWER has announced receiving an order for a biogas project with gas processing to be located in the north of the Franche-Comté region on the Swiss border. The plant is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2015, after which it is expected to supply biomethane to the French natural gas grid at a rate of 70 standard m³/h. The biomethane from the new plant will be processed from 6,000 t of agricultural waste, such as cattle manure, pig manure, intertillage, and starch. These will be digested in a stainless steel fermenter with a capacity of about 1,500 m³. French agriculture has a wealth of raw and waste materials that are suitable for biogas plants; however, only half of the available materials are presently used for energy production. As a result, ambitious development plans have been drawn up: By 2020, the biomass share in the field of renewable energies in France is to rise to about 50 percent. 10/01/2014