U.S. Gain
Date: 2020-07-01
Appleton, Wisconsin-based U.S. Gain, a leader in development, procurement and distribution of renewable natural gas (RNG), reports that after only eight months their digester at S&S Jerseyland Dairy in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin is now transforming animal waste to clean, low carbon fuel for the transportation market.

The anaerobic digester at S&S Jerseyland Dairy has been operational since 2011, initially converting waste from the farm's 4,000 herd of Jersey cows to renewable power. U.S. Gain purchased the farm's digester in September of 2019 and made the upgrades needed for fuel production. Gas collected at the facility is taken through a complex processing system that results in RNG comprised of 99.5 pct methane. The facility recently obtained project certification from the California Air Resources Board, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency

A key partner to U.S. Gain throughout the project was Nacelle Solutions, a leader in developing gas clean-up equipment specifically designed for the RNG industry. "Methane recovery was maximized through additional processing capabilities in the upgrade portion of the plant, specifically a third stage membrane process. The more plants we do, the more efficient and streamlined we become, enabling speed to market with reliable results," explained Nacelle's Co-Founder, Gov Graney.

Nacelle provides innovative technology solutions and 24/7/365 operations and service ensuring a high level of performance and success. Since inception, Nacelle has executed 150+ different projects with an average throughput of 2000 scfm (~3 million scf per day) of processed gas. Nacelle is committed to gas conditioning technologies and service that meet the complex and evolving demands of the energy and biogas industries. (Source: U.S. Gain, PR, 29 June, 2020) Contact: U.S. Gain, Mike Koel, Pres., Bryan Nudelbacher, Dir. RNG Business Development, Stephanie Lowney, Director of Marketing & Innovation , slowney@usgain.com, www.usgain.com; Nacelle Solutions, Gov Graney, (855) 622-3553, info@nacellesolutions.com, www.nacellesolutions.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Gain,  RNG,  Anaerobic Digestion,  Biogas,  Methane,  

Northern Ireland
Date: 2020-06-24
In the UK, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) recently released statistical bulletin on greenhouse gas emissions for Northern Ireland (NI) outlines slight decreases for period 1990-2018.

In 2018, Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 19.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent -- a decrease of 2 pct compared to 2017. The longer term trend showed a decrease of 20 pct compared to the base year 1990.

The largest sectors in terms of emissions in 2018 were agriculture at 27 pct, transportation with 23 pct, and power generation at 15 pct. The largest decreases, in terms of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), were in the energy supply, waste management and residential sectors.

The decreases were driven by improvements in energy efficiency, fuel switching from coal to natural gas, which became available in the late 1990s, and the introduction of methane capture and oxidation systems in landfill management. Northern Ireland accounted for 4 pct of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2018.

Details are HERE. (Source: DAERA, Farming Life,23 June, 2020) Contact: DAERA, www.dera-ni.gov.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News GHGs,  Greenhouse Gas,  Climate Change,  

BP,Satelytics
Date: 2020-06-24
BP Ventures, the investment arm of BP, is reporting a $5 million investment in Toledo, Ohio-headquartered geospatial analytics specialist Satelytics to help the oil and gas giant accurately spot and remedy methane leaks which contribute to the greenhouse gas effect and climate change.

BP plans to install Satelytics methane measurement capabilities at all its major oil and gas processing sites by 2023. This will be to measure the base level of methane in its current operations so that it can work towards cutting methane levels by 50 pct. BP's investment is in line with its goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Satelytics is a cloud-based geospatial analytics software suite. Multi or hyper-spectral imagery gathered from satellites, UAV, planes, and fixed cameras alerting our customers in oil and gas, power, pipeline, rail, mining and water to identify operational challenges as early as possible. Pinpointing the specific problem, its location and magnitude, is critical to minimizing cost, impact, and operational disruption, according to the company's website. (Source" BP Innovations, PR, June, 2020) Contact: Satelytics, 419-728-0060, www.satelytics.com; BP Innovations, 702-528-3029, www.bpinnovations.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Satelytics,  ethane,  Methane Emissions,  BP,  

ETW Energietechnik
Date: 2020-06-17
Moers, Germany-based combined heat and power plant specialist ETW Energietechnik GmbH (ETW) reports it supplied its ETW SmartCycle® PSA biogas upgrading technology for a newly constructed 45km biogas pipeline.

The pipeline will collect raw biogas from up to 48 area biogas plants for delivery to a central upgrading facility at Flugplatz Bitburg where it will be refined into biomethane and fed into the gas grid.

The Bitburg area's biogas plant network can potentially produce around 10,000m3 of raw biogas per hour, according to ETW. (Source: ETW Energietechnik Gmbh, PR, Bioenergy Insight, 17 June, 2020) Contact: ETW Energietechnik GmbH, +49 2841 99900, www.etw-energie.de

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biogas,  Biomethane,  ETW,  

European Biogas Association ,Natural and Bio Gas Vehicle Association
Date: 2020-06-15
The attached document from the European Biogas Association (EBA) and the Natural and Bio Gas Vehicle Association (NGVA Europe) illustrates the current and potential uptake of biomethane in the transportation sector.

According to the document, 17 pct of biomethane is used today to fuel natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in 25 pct of Europe's refueling network, resulting in a 35 pct reduction of emissions when compared to conventional fuels -- the highest rate of emissions reduction compared to other fuels, with greater potential when coupled with renewable gas. The report notes 117 terawatt-hours of renewable gas could be distributed as transport fuel as bioCNG and bioLNG by 2030 -- 40 pct of the overall fuel consumption of NGVs, estimated at more than 13 million vehicles in 2030.

A higher uptake of bioCNG and bioLNG in the sector will result in an overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of 55 pct . Up to one million jobs will be created to ensure the scale-up of biomethane in the coming decades. New CNG and LNG stations and vehicles must also be created and must be compatible with their renewable counterparts, the document notes.

Download the The European Green Deal -- In the Fast Lane with Biomethane in Transport report HERE. (Source: European Biogas Association, Website, June, 2020) Contact: www.europeanbiogas.eu; Natural & bio Gas Vehicle Association, www.ngva.eu

More Low-Carbon Energy News European Biogas Association,  Natural and Bio Gas Vehicle Association,  biCNG,  Biogas,  bioLNG,  

Bureau Veritas
Date: 2020-06-05
In Paris, laboratory testing, inspection and certification services provider Bureau Veritas reports the signing of a global framework agreement intended to help global energy and petrochemicals giant Shell reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from operations.

Methane emissions are a major component of indirect greenhouse gas emissions generated along the oil and gas value chain. Shell has set a target to maintain methane emissions intensity below 0.2 pct by 2025. Bureau Veritas will provide support and help enable the company meet that target. (Source: Bureau Veritas, PR, 4 June, 2020 Contact: Bureau Veritas, Bruno Ferreyra, , Exec. VP., Delphine Doungouss, Media, +33 (0)1 55 24 70 95, Delphine.doungouss@bureauveritas.com, www.bureauveritas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bureau Veritas,  Shell Oil,  GHG,  Greenhouse Gas,  CO2,  Methane,  

Ofgem, Energy Networks Association
Date: 2020-05-29
In the UK, Britain's five gas networks -- Cadent, National Grid, NGN, SGN, and Wales & West Utilities have outlined a "Zero Carbon Commitment" and plan to spend £904 million on zero-carbon energy infrastructure and hydrogen deployment across the UK, subject to Ofgem funding approval which is expected in July.

If approved, the spending would focus on projects across Britain between 2021 and 2026, under the RIIO-2 price control. The gas networks claim that spending could help the UK use "blue hydrogen" developed from carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, and "green hydrogen" from renewable electricity -- with the latter becoming cost-competitive by 2030.

Under the plan, £446 million would be spent on a new network infrastructure for the industrial use of hydrogen, including £391 million for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects in the north-west of England, Aberdeenshire and the Isle of Grain. A further £264 million would be spent on projects to expand the capacity of local gas networks by connecting hydrogen and bio-methane generation projects and transport refueling stations. £150 million would be used to run large-scale trials for domestic use of hydrogen heating, cooking and transportation and how these are connected to the gas grid. £43 million would be spent to research blending more zero-carbon hydrogen with the natural gas currently used in the UK's gas networks.

According to the Energy Networks Association (ENA), £182 billion could be invested to make hydrogen cost-competitive with the current natural gas-based system and would reduce energy system costs to the UK public by £189 billion by 2050. (Source: ENA, edie, 28 May. 2020) Contact: Energy Networks Association, www.energynetworks.org; OFGEM, Chris Lock, +44 0207 901 7225, www.ofgem.gov.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News Blue Carbon,  Ofgem,  Net-Zero Emissions,  

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Date: 2020-05-29
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reports it has submitted detailed information to Gov. Kate Brown on how it plans to carry out her March 10 executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The DEQ submissions outline the processes the agency will use beginning later this year for developing rules, policies and strategies to accomplish the governor's emission reduction goals.

The reports to the Governor focus on areas where significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved. Combined with actions by other state agencies, these steps represent Oregon's most comprehensive effort to date to stem the harmful effects of greenhouse gas pollution. The steps include:

Establishing a Cap and Reduce program, which will establish a regulatory program to require reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in three broad areas;

Expanding DEQ's already successful Clean Fuels Program , which requires the state's transportation fuel suppliers to provide the people of Oregon with fuels that are less carbon intensive;

Working with ODOT and other Oregon agencies to implement other strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, including emissions standards for trucks and programs for large employers to help reduce driving;

Developing ways to capture more methane from Oregon landfills, which are a significant contributor to climate change;

Reducing avoidable food waste to prevent the environmental burdens of food production, distribution, refrigeration, preparation and final disposal, while also strengthening efforts to recover unavoidable food waste through anaerobic digestion and composting. (Source: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality , PR, Website, May, 2020) Contact: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality , Richard Whitman, Dir., Harry Esteve, Communications, 503-951-3856, esteve.harry@deq.state.or.us, www.deq.state.or.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Oregon Department of Environmental Quality,  Carbon Emissions,  Emission Reductions,  

University of Alaska Fairbanks
Date: 2020-05-27
One of the many greenhouse gases that is contributing to global warming is methane. Methane is emitted a lot of ways, including from lakes across Alaska. However, studies on how much methane flows up from those lakes into the atmosphere haven’t always been very accurate. New research from the University of Alaska Fairbanks utilizing radar instruments positioned on satellites has led to a breakthrough in lake methane emission research. That research could help climate scientists better see how Alaska’s lakes contribute to the world’s methane emissions. As permafrost under lakes begins to break down, it releases carbon, which is broken down by tiny microorganisms, which in turn, release methane. “Sometimes you’ll sit on the edge of the lake and you can see a little pop,” said “And you might think ‘oh hey, it’s a fish.’ But it could also be a little methane bubble that’s coming out.” Since methane is an odorless, colorless gas, it can be difficult to monitor how much is released by lakes. But not when they’re frozen. “The ice forms around the bubbles; more bubbles are released and [ice] forms around the bubbles,” Engram said. “And the ice creates a time-lapse freeze frame, pardon the pun. It’s a freeze-frame historical record of the methane bubbling.” To study these methane bubbles, Engram and other researchers use small bubble traps to make micro-measurements of methane and then scale them up to the full area. However, she says, those aren’t super accurate. Now, UAF researchers have begun to use what’s called a synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, to better map methane being released from lakes. Basically, a satellite sends a pulse down to a lake. A portion of that pulse bounces back to the satellite in what’s called a backscatter. Backscatters range in luminosity from kind of dim to very bright. Engram and other researchers used SAR to map methane emissions from 48 lakes across five regions of Alaska, including the northern Seward Peninsula near Kotzebue, lakes near Atqasuk — south of Utqiagvik — and the Fairbanks area. Of course, researchers still had to go out to the lakes that SAR was mapping to make sure it actually worked. To Engram’s delight, it did. Engram says the success of using SAR to map out methane emissions in Arctic lakes means the system can monitor thousands of lakes across the state. And that’s not just exciting from a research perspective. Engram says that there isn’t a lot of global data on methane release from lakes, and use of the SAR can help create a baseline to track in the future. That will be useful to climate scientists tracking changes in the atmosphere. Studies show that methane is about 30 times stronger than carbon dioxide as a heat-trapping gas. And while methane is naturally emitted from these lakes, Engram says the amount is drastically dwarfed by the amount produced from those anthropogenic sources. (Source: University of Alaska Fairbanks Water and Environmental Research Center, KOTZ, 17 May, 2020) Contact: University of Alaska Fairbanks Water and Environmental Research Center, Melanie Engram, (907) 474-7789, (907) 474-7041 – fax, nmisarti@alaska.edu R, www.ine.uaf.edu/werc

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane news,  Methane Emissions news,  

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane,  Methane Emissions,  

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane,  Methane Emissions,  

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane,  Methane Emissions,  

FortisBC,REN Energy International
Date: 2020-05-04
In British Columbia, the utility company FortisBC will purchase wood waste-derived renewable natural gas (RNG) from Kelowna, B.C.-based REN Energy International through a new partnership. The production facility will be owned and operated by REN Energy and situated near Fruitvale, BC.

RNG is typically made by capturing methane released from decomposing organic waste. This project will utilise waste from forestry operations, sawmills and other wood manufacturers and create RNG through gasification, rather than decomposition. The syngas produced in the process will be converted to methane before being purified to meet natural gas line specifications, according to FortisBC.

The project is expected to produce over one million gigajoules (approximately 277,777 megawatt-hours) of RNG annually from forest waste-woody biomass when fully operational in mid 2021, according to the release. (Source: FortisBC, PR, Various Media, Bioenergy Insight, 1 May, 2020)Contact: FortisBC, Scott Gramm, RNG Supply Manager, Douglas Stout, VP, Market Dev., www.fortisinc.com, www.fortisbc.com/RNG; REN Energy International, www.rencorp.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News REN Energy,  FortisBC,  RNG,  Woody Biomass,  

Innogy Energo
Date: 2020-05-01
In the Czech Republic, Innogy Energo s.r.o. reports it will offer biomethane-enriched compressed natural gas (BioCNG)vehicle transportation fuel through it network of 63 CNG filling stations by the end of June.

When burned, BioCNG releases up to 80 pct less carbon dioxide emissions into the air than petrol or diesel, meets even the strictest limits of pure mobility and is certified by the International Biomass and Biofuels Certification System (ISCC EU). (Source: Innogy Energo, prazskypatriot.cz, NGV Global, 29 April, 2020) Contact: Innogy Energo, Zdenek Kaplan, CEO, +420 724 202 772, www.innogy-energo.cz; International Biomass and Biofuels Certification System, certifications.controlunion.com/en/certification-programs/certification-programs/iscc-certified-biomass-and-bioenergy

More Low-Carbon Energy News CNG,  Alternative Fuel,  Biomethane,  BioCNG,  Alternatice Fuell,  

Climate Change
Date: 2020-04-29
In Wisconsin, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi is touting the 2020 Dane County Climate Action Plan - Today's Opportunity for a Better Tomorrow (CAP) calling for a greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction of 50 pct countywide by 2030 with the goal of carbon-neutrality by 2050. The plan's goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2030 exceeds the 45 percent worldwide reduction goal set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. CAP climate change emission reduction strategies include:

Increase electric vehicles sales (and transition heavy-duty trucks to electricity or renewable natural gas (RNG) vehicles.

Reduce vehicle miles traveled by shifting from driving alone to increase use of public transit, carpooling and biking.

Cut energy consumption by 2 pct per capita by 2030 by increasing the efficiency of old and new residential and commercial buildings.

Process 50 pct of livestock manure in anerobic digesters reducing GHG methane emissions, limiting phosphorus in area lakes and creating a new revenue source for farms.

CAP notes these actions will result in major economic and health benefits, lead to energy security and great resilience to the harmful impacts of a changing climate, and address racial and economic equality to ensure the benefits of carbon reductions are equitably shared.

In 2017, Parisi created the Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change (OECC) to lead public and private efforts across the county to address climate change. The OECC led by its director, Keith Reopelle, created the Council on Climate Change -- a work group of 38 local governments, energy utilities, businesses, and environmental and community organizations that provided input into the development of the CAP to reduce GHG emissions across all 61 cities, towns and villages as well as the private sector. (Source: Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change, Herald Independent, 26 April, 2020) Contact: Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change, Keith Reopelle, Dir., www.daneclimateaction.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  CO2,  

NASA,University of Saskatchewan
Date: 2020-04-27
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is reporting the developement and testing of a new technology which turns waste into "green" fuel for possible use on the International Space Station and in long term space missions.

Developed in a recent collaboration with researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), the high-quality fuel gas mixture is made from crop and forestry residues, food waste, cattle manure, petroleum, and petrochemical waste.

Consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane, the syngas can be used as a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels, green diesel and other applications. (Source: NASA, Gasworld, 24 April, 2020) Contact: NASA, www.nasa.gov; University of Saskatchewan, Sonil Nanda,Chemical and Biological Engineering Research Associate, Ajay Dalai, Canada Research Chair of Bio-Energy and Environmentally Friendly Chemical Processing, 306-966-4768, ajay.dalai@usask.ca, www.usask.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Syngas,  NASA,  Green Fuel,  University of Saskatchewan,  Ajay Dalai,  

Allegheny College
Date: 2020-04-24
In the Keystone State, Allegheny College (enrollment 1850 +-) in Meadville reports it is the state's first college or university and only the eighth in the nation to achieve carbon neutrality.

Allegheny College's Board of Trustees established a climate action plan in 2010 that in part aimed to become a carbon-neutral institution by 2020.To that end, the school increased its energy efficiency by nearly 20 pct through retrofitting existing infrastructure, making system and behavioral changes, and opting for sustainable construction and renovation. It also shifted from fossil fuel-based energy sources to alternative energy sources by installing geothermal heating and cooling systems in four buildings, generating 8,500 kilowatt-hours of solar energy annually and by only buying energy from wind-generated sources. It offset remaining emissions by investing in projects that Allegheny College faculty and students are involved in, including, for example, a methane-capture project at a dairy farm. (Source: Allegheny College Times News, 21 April, 2020) Contact: Allegheny College, Kelly Boulton, Sustainability Director, www.allegheny.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon-Neutral,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Port of Seattle, US Gain
Date: 2020-04-22
Appleton, Wisconsin-based U.S. Gain is reporting completion of a renewable natural gas (RNG) supply agreement with the Port of Seattle which will use RNG to heat Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and power its fleet of buses.

RNG is produced from methane and can be used as an alternative fuel to reduce scope 1 and/or 3 emissions, but also as a thermal energy solution to reduce heating and cooling-related scope 2 emissions.

U.S. Gain, part of U.S. Venture, Inc., is a leader in development, procurement and distribution of renewable and compressed natural gas (CNG) for the transportation and energy segments. Over the course of 10 years U.S. Gain has diversified throughout the renewable natural gas supply chain; investing and managing renewable natural gas development projects at dairies, landfills and wastewater treatment plants; generating, trading and monetizing clean fuel credits; designing, building and operating natural gas fueling stations both private and a public GAIN Clean Fuel® network. (Source: U.S. Gain, PR, 20 April, 2020) Contact: U.S. Gain, Bryan Nudelbacher, Bus. Dev., Stephanie Lowney, Director of Marketing & Innovation, slowney@usgain.com, www.usgain.com; Port of Seattle, www.portseattle.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Gain,  RNG,  Port of Seattle,  

Methane
Date: 2020-04-20
In Ottawa, the Government of Justin Trudeau (Lib) has announced it is putting a combined $2.5 billion toward cleaning up thousands of risky, contaminated oil and gas wells and cutting methane emission leaks. Of the total commitment, $1.72 billion is earmarked for cleaning up orphan or inactive wells in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as $750 million to create an Emissions Reduction Fund to help firms meet federal methane-reduction standards. A tenth of that fund, designed to offer loans, is meant for cutting pollution in Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore oil industry.

Methane, although shorter lived in the atmosphere, is 86 times more powerful than CO2 at trapping heat over a 20-year period.

Canada has committed to cutting methane from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45 pct from 2012 levels by 2025. (Source: Gov. of Canada, National Observer, Various Media, 17 April, 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Methane,  Methane Emissions,  

EDL Energy, Kinetrex Energy
Date: 2020-04-17
Further to our 4 March report, in Indianapolis, EDL Energy, Kinetrex Energy and South Side Landfill celebrated the opening of the Indy High BTU plant, which will convert landfill methane gas into renewable natural gas (RNG). The fully operational plant is Illinois' largest producing 8 million gpy of pipeline-quality RNG, according to the release.

The facility will supply Kinetrex Energy with RNG, which it will turn into liquefied natural gas (LNG) and sold to Midwest transportation fleets.

(Source: Kinetrex Energy, Bioenergy Insights, 14 April, 2020)Contact: EDL Energy, www.edlenergy.com; Kinetrex Energy, Aaron Johnson, CEO, 317-886-8179, www.kinetrexenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News RNG,  EDL Energy,  Kinetrex Energy,  RNG,  

Orbital Gas Systems
Date: 2020-04-15
In Houston, CUI Global, Inc. reports its wholly-owned subsidiary, Orbital Gas Systems Ltd. has been awarded a contract to design, produce and commission its first-ever biomethane-to-grid plant for the UK water industry. The contract calls for the provision of an initial biomethane Grid Entry Unit (GEU) followed by a second unit, both to be delivered in 2020. Each unit is valued at approximately $550,000.

Additionally, Orbital is completing upgrade works on the 2012-vintage Poundbury Renewable Energy Plant -- the UK's first full-scale Anaerobic Digester and Biomethane-to-Grid Plant. (Source: CUI Global, Inc., PR, 14 April, 2020) Contact: GUI Global, Jim O'Neil CEO, (503) 612-2300, www.cuiglobal.com; Orbital Gas Systems, Paul White, Pres., (832) 467-1420, +44 (0)1785 857000 -- Orbital UK, www.orbitalgas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Orbital Gas Systems,  Biomethane,  Biogas,  RNG ,  

FortisBC
Date: 2020-04-15
In British Columbia, the utility FortisBC reports it will soon launch its third and largest landfill renewable natural gas (RNG) project in partnership with the city of Vancouver.

The utility will own and operate the system at the Delta landfill and pay the city of Vancouver for its gas, which will go back to the municipality to fuel its CNG trucks and for a central energy system serving residential and commercial customers in downtown Vancouver. FortisBC's two other biogas upgrading plants are in Salmon Arm, BC, and Kelowna, BC, which collectively generate 80,000 gigajoules per year. FortisBC is also awaiting British Columbia Utilities Commission approval for a landfill-to-gas project in Fraser-Fort George, BC.

British Columbia legislation requires capturing 75 pct of gas generated in landfills. (Source: FortisBC, Waste360, April, 2020) Contact: FortisBC, Scott Gramm, RNG Supply Manager, Douglas Stout, VP, Market Dev., www.fortisinc.com, www.fortisbc.com/RNG

More Low-Carbon Energy News Landfill Gas,  FortisBC,  Methane,  RNG,  

NOAA
Date: 2020-04-13
A preliminary estimate from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has found that levels of atmospheric methane, a relatively short-lived heat-trapping gas roughly 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, have hit an all-time high.

In 2019, the concentration of atmospheric methane reached nearly 1875 ppb, the highest level since record-keeping began in 1983. 2019 also saw the second-largest single-year leap in two decades.

The NOAA analysis notes "methane emissions primarily come from natural sources, like wetlands, and man-made sources, like farms and oil and gas wells. In wetlands, microbes excrete methane, an issue that humans can do little about. On farms, cows and sheep belch methane -- a problem that people can address by raising fewer livestock. The easiest way to stem methane pollution, however, is to limit its release from oil and gas drilling sites."

Methane levels were more or less flat from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. They began to rise after 2006 thanks, at least in part, to more oil and gas drilling. Their recent uptick threatens the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, as scientists had assumed that methane concentrations would stay level and then drop off when they projected how countries would meet their climate targets.

Download the NOAA Trends in Atmospheric Methane HERE. (Source: NOAA, Nexus Media, Jeremy Deaton, 12 April, 2020) Contact: NOAA, (301) 713-1208, www.noaa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane,  NOAA,  GHG,  Climate Change,  Atmospheric Methane,  

JLEN Environmental Assets
Date: 2020-04-03
In the UK, environmental infrastructure investment fund JLEN Environmental Assets Group Ltd is reporting an £11 million ($13.7 million) equity investment in the 5 MW of thermal and 0.25 MW of power generation capacity Peacehill Farm anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in Fife, Scotland. The Peacehill Farm plant, which is accredited under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) schemes, produces biomethane for the national gas grid.

With this investment, JLEN's portfolio stands at 302.9 MW. (Source: JLEN Environmental Assets, Contact: JLEN Environmental Assets Group, +44 (0)20 3100 0000www.jlen.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News anaerobic digestion,  Biomethane,  Methane,  

Montreal Protocol,NOAA
Date: 2020-04-01
A recently released study from NOAA Chemical Science Department has found international cooperation in ozone-depleting chemicals helps to normalize the southern jet framework after decades of social instability. Scientists say the results show that governments have the ability to recover a damaged climate system if they act quickly and harmoniously to resolve the issue.

The southern jet stream is a strong wind that forms the southern hemisphere, especially in summer and weather patterns. By 2000, it had returned to its natural course. It moved south in Antarctica to the latitude of every decade, affecting the paths of storms and rains in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia.

Previous research has proven that this is mainly due to ozone layer deficiency due to synthetic chemical compounds such as ozone damaging CFCs, and HCFCs, which are found in refrigerators, aerosols and other industrial processes were phased out in 1987. The study found that the Montreal Protocol has halted the southern route of the jet stream since the year 2000 and it may begin to change as the ozone layer starts to close. Dept. 2019 satellite imagery revealed that the annual peak of the ozone hole was 16.4 million square kilometres, the smallest since 1982.

Ozone restoration is not sufficient to normalize the Southern Hemisphere climate, as other industrial emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are harmful to the environment. There is a battle between increasing CO2 and ozone recovery. That is why we see a decline. Previous studies have reported that ozone holes have a chimney effect that emits some heat from the atmosphere, which means the Antarctic is warmer than the North. (Source: NOAA Chemical Science Dept. tenreports, 28 Mar., 2020) Contact: NOAA Chemical Sciences, Antara Banerjee, Study Author, 303-497-6455, antara.banerjee@noaa.gov, www.esrl.noaa.gov/csd

More Low-Carbon Energy News Montreal Protocol,  Ozone Depletion,  Climate Change,  NOAA,  

Trident Processes
Date: 2020-04-01
Sumas, Washington-based wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery specialist Trident Processes Inc reports it has been selected by Wellesley, Mass.-based Vanguard Renewables' as the nutrient recovery technology provider for a new anaerobic digestion (AD) facility at Goodrich Family Farm's dairy in Salisbury, Vermont.

Construction is underway on the biogas system project which, when fully operation in Q3 of this year, will process 280 tpd of manure and organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG). (Source: Trident Processes Inc., Bioenergy Insight, 30 Mar., 2020) Contact: Trident Processes, Kerry Doyle, CEO, 800-799-3740, info@tridentprocesses.com, www.tridentprocesses.com; Vanguard Renewables, 781-232-7597, www.vanguardrenewables.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biogas,  Methane,  Trident Processes,  anaerobic digestion ,  

ExxonMobil
Date: 2020-03-27
This model framework discusses key sources and control measures for methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Some issues for authorities to consider when establishing regulatory approaches are also provided where relevant. While this model focuses on upstream operations, many of the mitigation measures could be applicable to emission sources in other segments of the natural gas value chain such as distribution and storage.

Download the ExxonMobil Mitigating Methane Emissions from the Oil and Gas Industry -- Model Regulatory Framework HERE. (Source: ExxonMobil, April,2020) Contact: ExxonMobil, www.corporate.exxonmobil.com

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Samsung Heavy Industries,
Date: 2020-03-25
In an initiative aimed at reducing maritime shipping emissions and identifying an alternative to currently used heavy oil "bunkering" fuel, London-headquartered Lloyd's Register, Samsung Heavy Industries, MISC, and MAN Energy Solutions in January launched an ammonia-fueled tanker project to examine the use of ammonia as an alternative maritime fuel. Following a study with A.P. Moller-Maersk, Lloyd's Register has determined the best (marine) fuels for achieving zero net emissions are alcohol, biomethane and ammonia.

Lloyd's Register Group Limited is a technical and business services organization and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd's Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. The organisation dates to 1760, according to wikipedia. (Source: Lloyd's Register, Trade Only Today, Mar., 2020) Contact: Lloyd's Register, www.lr.org; A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, www.maersk.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Alternative Fuel,  Biomethane,  Ammonia,  International Maritime Organization,  Maritime Emissions,  Climate Change,  

FortisBC,Regional District of Fraser-Fort George
Date: 2020-03-25
In British Columbia, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors is reporting approval of a planned expansion of the landfill gas collection system at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill. "This project will increase the overall collection efficiency of the existing current landfill gas system and assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill site," according to the release.

In 2019, the regional district inked a tentative agreement to sell landfill gas to FortisBC, which would be purified and injected into Fortis' natural gas network. Under that agreement, FortisBC would build and operate an approximately $8.5 million processing plant at the landfill and pay the regional district $75,000 to $145,000 per year for 75,000 to 125,000 gigagoules per year of gas when the plants is fully operational before the year end.

Diverting gas from the Foothills landfill into the FortisBC system would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,500 to 5,700 tpy , according to the company. (Source: Regional District of Fraser-Fort George , Prince George Citizen, 23 Mar., 2020) Contact: FortisBC, Douglas Stout, VP, Market Dev. www.fortisinc.com, www.fortisbc.com/RNG; Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, (250) 960-4400, (250) 563-7520 - fax, district@rdffg.bc.ca, www.rdffg.bc.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Landfill Gas,  FortisBC,  Methane,  

ENGIE,Heathrow Airport
Date: 2020-03-20
In the UK, ENGIE is reporting an agreement under which it will supply London's Heathrow Airport with Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin Scheme (RGGOs) certified biomethane from anaerobic digestion (AD) until March 2022. The agreement builds on an existing partnership in which ENGIE supplies biomethane to the airport's Energy Centre. (Source: ENGIE, Various Media, Bioenergy Insight, 19 Mar., 2020) Contact: ENGIE, www.engie.com/en; Heathrow Airport, John Holland-Kaye, CEO, +44 0 8443 351801, www.heathrow.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News ENGIE,  Biomethane,  Heathrow,  anaerobic digestion,  

Carbon Emissions
Date: 2020-03-16
From the Land Down Under, The Fifth Estate has offered the following brief clarifications of the plethora of commonly used carbon emissions related terms:

Net Zero Energy -- There's two ways of looking at this. The first is based on simple math, and means a building, precinct, process or region generates as much energy within its own boundaries or site as it pulls in from elsewhere over a specific period -- most often a year. The other definition is a building or precinct or region that generates 100 per cent of its own energy needs on site or within its boundaries.

Net Positive Energy -- When a building or precinct generates more energy than it uses and shares that energy through either a local microgrid or by sending it into the main grid, it becomes energy positive.

Carbon Negative -- Carbon negative is used for larger scales than individual buildings, such as precincts, regions, businesses or even entire nations. It means absorbing more carbon than all combined carbon emissions within the specific area or operation.

Carbon Neutral -- Carbon neutral is basically a balancing act where a building, business or region sequesters or offsets as much carbon as it emits.

Carbon Offsets -- All offsets are not created equal -- there are dirt-cheap offsets sloshing around the global carbon market from questionable projects in far-flung places. But not only are they scientifically and ethically questionable, they also will not meet the standards required for formal third-party carbon neutral certification. The best offsets deliver co-benefits beyond just sequestering carbon, such as improving biodiversity, increasing water quality or catchment protection, generating social benefits, local economic benefits or supporting Indigenous cultural practices and knowledge.

Operational Emissions -- Most carbon accounting undertaken for the purposes of carbon neutral certification focus on carbon emissions generated by the operation of a building, business or region. It's not just emissions from energy or fuel use though. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol defines three "scopes" or categories of carbon emissions as follows -- Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from "owned or controlled sources" such as a fleet of vehicles, a power plant or a manufacturing plant. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of energy used within a building, plant or region. Scope 3 emissions are all the indirect emissions in a business, process or region's value chain both upstream and downstream. This would include something like methane emissions from waste sent to landfill, or the emissions from energy used to make the widgets that a business procures then retails.

Embodied Carbon -- Basically, almost everything we use from a smartphone to a building, has embodied carbon. Embodied or upfront carbon refers to the emissions released during the manufacture and transport of building materials, and the construction as well the end-of-life-phases of built assets. (Source: Fifth Estate Australia, Mar, 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon,  Carbon Emissions,  

Future Biogas
Date: 2020-03-11
In the UK, Fern AD, a new BOCK and Guildford-based Future Biogas partnership venture farm and anaerobic digestion (AD) technology brand launching in April, 2020, will offer top-performance products and specialist consultancy for the UK agricultural and AD sectors.

Specialising solely in AD technology, Fern helps AD plant owners and managers use the latest science to optimize biogas outputs. Fern AD is also the exclusive retailer of its own "T16" digester additive, made with a balanced recipe of trace elements.

Future Biogas' biologists have extensive experience in the field, working on the company's 13 AD plants. The firm harvests 250,000 tonnes of maize to power its plants and produces 50MW of biogas every hour of the year, according to the company website. (Source: Fern AD Website, Mar.,2020) Contact: Fern, Helen Wyman, Mgr., +44 0 7830 66452, www.fernfarming.com; Future Biogas, Philip Lukas, Managing Dir., +44 (0) 1483 375 920, info@futurebiogas.com, www.futurebiogass.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Future Biogas,  Biogas,  Methane,  Anaerobic Digestion ,  

CenterPoint Energy
Date: 2020-03-06
Houston-headquartered electric and natural delivery company CenterPoint Energy reports it aims to reduce its operational emissions by 70 pct by 2035 and emissions attributable to natural gas usage in heating, appliances and equipment within the residential and commercial sectors by 20 to 30 pct by 2040 -- based on its 2005 emissions.

To that end, CenterPoint will continue to offer customers energy efficiency programs and continue investing in renewable forms of energy on both the natural gas and electric sides of the business. The company will also partner with natural gas suppliers to lower methane emissions across the natural gas value chain as well as support communities where it operates with their climate action goals, according to the company release. (Source: CenterPoint Energy, PR, Mar., 2020) Contact: CenterPoint Energy, Angila Retherford, VP Environmental Affairs and Corporate Sustainability, www.CenterPointEnergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CenterPoint Energy,  Carbon Emissions,  Methane,  Climate Change ,  

Eni S.p.A.
Date: 2020-03-04
is reporting plans to planning to have 55GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2050. Under its Long-Term Strategic Plan to 2050, Italian oil and gas firm Eni S.p.A. is aiming to slash net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of its energy products by 80 pct by 2050 by using renewable energies, biomethane, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), methanol and products from the recycling of waste materials.

According to a release, the Rome-headquartered company has "quantified our carbon footprint reduction targets giving ourselves a comprehensive method of calculating emissions, which includes both direct and indirect emissions deriving from the end-use of our products, whether from our own production or purchased from third parties." (Source: Eni S.p.A., Bioenergy Insight, Mar., 2020) Contact: Eni S.p.A., Claudio Descalzi, CEO, +39 06 598 21, +39 06 598 22141 - fax, www.eni.com/en-IT/home.html

More Low-Carbon Energy News Eni,  Biodiesel,  Green Diesel,  Biomethane,  

Consumers Energy
Date: 2020-03-04
In its 2019 Clean Energy Plan, Jackson, Michigan-headquartered Consumers Energy announced it aimed to reduce 90 pct of the carbon emissions it generates by eliminating the use of coal and working with customers to use energy more efficiently in an effort to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Consumers previously committed to being coal-free by 2040 in its Integrated Resource Plan which included building 6,000 MW of new solar by 2030. The utility also launched a public outreach campaign focused on energy efficiency. The new commitment will supplement Consumers' existing plan to eliminate coal, expand renewable energy resources and help customers reduce their energy use. Consumers also may offset further emissions through strategies such as carbon sequestration, landfill methane capture or large-scale tree planting. (Source: Consumers Energy, PR, Grand Rapids Business Journal, Mar., 2020) Contact: Consumers Energy, Patti Poppe, CEO, (517) 788-0550, info@cmsenergy.com, www.ConsumersEnergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Consumers Energy,  Net-Zero Carbon,  

Kinetrex Energy
Date: 2020-03-04
Following up on our 8th Novemberm 2019 report, Indianapolis-based Kinetrex Energy is reporting the ribbon-cutting opening of of the Hoosier State's largest renewable natural gas (RNG) facility -- the $25 million Indy High BTU plant is capable of converting landfill methane gas into about 8 million gpy of RNG for transportation fuel.

Kinetrex developed the facility in conjunction with Australia-based sustainable energy producer EDL and South Side Landfill of Indianapolis.(Source: Kinetrex, Inside Indiana Bus., 2 Mar., 2020) Contact: Kinetrex Energy, Aaron Johnson, CEO, 317-886-8179, www.kinetrexenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Kinetrex Energy ,  Biogas,  Methane,  Landfill Methane,  RNG,  Renewable Natural Gas,  

Xcel Energy,ONE Future
Date: 2020-02-28
Minneapolis-headquartered Xcel Energy is reporting its largest single-year drop in emissions in 2019, cutting carbon by 5.6 million tons -- more than 10 pct reduction in one year.

Since 2005, Xcel has reduced carbon emissions by 44 pct due in part to the completion of three significant wind projects in 2018 and 2019, including Rush Creek in Colorado, and Hale and Bonita in Texas. Other factors include flexible coal plant operations, strong performance from the company's nuclear fleet and low natural gas prices, which allowed Xcel Energy to continue reducing coal generation, according to the release.

Xcel Energy notes it has joined ONE Future -- a consortium of natural gas companies working to voluntarily reduce methane emissions below 1 pct by 2025 -- and has pledged to keep its own methane emissions to less than .2 pct in its natural gas operations. The company has also invested more than $1 billion to improve its natural gas pipelines and tighten its system. The company also participates in EPA's voluntary Natural Gas STAR and its Methane Challenge program. (Source: Xcel Energy, PR, Bus.Wire, 26 Feb., 2020) Contact: Xcel Energy, Media, (612) 215-5300, www.xcelenergy.com; ONE Future, www.onefuture.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane,  Xcel Energy,  Carbon Emissions,  

BP
Date: 2020-02-28
Petroleum industry giant BP reports it is dropping its affiliation with three industry trade association on the grounds that the associations' climate change related policies and positions do not align with BP's.

BP is dropping the Western Energy Alliance because its interests did not aligned on federal regulation of methane in the US, and the Western States Petroleum Association and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers over carbon pricing positions.

As previously reported on 14 Feb., BP plans to:

Achieve a 50 pct cut in the carbon intensity of its products by 2050 or sooner

Install methane measurement at all BP major oil and gas processing sites by 2023 and reduce methane intensity of operations by 50 pct.

Increase its investment in non-oil and gas businesses over time.

More actively advocate for policies that support net-zero, including carbon pricing -- carbon tax.

Further incentivise the company's workforce to deliver aims and mobilize them to advocate for net- zero and set new expectations for relationships with trade associations.

Aim for recognition as a leader for transparency of reporting, including supporting the recommendations of the TCFD, and launch a new team to help countries, cities and large companies decarbonize.

BP's current worldwide greenhouse gas emissions from its operations stand at 55 million tpy of CO2 equivalent (MteCO2e), and the carbon in the oil and gas that it produces is equivalent currently to around 360 MteCO2e emissions a year -- both on an absolute basis. Taken together, delivery of these aims would equate to a reduction in emissions to net zero from what is currently around 415 MteCO2e a year, according to the BP release. (Source: BP Website, 26 Feb., 2020) Contact: BP Press Office, +44 (0) 20 7496 4076, bppress@bp.com, www.bp.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News BP,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

Smithfield, Roeslein I
Date: 2020-02-24
Virginia-headquartered Smithfield Foods Inc. and St. Louis-based Roeslein Alternative Energy are reporting an additional $45 million investment in their Monarch Bioenergy joint venture, which captures methane from hog manure to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) in Missouri. The additional investment will enable the continued implementation of manure-to-energy projects on Smithfield's farms, resulting in RNG generation across 85 pct of the company's hog finishing spaces in the state.

Monarch converts hog manure collected from Smithfield Hog Production farms in into RNG, while simultaneously delivering ecological services and developing wildlife habitat. Through this joint venture, all Smithfield company-owned finishing farms in Missouri will have the infrastructure to produce RNG. (Source: Smithfield Foods Inc., PR, 21 Feb., 2020) Contact: Smithfield Foods, Ken Sullivan, Pres, CEO, Lisa Martin, (757) 365-1980, lvmartin@smithfield.com, www.smithfield.com; ; Roeslein Alternative Energy, Rudi Roeslein, Pres., Brian Gale, Bus. Dev., Chris Roach, Proj. Dev., (314) 729-0055, croach@roesleinae.com, www.roesleinalternativeenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Smithfield,  Roeslein ,  Monarch Bioenergy,  RNG,  

Woods Hole Research Center
Date: 2020-02-24
In the Bay State, the Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC), in partnership with the Arctic Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (BCSIA), reports it aims to develop a comprehensive monitoring and projection system for Arctic Carbon Cycling, complete with interactive web visualization, modeling, and policy engagement.

Carbon emissions from thawing permafrost are omitted from the models and reports that inform international climate policy formulation by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Considering that permafrost carbon emissions will likely "use up" much of the remaining allowable carbon budget, incorporating these emissions into a policy framework is an immediate priority and will probably reveal the need for substantial reductions in allowable emissions from other sources.

The ability to model and predict this potentially ruinous climate feedback is far from adequate today because of poor understanding of the processes that govern permafrost thaw and subsequent carbon emissions. These monitoring gaps severely limit the ability to integrate observations across the Arctic using remote sensing and modeling and thus to provide scientists and policy makers with reliable assessments and projections of current and future carbon emissions from a warming Arctic.

Access Arctic Carbon Monitoring and Prediction System details HERE and HERE. (Source: Woods Hole Research Center, Feb., 2020) Contact: Woods Hole Research Center, 508-540-9900, 508-540-9700 - fax, info@whrc.org, wwwwhrc.org; Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, 617-495-1155, www.belfercenter.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Woods Hole,  Woods Hole Research Center,  Permafrost,  Methane,  Climate Change,  

International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)
Date: 2020-02-21
A new report just released by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) concludes that using LNG for maritime bunkers (martine fuel) may have little positive impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The ICCT analysis compares LNG, marine gas oil, very low sulphur fuel oil and heavy fuel oil used in marine engines in the LNG tanker and cruise sectors. However, results varied widely depending on engine technology. High-pressure dual fuel (HPDF) machinery came out top but the ICCT estimates that only 90 of the 750-plus LNG-fuelled ships in service use these engines. Moreover, using a 20-year global warming potential model and taking into account upstream emissions, combustion emissions and methane slip, there is no climate benefit from using LNG, regardless of engine technology, the analysis concludes.

The ICCT's findings come as a serious blow to those who have advocated LNG as an interim fuel on the path to low- and zero-carbon propulsion technologies.

Download the ICCT Climate Implications of Using LNG as a Marine Fuel report HERE. (Source: ICCT, Stand Earth.com, Seatrade, 29 Jan., 2020) Contact: International Council of Clean Transportation, twitter@theicct.org, communications@theicct.org, www.theittc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News LNG,  Alternative Fuel,  GHG,  Carbon Emissions,  

Clean Energy Fuels
Date: 2020-02-14
Newport Beach, California-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is reporting it delivered 143 million gallons of Redeem™ Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)in 2019.

In 2019, Clean Energy announced plans to exclusively offer zero-carbon1 Redeem at all of its fueling stations by 2025. At this pace Clean Energy would outdistance other alternative fuels, according to the release.

Redeem was the first commercially available RNG vehicle fuel, derived from capturing biogenic methane that is produced from the decomposition of organic waste from dairies, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants, according to the release.(Source: Clean Energy Fuels, PR, 12 Feb., 2020) Contact: Clean Energy Fuels, Raleigh Gerber, 949-437-1397, raleigh.gerber@cleanenergyfuels.com,

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clean Energy Fuels ,  RNG,  Renewable Natural Gas,  

BP
Date: 2020-02-14
In the UK, petroleum industry giant BP is reporting plans to become a net-zero carbon company by 2050 or sooner. To that end, the oil giant aims to:

Reach net-zero carbon in its oil and gas production on an absolute basis by 2050 or sooner.

Achieve a 50 pct cut in the carbon intensity of its products by 2050 or sooner

Install methane measurement at all BP major oil and gas processing sites by 2023 and reduce methane intensity of operations by 50 pct.

Increase the proportion of investment into non-oil and gas businesses over time.

More actively advocate for policies that support net-zero, including carbon pricing -- carbon tax.

Further incentivise the company's workforce to deliver aims and mobilise them to advocate for net- zero.

Set new expectations for relationships with trade associations.

Aim for recognition as a leader for transparency of reporting, including supporting the recommendations of the TCFD, and

Launch a new team to help countries, cities and large companies decarbonise.

BP's current worldwide greenhouse gas emissions from its operations stand at 55 million tpy of CO2 equivalent (MteCO2e), and the carbon in the oil and gas that it produces is equivalent currently to around 360 MteCO2e emissions a year -- both on an absolute basis. Taken together, delivery of these aims would equate to a reduction in emissions to net zero from what is currently around 415 MteCO2e a year, according to the BP release. (Source: BP, PR, Feb., 2020) Contact: BP press office, +44 (0) 20 7496 4076, bppress@bp.com, www.bp.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News BP,  Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  

Dominion Energy
Date: 2020-02-12
In the Old Dominion State, Richmond-based Dominion Energy reports it is expanding its greenhouse gas emissions-reduction goals with a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its electric power generation and and gas infrastructure operations by 2050.

Dominion previously committed to cut methane emissions from its natural gas operations by 50 pct between 2010 and 2030 and carbon emissions from its power generating facilities by 80 pct between 2005 and 2050. To date, Dominion has cut carbon emissions approximately 50 pct since 2005 and reduced methane emissions by nearly 25 pct since 2010.

The utility has committed to invest in carbon-beneficial renewable natural gas (RNG) projects that will capture an amount of methane from U.S. farms at least equivalent to any remaining methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the company's natural gas operations, making Dominion's gas infrastructure area net zero 10 years before the overall company. (Source: Dominion Energy, PR, NewsWire, 11 Feb., 2020) Contact: Dominion Energy, Thomas F. Farrell, CEO, Pres., www.dominionenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Dominion Energy ,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Equinor
Date: 2020-02-12
Following up on our 10th Jan. report, Oslo-headquartered Norwegian oil and gas major Equinor -- fka Statoil -- reports the launch of a new climate roadmap aiming to ensure a competitive and resilient business model in the energy transition, fit for long term value creation and in line with the COP15 Paris Climate Agreement. In short, Equinor plans to:

Reduce the net carbon intensity, from initial production to final consumption, of the energy produced with at least 50 pct by 2050.

Cut absolute emissions from operated offshore fields and onshore plants in Norway by 40 pct by 2030, 70 pct by 2040 and towards near zero by 2050.

Slash CO2-emissions per barrel of oil and gas produced to below 8 kg by 2025 from operated fields;

Run carbon neutral operations globally by 2030;

Eliminate routine flaring before 2030;

Maintain methane emissions near zero;

Continue to apply an internal price on CO2-emission of at least $55 per tonne in all investment decisions;and

Continue support of the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). (Source: Equinor, PR, 6 Feb., 2020) Contact: Equinor, Eldar Sætre, Pres., CEO, www.equinor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Equinor,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Climate Change,Colorado Institute of Arctic and Alpine Researc
Date: 2020-02-10
A study from the University of Colorado Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) in Boulder has found the possibility of abrupt permafrost thawing will likely occur in less than 20 pct of permafrost frozen land. The study found the evidence is mixed as to whether this not-so-permanent, slowly thawing permafrost has started to vent significant quantities of methane or CO2.

Global Permafrost covers an area almost equal to Canada and the United States combined, and holds about 1,500 billion tonnes or carbon -- twice as much as in the atmosphere and three times the amount humanity has emitted since the start of industrialization.

According to the UN's scientific advisory body for climate change, the IPCC, global permafrost areas show a decrease of 24 pct by 2100. The IPPC also notes that 70 pct of permafrost could gradually disappear if fossil fuel emissions continue growing over the next 50 years and release 60 to 100 billion tonnes of carbon by 2300. This is in addition to the 200 billion tonnes of carbon expected to be released in other regions, according to the study. (Source: Arctic and Alpine Research, Nature, AFP, Feb., 2020) Contact: INSTAAR, Merritt Turetsky, (303) 492-6387, (303) 492-3287 - fax, www.colorado.edu › innovate › institute-arctic-and-alpine-research

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  Permafrost,  

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Laboratory for Clean Combustion
Date: 2020-02-10
Israeli Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Laboratory for Clean Combustion are touting a new gasification technology that uses the "unique chemical properties" of supercritical water -- heated to 374 degrees Celsius and pressurized to more than 219 atmospheres -- to actively decompose organic material into gases with a range of potential uses.

Using the BGU system, organic components are dissolved by supercritical water into hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. Hydrogen and methane produced by dissolving organic materials can serve as fuel sources and feedstocks for the chemical industry, and hydrogen is particularly relevant to the automotive industry's efforts to replace gasoline. Accoding to the BGU researchers, the combination of unique properties of supercritical water and continued technological innovation will ultimately outperform existing waste-to-gas solutions.

The BGU researchers are reportedly in discussions with two companies to develop a pilot facility and commercialize their technology. (Source: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Jerusalem Post, 9 Feb., 2020) Contact: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Dr. Efim Korytnyi, 972-8-6461111, in.bgu.ac.il

More Low-Carbon Energy News Waste-to-Energy,  Waste-to-Gas,  

Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association
Date: 2020-02-10
Following the indefinite suspension of fracking for shale gas in England, the London-based Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) is urging the UK Government to look at anaerobic digestion -- biogas as an alternative to meeting its Net-Zero by 2050 emissions reduction goals.

ADBA notes that AD biogas 'ready-to-use' technology helps cut emissions in the hardest-to-decarbonize sectors of heat, transport and agriculture. Upgraded to biomethane, biogas can be injected into the grid with no changes needed to the existing gas infrastructure and used as a green transportation fuel, ADBA notes.

In the last decade, the UK AD sector grew 350 pct and is now employing over 3500 people. But it still needs policy incentives and investment to reach its full potential. In 2019, 650 AD plants across the UK produced 10.7TWh of energy. Over the next 10 years, ADBA anticipates that in addition to reducing emissions by 22.5m tonnes of CO2-equivalent every year -- about 5 pct of total UK greenhouse gases emissions -- it has the potential to meet nearly 20 pct of current domestic gas demand while providing 30,000 new green jobs in rural areas. The sector has also developed world-leading expertise which gives the UK a real opportunity to be at the heart of a growing global biogas industry, according to the release. (Source: UK Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association Contact: Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association, Charlotte Morton, CEO, +44 (0) 20 3176 0503, +44 (0) 84 4292 0875 – fax., enquiries@adbioresources.org, www.adbioresources.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomethane,  Biogas,  Anaerobic Digestion,  

Brightmark
Date: 2020-02-07
San Francisco-based waste energy developer Brightmark reports inking it a manure supply agreement with two South Dakota dairy companies -- Boadwine Farms, Inc. and Mooody County Dairy Limited Partnership -- to capture methane produced by nearly 12,000 dairy cows and heifers and convert it into roughly 217,000 MMBtu per year of renewable natural gas (RNG).

The Athena RNG project will include the construction of new anaerobic digesters on three Minnehaha County farms: Boadwine Farms, Pioneer Dairy, and Moody Dairy. The 11,710 dairy cows and heifers that live on these farms produce a total of 55.6 million gallons of manure each year.

Brightmark has similar projects in Washington, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and New York. (Source: Brightmark, PR, 5 Feb., 2020) Contact: Brightmark, Bob Powell, CEO, Kavitha Ramakrishnan, kavitha.ramakrishnan@brightmarkenergy.com, www.brightmarkenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Brightmark,  RNG,  Renewable Natural Gas,  anaerobic digester,  

Greenlane Renewables ,Renewable Natural Gas Company
Date: 2020-02-07
Supply Contract with the Renewable Natural Gas Company, a Leader in Landfill Gas to RNG Projects In British Columbia, Burnaby-based biogas specialist Greenlane Renewables Inc. is reporting its wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenlane Biogas North America Ltd. and Ligonier, Pennsylvania based Renewable Natural Gas Company (RNGC) have inked a $7.0 million ($5.3 million US) contract under which Greenlane will supply three biogas upgrading systems to RNGC. The systems will be used in RNGC landfill gas projects in Virginia and Missouri.

Greenlane's "water-scrubbing" gas purification technology uses no chemicals or heat to clean impurities and CO2 from biogas to produce high-purity biomethane, suitable for injection into the natural gas grid and for direct use as vehicle fuel, according to the company website. (Source: Greenlane Renewables, PR, 5 Feb., 2020)Contact: Renewable Natural Gas Company LLC, Max Craig, Partner, (724) 787-9320, mcraig@rngas.com, www.rngas.com; Greenlane Biogas, Brad Douville, Pres., CEO, (604) 259-0343, brad.dauville@greenlanerenewables.com, www.greenlanebiogas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenlane Renewables ,  Biogas,  RNG,  Renewable Natural Gas Company ,  

Aemetis
Date: 2020-01-31
Cupertino, California-based advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals specialist Aemetis, Inc. is reporting its Aemetis Biogas LLC, subsidiary has received $4.1 million in grant funding from the California Energy Commission's Low Carbon Fuel Production Program to construct a biogas upgrading facility to convert dairy biogas to renewable natural gas (RNG).

The Aemetis Central Dairy Digester and Pipeline Project is designed to capture methane gas currently emitted from dairy manure lagoons, pre-treat the biogas at each dairy to remove harmful components, then transport the methane via pipeline from each dairy to a biogas upgrading facility at the Aemetis Keyes ethanol plant. After the biogas is upgraded to utility pipeline quality RNG, the RNG will be utilized at the Keyes ethanol plant to replace carbon-intensive petroleum natural gas currently used to generate steam and power at the plant, or will be injected into PG&E's gas pipeline to be utilized as transportation fuel.

Aemetis expects to complete construction and begin operation of its first two dairy digesters, the onsite dairy biogas pre-treatment units, a 4-mile Aemetis pipeline and a new biogas boiler at the Keyes plant in Q2 2020.

Aemetis has received approximately $18 million in CEC grants to support its Aemetis Central Dairy Digester and Pipeline Project, and for carbon reduction energy efficiency upgrades to the Keyes Plant.(Source: Aemetis Inc., PR, 29 Jan., 2020) Contact: Aemetis, Eric McAfee, CEO , Todd Waltz, (408) 213-0940, emcafee@aemetis.com, www.aemetis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News anaerobic digester,  California Energy Commission,  Aemetis,  Biofuel,  

Montpelier City Council
Date: 2020-01-29
In the Green Mountain State capital city of Montpelier, City Council is reporting approval of $200,000 investment in support of the city's Waste Water Treatment Facility methane biogas project upgrade, which is expected to cost $5 million to complete. The project was initially funded by a $16.75 million bond issuance in November 2018.

The project would include upgrading digesters to process more organic waste and thus optimize the use of biogas to generate electricity and heat for the facility and minimize the flaring of unused digester methane gas -- a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. (Source: Montpelier City Council, Times Argus, 27 Jan., 2020) Contact: Montpelier City Council, www.montpelier-vt.org/258/City-Council-Mayor

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biogas,  Methane,  

Clean Energy Fuels
Date: 2020-01-29
Newport Beach, California-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is reporting it delivered 143 million gallons of Redeem™ Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)in 2019.

Redeem was the first commercially available RNG vehicle fuel, derived from capturing biogenic methane that is produced from the decomposition of organic waste from dairies, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants, according to the release.

In 2019, Clean Energy unveiled ambitious goals to exclusively offer zero-carbon1 Redeem at all of its fueling stations by 2025. At this pace Clean Energy would outdistance other alternative fuels, including electric vehicles, which are not expected to hit that mark until 2045. according to the release. (Source: Clean Energy Fuels, PR, Jan., 2020) Contact: Clean Energy Fuels, Raleigh Gerber, 949-437-1397, raleigh.gerber@cleanenergyfuels.com, www.cleanenergyfuels.com

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