Clarke Energy, BioTown
Date: 2021-09-17
In Waukesha, Wisconsin, Clarke Energy USA Inc., a KOHLER Company, is reporting a turn-key agreement with Reynolds, Indiana-based BioTown Biogas under which Clarke will design, supply and install equipment to an upgraded biogas digester plant to process 500-- 600,000 gpy of locally sourced dairy farm waste and slurry into biomethane for the national gas grid in Indiana.

The biogas will be used for two functions: 460 scfm of treated biogas will fuel an INNIO engine to generate renewable electricity and heat to support the local operations and; over 1,500 scfm of raw biogas will be cleaned and injected into the national gas grid where it will be marketed into the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard program and capture D3 renewable identification numbers (RINs). The installation will also enable the avoidance of 150,000 tpy of CO2 emissions. (Source: Clarke Energy Inc. USA, Website PR, Sept., 2021) Contact: BioTown AG, Chad Hoerr, GM, (219) 984-5915, www.biotownag.com; Clarke Energy, James Clarke, CEO, 262 565 5020, usa@clarke-energy.com, www.clarke-energy.com/us/usa

More Low-Carbon Energy News Clarke Energy,  BioTown,  Biogas,  RNG,  

Enerdyne,Landfill Group, LS Power, US Gain
Date: 2021-09-15
The Landfill Group and LS Power are reporting Charlotte, North Carolina-based Enerdyne Power Systems has begun construction on the Twin Chimneys Power Producers (TCPP) renewable natural gas (RNG) project at the Twin Chimneys Landfill site in Honea Path, South Carolina.

When fully operational in Q2, 2022, the project expected to initially produce roughly 1,200 MMBTU of RNG per day, growing over time to approximately 3,000 MMBTU per day. The TCPP project will be Enerdyne's second renewable energy project in Greenville County and follows the success of the Enoree Landfill project, which has been operating since 2008, according to the release. (Source: US Gain, Website News, 10 Sept., 2021) Contact: Enerdyne Power Systems, Landfill Group, 704-844-8990, www.landfillgroup.com/enerdyne

More Low-Carbon Energy News RNG,  

Mitsubishi, Shell Canada
Date: 2021-09-10
Mitsubishi Corp. and Shell Canada Products -- Shell Canada Limited -- are reporting a Memorandum of Understanding for the production of low-carbon hydrogen (blue hydrogen) through the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) near Edmonton, Canada, the country's first "hydrogen hub."

Under the MoU, Mitsubishi aims to build and start-up the low-carbon hydrogen facility near the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Scottford in the latter half of this decade. Shell would provide CO2 storage via the proposed Polaris CCS project. The blue hydrogen would be produced via steam methane reforming technology and exported mainly to the Japanese market.

"Shell actually sees that the hydrogen market could grow close to 50 per cent of today's oil demand by 2050, so we see a huge opportunity to grow it, primarily looking at the harder-to-abate sectors." -- Susannah Pierce, Pres., Shell Canada . July, 21. 2021. (Source: Shell Canada, PR, Chem Eng. 8 Sept., 2021) Contact: Mitsubishi Power, www.power.mhi.com; Shell Canada, www.shell.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Mitsubishi,  Shell Canada,  Blue Hydrogen,  

Brightmark, Chevron
Date: 2021-08-30
San Francisco-based Brightmark LLC and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. are reporting the second expansion of their previously announced joint venture -- Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC -- to own projects to produce and market dairy biomethane (RNG) across the U.S.

Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC's subsidiaries currently own RNG projects in New York, Michigan, Florida, South Dakota and Arizona. Additional joint equity investments will fund construction of infrastructure and commercial operation of 10 dairy biomethane projects, including new sites in Iowa and Wisconsin, Michigan and South Dakota. Chevron will purchase and market RNG produced from these projects for use in vehicles operating on compressed natural gas (CNG). (Source: Brightmark, Website PR, 24 Aug., 2021) Contact: Brightmark, Bob Powell, CEO, Kavitha Ramakrishnan, kavitha.ramakrishnan@brightmarkenergy.com, www.brightmarkenergy.com Chevron, www.chevron.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Brightmark,  Chevron ,  Biomethane,  RNG,  CNG,  

NGVAmerica
Date: 2021-08-23
In Washington, DC, NGVAmerica, the national organization representing the natural gas in transportation industry, reports that in 2020 renewable natural gas (RNG) from landfills, wastewater treatment plants, commercial food waste facilities, and agricultural digesters displaced fossil fuel derived conventional natural gas as the dominant on-road NGV fuel source nationwide. Moreover, the carbon intensity of RNG biofuel continues to drop. California fleets that fueled with bio-CNG in 2020 achieved carbon negativity for the year, with an annual average carbon intensity score of -5.845 gCO2e/MJ. Latest data puts the carbon intensity of bio-CNG in California's system at -16.57 gCO2e/MJ (Q1, 2021).

NGVAmerica has commited to:

Further accelerate the use of ultra-low to negative carbon natural gas in our fleets and as part of the supply provided to our transportation customers, marking 80 pct by 2030 and 100 pct by 2050;

Support the procurement of natural gas from energy production and distribution companies that undertake responsible best practices to effectively minimize fugitive methane emissions and flaring; and

Support continued advancements in the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel by working with other stakeholders including government authorities to improve the efficiency of future natural gas engine technology and further control emissions from natural gas engines.

There are currently 190 RNG production facilities in operation in North America with an additional 232 facilities under construction or under substantial development (e.g., permitting).

NGVAmerica is a national organization of roughly 200 companies, environmental groups, and government organizations dedicated to the development of a growing, profitable, and sustainable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane. NGVAmerica member companies produce, distribute, and market natural gas and biomethane across North America, manufacture and service natural gas vehicles, engines, and equipment, and operate fleets powered by clean-burning gaseous fuels. (Source: NGV America, PR, 17 Aug., 2021) Contact: NGV America, Dan Gage, Pres., (202) 824-7360, www.ngvamerica.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News NGVAmerica,  NGV,  RNG,  Alternative Fuel,  Low-Carbon Fuel,  

Aemetis
Date: 2021-08-17
Cupertino, California-headquartered renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable fuels specialist Aemetis, Inc.reports it has awarded a construction services contract to Machado & Sons Construction Inc. to construct the Company’s 32-mile biogas pipeline extension connecting multiple dairy anaerobic digesters throughout Stanislaus and Merced Counties in California.

The pipeline is part of the Aemetis Biogas Central Dairy Digester Project which is developing a network of lagoon digesters connected via a biogas pipeline to produce renewable natural gas (RNG).

The pipeline will transport the renewable biogas from the dairies to the Aemetis biogas upgrading facility at the Aemetis ethanol production plant in Keyes, California, where the biogas will be transformed into commercial-grade RNG for use as a carbon-negative “drop in” transportation fuel.

The planned 52 dairies in the Aemetis biogas project are expected to capture more than 1.4 million MMBtu of dairy methane and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to an estimated 5.2 million metric tonnes of CO2 each year. The captured methane will be transformed to carbon-negative transportation fuel to displace petroleum-based diesel throughout the State of California. The 5.2 million metric tonnes of annual CO2 emissions reduction from the Aemetis Biogas project is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to removing 1.1 million cars from the road.

. Aemetis Carbon Zero products include zero carbon fuels that can “drop in” to be used in airplane, truck, and ship fleets. Aemetis low-carbon fuels have substantially reduced carbon intensity compared to standard petroleum fossil-based fuels across their lifecycle. (Source: Aemetis, Website PR, 13 Aug., 2021) Contact: Aemetis, Andy Foster, Phone: (408) 213-0940, Fax: (408) 252-8044, www.aemetis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Aemetis news,  RNG news,  Biogas news,  Anaerobic Digestion news,  

Cornell
Date: 2021-08-16
Blue hydrogen, an energy source that involves obtaining hydrogen by using methane in natural gas, is usually described as a "low-carbon option for generating electricity, powering vehicles, and even heating buildings." But researchers from Stanford and Cornell universities found that blue hydrogen's carbon footprint is more than 20 pct greater than that generated by natural gas or coal and around 60 pct higher than burning diesel oil for heat and causes more harm to the climate than conventional fossil fuels

"Blue hydrogen provides no benefit. We suggest that blue hydrogen is best viewed as a distraction, something than may delay needed action to truly decarbonize the global energy economy, in the same way that has been described for shale gas as a bridge fuel and for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in general."

"In the past, no effort was made to capture the carbon dioxide byproduct of gray hydrogen, and the greenhouse gas emissions have been huge. Now the industry promotes blue hydrogen as a solution, an approach that still uses the methane from natural gas, while attempting to capture the byproduct CO2", study co-author Robert Howarth noted.

The vast majority of hydrogen (96 pct) is generated from fossil fuels, particularly from steam methane reforming (SMR) of natural gas, but also from coal gasification. In SMR, heat, and pressure are used to convert the methane in natural gas to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen so produced is often referred to as "gray hydrogen" -- this type is responsible for 6 pct of all-natural gas consumption globally, the study notes.

Blue hydrogen is produced using the same reforming process that is used to create other types of hydrogen, but the CO2 that would ordinarily be released is captured and stored underground. As of 2021, there were only two blue-hydrogen facilities globally that used natural gas to produce hydrogen on a commercial scale, according to the study.

The full study is available HERE. (Source: Cornell University, PR, Aug., 2021) Contact: Cornell University, Robert Howarth, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, (607) 255-6175, howarth@cornell.edu, www.eeb.cornell.edu/howarth

More Low-Carbon Energy News Blue Hydrogen,  Alternative Fuel. Climate Change,  

Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association
Date: 2021-08-09
"There's no net-zero without biogas. AD (anaerobic digestion) and biogas alone can make up 30 pct of the 5th Carbon Budget shortfall identified by the CCC by 2030. This includes mitigating especially harmful methane emissions from organic wastes.

"However, we can only deliver this if the British Government unlocks the current policy barriers to industry growth. Our Declaration provides a clear set of actions the Prime Minister needs to implement to unleash our (biogas) sector's potential."

Charlotte Morton, CEO, Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), Aug., 2021, www.adbioresources.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News AnAaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association,  Net-Zero Emissions,  Biogas,  anaerobic digestion,  

GreenGas USA, Duke University,
Date: 2021-08-09
As previously reported in July, Durham, North Carolina's Duke University inked a 20-year agreement to purchase 95,000 MMBtus of renewable natural gas (RNG) from Charleston, South Carolina-based GreenGasUSA, which captures wastewater methane to upgrade into RNG.

The GreenGas project will supply RNG from biomethane currently being off-gassed from roughly 700 million ppy of vegetable food processing wastewater holding ponds at McCall Farms in Effingham, South Carolina. Duke University will use the RNG in its on campus steam plants to replace about 6 pct of the fossil natural gas currently being combusted.

Duke has pledge net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2024. (Source: Duke University, PR, Biocycle, 3 Aug., 2021) Contact: Duke University, Tanja Vujic, WasteNot Strategies, LLC Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative, www.duke.edu; GreenGasUSA, Marc Fetten, 412-726-3331, marc.fetten@greengasusa.com, www.greengasusa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GreenGas USA,  RNG,  Duke University,  

Vanguard Renewables
Date: 2021-08-02
Wellesley, Mass.-based Vanguard Renewables reports the opening of an anaerobic digestion facility designed to recycle roughly 180 tpd of locally sourced food and beverage waste with 100 tpd of cow manure from a 900-cow dairy farm in Salisbury, Vermont.

The project's biogas is upgraded to renewable natural gas (RNG) and injected into the Vermont Gas (VGS) pipeline. Middlebury College in nearby Middlebury, Vermont, will purchase roughly 55 pct of the RNG produced annually from the project, supplying about one-third of the energy that Middlebury uses for heating and cooling. (Source: BioCycle, Vanguard Renewables, 27 July, 2021) Contact: Vanguard Renewables, 781-232-7597, www. vanguardrenewables.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Vanguard Renewables,  RNG,  Biogas,  Methane,  

Anaerobic Digester
Date: 2021-08-02
In the Golden State, the Santa Barbara County ReSource Cente Tajiguas Landfill facility located between Goleta and Gaviota has announced the opening of its new $130 million Materials Recovery Facility and an anaerobic digester. The facility will divert 60 pct of waste from the landfill and create enough energy to power 2,000 homes and champion the county's greenhouse gas reduction effort.

The two components of the new facility will work in tandem. The recovery facility will remove organic trash, including food waste, wet paper and wet cardboard which will be mixed with water and cow manure to produce biomethane. (Source: Santa Barbara Resource Center, News Press, July, 2021) Contact: Santa Barbara Resource Center, Marborg Industries, 805) 963-1852, www.marborg.com/resource-center

More Low-Carbon Energy News Anaerobic Digester,  Biogas,  

Isreal Carbon Emissions
Date: 2021-08-02
In Tel Aviv, the Israel Environmental Protection Ministry has submitted updated targets for cuts to Israel's global warming gas (GHG) emissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The targets commit the state to slashing economy-wide net global warming gas (GHG) emissions by 27 pct by 2030 and 85 pct by 2050, relative to 2015. In quantitative terms, this means cutting emissions from 79 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2015 to 58 MtCO2e by 2030 and to 12 MtCO2e by 2050.

In terms of Israel's submission, the gases comprise carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

Specifically, electric power generation GHG emissions will be cut by 30 pct by 2030, compared with 2015, and by 85 pct in 2050. Industry will be expected to cut emissions 30 pct or more by 2030, compared with 2015. In transportation, all new municipal buses will have to be electric by 2026 and total emission increases from transportation will be capped at 3.3 pct in 2030 compared with 2015. By 2050, they will be at least 96 pct less than those of 2015. Furthermore, all cars weighing up to 3.5 tons that are registered in 2030 will have to emit no more than 5 pct of the average global warming gases emitted by similar-sized vehicles registered in 2020. (Source: Israel Environmental Protection Ministry, PR, Times of Israel, 1 Aug., 2021) Contact: Israel Environmental Protection Ministry, www.gov.il/en/departments/ministry_of_environmental_protection/govil-landing-pag

More Low-Carbon Energy News Isreal Carbon Emissions,  UNFCCC,  

PowerTap Hydrogen Capital
Date: 2021-07-28
PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corp. reports it has acquired 49 pct of AES-100 Inc. -- the owner of exclusive rights and all intellectual property pertaining to the Advanced Electrolyzer System (AES), a novel electrochemical technology that selectively recovers high purity hydrogen from dilute syngas streams.

The technology was invented by Burbank, California-based clean technology specialist T2M Global to address the problem of hydrogen trapped in dilute syngas streams that is wasted on low-value applications. The ability to economically extract high purity, clean hydrogen from gas streams commonly produced by carbon-intensive processes and containing contaminates such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or methane, presents great potential to drive lower emissions footprints for many industrial processes, while unlocking more hydrogen to fuel a cleaner global energy system, according to the release.

The parties expect considerable synergy between the AES and PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling's SMR technology with the AES complementing it via provision of syngas to PowerTap's SMR. This will essentially broaden the pool of feedstock required to produce hydrogen to include biomass in addition to natural gas/renewable natural gas. (Source: PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corp., PR, Newswire, 27 July, 2021) Contact: T2M Global, Pinakin Patel, CEO, 203-616-5514, bpatel@t2mglobal.com, www.t2mglobal.com; PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corp., Raghu Kilambi, CEO, www.powertapcapital.com; AES-100 Inc., www.aes.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Hydrogen,  

MAS Energy
Date: 2021-07-26
Los Angeles-based realestate developer CIM Group Inc. reports it will invest in Atlanta-headquartered MAS CanAm, an affiliate of Atlanta-based MAS Energy, owner, developer, and operator of North American renewable natural gas (RNG) production assets and biogas-to- power facilities. MAS Energy he been involved in 21 biomethane-to-energy projects since 2008

CIM Group and CanAm will look to partner on investments in future RNG projects . CanAm's current operating portfolio consists of three facilities, including a 5,100 scfm RNG production facility at the City of Arlington Landfill. (Source: CIM Group. PR, BIC Mag., 21 July, 2021) Contact: CIM Group, www.cimgroup.com; MAS Energy , 404 474 0744, info@mas-energy.com, www.mas-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News MAS Energy,  RNG,  Biomethane,  

Shell, Aker Clean Hydrogen
Date: 2021-07-21
Royal Dutch Shell plc is reporting a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lysaker, Norway-based Aker Clean Hydrogen and CapeOmega to explore the development of a large-scale blue hydrogen at Aukra on the west coast of Norway.

The facility will use the steam methane reforming method to break natural gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide which will be captured and stored permanently. Notably, hydrogen is considered clean when produced from natural gas.

The facility, which is expected to become a major supplier of alternative fuels for the marine shipping industry, fits with the Norwegian government's strategy to develop hydrogen and create long-term value from the country's energy resources.

"Hydrogen will play a vital role to accelerate decarbonisation. It has the potential to close as much as 50 percent of the gap in CO2 emissions required to achieve the 2-degree scenario, by replacing fossil feed-stock and fuel through clean hydrogen and ammonia production and thus reducing the carbon footprint of industrial companies and in the shipping sector", according to the Aker Clean Hysdrogen website.

Shell aims to become a net-zero emission business by 2050. (Source: Aker Clean Hydeogen, PR, Website, July, 2021) Contact: Royal Dutch Shell, Aker Clean Hydrogen, post@akercleanhydrogen.com,www.akercleanhydrogen.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Shell,  Aker Clean Hydrogen,  Blue Hydrogen,  Hydrogen,  

Kinder Morgan, Kinetrex
Date: 2021-07-19
Houston, Texas-headquartered Kinder Morgan Inc. reports it is purchasing Indianapolis-based LNG supplier Kinetrex Energy for $310 million. Kintrex has two small-scale domestic LNG production and fueling facilities and holds a 50 pct stake in a landfill renewable natural gas (RNG) facility with three more RNG facilities in development. When fully operational the four sites will produce more than 4 billion cubic feet of RNG per year and capture the methane produced from the decomposition of organic waste.

Kinder Morgan is also looking at opportunities in carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) renewable natural gas capture, hydrogen production, renewable power generation, electric transmission, and renewable diesel production. The company is also spending $60 million to build new renewable diesel hubs in Northern and Southern California and has terminals and pipelines capable of blending, storing, and exporting ethanol and other biofuels while evaluating multiple opportunities to establish new hubs to handle those products.(Source: KinderMorgan, PR, 14 July, 2021) Contact: Kinetrex Energy, 317-886-8179. ; Kinder Morgan, (713) 369-9000, www.kindermorgan.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Kinder Morgan,  Kinetrex,  LNG,  Hydrogen,  Biofuel,  Marine Fuel,  LNG,  

US DOE
Date: 2021-07-19
The U.S. DOE reports the selection of 12 projects to receive approximately $16.5 million in cost-sharing, federal funding aimed at "recalibrating the nation's vast fossil-fuel and power infrastructure for decarbonized energy and commodity production." The selected projects will develop technologies for the production, transport, storage and utilization of fossil-based hydrogen, with progress toward net-zero carbon emissions.

Fossil fuels currently provide the lowest cost pathway for producing hydrogen, according to cost data in a recent DOE Hydrogen Strategy Document. The U.S. will authorize new and advanced technologies capable of improving the performance, reliability, and flexibility of methods to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen to enable the U.S. to extract the maximum economic value from fossil fuel energy resources. When coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS) capabilities, low-cost hydrogen sourced from fossil energy feedstocks and processes will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these processes and enable progress toward hydrogen production with net-zero carbon emissions.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage the projects, which fall under the following areas: Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) Technology Development for Hydrogen Production; Advanced CCUS Systems from Steam Methane Reforming Plants; Advanced CCUS Systems from Autothermal Methane Reforming Plants; and Hydrogen Combustion Systems for Gas Turbines.

The DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management funds R&D projects to reduce the risk and cost of advanced fossil energy technologies and further the sustainable use of fossil resources. (Source: NETL, DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, PR July, 2021) Contact: DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energy; National Energy Technology Laboratory, www.netl.doe.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News CCS,  CCUS,  Hydrogen,  Fossil Fuel,  Carbon Emissions,  

Avolta
Date: 2021-07-16
Charleston, West Virginia-headquartered Avolta Development , a renewable energy company focused on originating, developing, owning, and operating renewable natural gas (RNG) projects, and its regional development partner Atlas Global Holdings LLC, report the groundbreaking of the first of two RNG Projects at the Butterfield and Milky Way dairies outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

Collectively, Butterfield and Milky Way dairies care for more than 50,000 cows and the projects will generate over 675,000 MMBtu of RNG annually which will ultimately be distributed as renewable transportation fuel. The two projects are scheduled to begin delivering gas into a Southwest Gas Pipeline at the end of 4Q 2021 and 1Q 2022, respectively. Both facilities will be operated and maintained by gas technology firm Nacelle Solutions. (Source: Avolta Development, Website, PR, 7 July, 2021) Contact: Avolta Development, 855.622.3553, info@avoltadevelopment.com, www.avoltadevelopment.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bigas,  Anaerobic Digestion,  Methane,  RNG,  

Q Power,Keravan
Date: 2021-07-14
Finland-headquartered Keravan Energia Oy and Q Power have joined forces to produce carbon-neutral synthetic methane at the Kerava biopower plant in Finland. Synthetic methane fuel, which can be used as a transportation fuel and for energy production, is produced from CO2 recovered from the biogas plant's flue gases and hydrogen produced with carbon-neutral electricity.

A feasibility study for an industrial-scale production plant will also be launched to investigate the various technical and economic implementation of the proposed plant. Subject to a final investment decision, the plant is expected to begin production by 2024. (Source: Keravan Energia Oy, PR, 13 July, 2021) Contact: Keravan Energia Oy, Jussi Lehto, CEO, +358 9 5849550, www.kervanenergia.fi; Q Power, Eero Paunonen, CEO, www/qpower.fi

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane,  Alternative Fuel,  

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,
Date: 2021-07-12
In Guelph, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reports it is changing its biogas regulations to create new ways for farmers to expand the emerging biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) market in the province and creating economic opportunities while maintaining the province's strict environmental protections.

The revised regulation will enable new on-farm biogas systems and expansion of existing systems to be more easily approved and at a lower cost, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from the landfill through increased maximum allowable limits and new types of off-farm anaerobic digestion materials and by encouraging production of renewable natural gas (RNG).

According to the release, "changes to regulations under the Nutrient Management Act will create more opportunities for farmers to treat on-farm materials as well as other types of off-farm food and organic waste materials in on-farm regulated mixed anaerobic digestion facilities. This will enable an increase in on-farm production of biogas to generate renewable natural gas and will provide Ontario farmers with a new source of on-farm income. There are approximately 40 agri-food anaerobic digesters in the provinces $35 million-a-year biogas sector."

General Regulation O. Reg. 267/03 under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 establishes requirements for regulated mixed anaerobic digestion facilities. It is jointly administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. OMAFRA is responsible for approvals, training and certification. MECP is responsible for inspection and enforcement to ensure compliance. (Source: Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 5 July, 2021) Contact: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 519-826-3100, www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-agriculture-food-and-rural-affairs

More Low-Carbon Energy News RNG,  Biomethane,  Biogas,  anaerobic digestion,  

Brightmark,Chevron
Date: 2021-07-07
Further to our 19 Feb. coverage, San Francisco-based Brightmark Energy reports construction is underway on three renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in Michigan. The projects are owned by and will be operated through subsidiaries of Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC, a partnership with Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

Brightmark currently owns and operates 27 RNG projects in 8 states and will operate 6 RNG projects in Michigan upon completion of these 3 projects, which is expected in the first half of 2022. Of this portfolio of RNG projects, 17 are owned by subsidiaries of the joint venture with Chevron.

As previously reported in October 2020, Brightmark LLC and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. originally announced the formation of the Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC joint venture to own projects across the U.S. to produce and market dairy biomethane RNG. Chevron purchases RNG produced from these projects and markets the volumes for use in compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled vehicles. (Source: Brightmark, Website, PR, 2021) Contact: Brightmark, Bob Powell, CEO, Kavitha Ramakrishnan, kavitha.ramakrishnan@brightmarkenergy.com, www.brightmarkenergy.com; Chevron, www.chevron.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Brightmark,  RNG,  Biomethane,  CNG,  

Methane
Date: 2021-06-28
On Friday in Washington, in a vote of 229-191, the House gave final legislative approval to a resolution that would reverse a Trump-era environmental rule that relaxed requirements of a 2016 Obama administration rule targeting methane emissions leaks and flares from oil and gas wells.

The resolution reinstating rules aimed at limiting climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas drilling now goes to the White House for President Joe Biden's signature.

Action on methane was one of just three Trump-era rules targeted by the Democratic-controlled Congress under the review law, a sharp contrast to 14 Obama-era rules repealed by congressional Republicans in the first year of the Trump administration. (Source: AP, Various Media, 26 June, 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methane,  

Waga Energy
Date: 2021-06-18
Meylan, France-headquartered Waga Energy reports it has been selected by Ferrovial Servicios to produce biomethane at the Can Mata landfill, one of Spain's largest landfill, near Barcelona. The WAGABOX® unit to be installed will treat up to 2,200 m3/h of landfill gas and inject 70 GWh of biomethane per year into the gas network of the Spanish operator Nedgia, The waste stored in Can Mata generates nearly 40 million cubic meters per year of biogas

The project is the first ever landfill gas injection project to be financed by a long-term power purchase agreement in Europe. The facility, which will avoid 17,000 tpy of CO2 by substituting renewable natural gas (RNG) for natural gas, is expected to be commissioned in 2022.

As previously reported in April, , Waga Energy contracted with Brome-Missiquoi Intermunicipal Waste Management Board (RIGMRBM) in Quebec to construct a WAGABOX® purification unit at Cowansville landfill to produce biomethane (RNG). The project is the company's second contract in Canada and is expected to commissioned early in 2023.

Waga Energy will finance the construction of the unit and the connection of the installation to the gas network, operate and maintain the unit as well as purchase the RNG produced on-site for 20 years then sell the gas to a Canadian energy company. Cowansville landfill treats 75,000 tpy of waste from which the WAGABOX unit will produce 30 GWh of biomethane per year and supply 1,750 Quebec households with RNG, and avoid 5,000 tpy of CO2 emissions.

Waga Energy presently operates 10 WAGABOX units in France, representing a production capacity of 225 GWh per year of biomethane and has 6 units under construction. (Source: Waga Energy, PR, Website, June, 2021) Contact: Waga Energy, Mathieu Lefebrve, CEO, www.waga-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Waga Energy,  RNG,  Biomethane,  Biogas,  

Bright Biomethane,
Date: 2021-06-04
Netherlands-based Bright Biomethane reports it is joining forces with Brisbane,Australia-headquartered clean energy infrastructure and equipment provider Eneraque, to construct its first biogas upgrader in Australia for energy company Jemena at the Sydney Malabar wastewater treatment site.

Biogas from Sydney Water will be purified to biomethane for distribution through the grid. The project is expected to be completed in 2022 and is claimed to be Australia's first biomethane gas grid injection project. (Source: Bright Biomethane, Website, PR, 2 June, 2021) Contact: Bright Biomethane, +31 53 460 9088, info@brightbiomethane.com, www.brightbiomethane.com; Eneraque, +61 7 3434 3593 -- fax, www.eneraque.com; Jemena, www.jemena.com.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bright Biomethane,  Biomethane,  Biogas,  Eneraque,  

BIOGEST
Date: 2021-06-04
Vienna, Austria-based BIOGEST reports it has contracted to construct two biomethane (RNG) plants in France that will use regionally sourced agricultural, poultry waste and by-products to produce RNG.

The first project, Enerfees, is located close to Rennes, joint by the Cooperative des Fermiers de Janze and ENGIE will produce 400 Nm3/h biomethane. The second project, Methagrilou,, near Le Mans will produce 130 Nm3/h of biomethane.

BIOGEST's biomethane plant technology offers significant advantages in energy efficiency and operational safety, as well as an easy and cost-efficient maintenance system. During the fermentation process of both projects 94,400 tonnes (in total) of waste/year are transformed into high-quality organic fertilizer that acts as a substitute for chemical products. According to the Biogest website. (Source: BIOGEST, Website PR, 1 June, 2021) Contact: Biogest, Martin Schlerka, CEO, +43 1 2260700, office@biogest.at, www.biogest.at

More Low-Carbon Energy News BIOGEST,  RNG,  Biomethane,  

Gasum
Date: 2021-06-04
Helsinki-headquartered Gasum reports its 40 GWh biogas plant in Lohja, Finland is now in operation. The Lohja facility will process around 60,000 tpy biomass waste from the Helsinki region to produce renewable biogas transportation fuel and organic recycled fertiliser.

Gasum presently operates 17 biogas plants in Finland and Sweden and has a 120 GWh per year manure-based biogas facility under construction in Gotene, Sweden. (Source: Gasum, PR, Website, June, 2021) Contact: Gasum, Johanna Lamminen, CEO, +358 800 122 722, www.gasum.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Gasum,  Biogas,  Methane,  RNG,  

IBMS Group,BayoTech
Date: 2021-06-02
In London, IBMS Group reports it will partner with Albuquerque, New Mexico-based BayoTech Inc. to launch the UK's first renewable hydrogen project using food waste to generate biomethane as a feedstock. The project will produce 1000kg per day and provide fuel for mobility projects in the London and Surrey region of the UK.

Using IBMS's food waste and biomethane expertise and BayoTech's modular SMR technology the partnership will create renewable hydrogen and high-grade fertiliser products from a multi-purpose eco facility. The project will produce 1,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen per day to fuel zero-emission vehicles in London and Surrey.

Further phases of the project will see carbon capture introduced to take the project from carbon neutral to carbon negative. The system is due to be online by Q2 of 2022, following which the system will be deployed at multiple locations around the UK to create a national network of carbon negative hydrogen production facilities.

According to the release, regional hydrogen production and distribution reduces unnecessary costs, storage, and transport leading to a reduced carbon footprint overall when compared with traditional production models and electrolyser systems. (Source: IBMS Group, Website PR, 24 May, 2021) Contact: BayoTech, Steve Jones, VP Europe, 505-977-7954, www.bayotech.us, IBMS Group, Steve Sharratt, CEO, www.ibmsgroup.co.uk

More Low-Carbon Energy News IBMS Group,  BayoTech,  Renewable Hydrogen,  Biomethane,  

Royal Dutch Shell
Date: 2021-05-28
At the Hague, in what must certainly be a landmark ruling, a Dutch court has ordered Royal Dutch Shell to cut its emissions 45 pct by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. In its ruling, the Court found the oil giant's current climate strategy was "not concrete enough and full of caveats," and that the oil major has a legal obligation to reduce its emissions in line with international climate goals -- the Paris Climate accord and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Seven environmental groups argued that Shell is violating its international climate obligations and threatening the lives of these citizens by continuing to invest billions every year in expanding its oil and gas production. Shell's net-zero strategy allows for oil and methane gas production to expand until 2025.

Shell as quick to respond that it "fully expects to appeal today's disappointing court decision" and that "urgent action is needed on climate change which is why we have accelerated our efforts to become a net-zero emissions energy company by 2050, in step with society, with short-term targets to track our progress." (Source: Royal Dutch Shell, Various Media Reports, 26 May, 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Royal Dutch Shell news,  Carbon Emissions news,  

CNG Fuels
Date: 2021-05-24
In the UK, CNG Fuels Ltd reports it will open the world's largest public access Department for Transport's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) approved biomethane refueling station for heavy transport trucks in Avonmouth, near Bristol, before the year end.

When fully operational, the facility will have the capacity to refuel as many as 80 heavy trucks per hour from 14 high-speed dispensers and joins six existing refueling stations already operational across the UK.

According to CNG Fuels, renewable biomethane is the lowest carbon, most cost-effective alternative to diesel for heavy trucks. It is also roughly one-third less expensive than diesel and cuts GHG emissions by nearly 90 pct. (Source: CNG Fuels Ltd. , PR, May, 2021) Contact: CNG Fuels, Philip Fjeld, CEO, www.cngfuels.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CNG Fuels ,  Biomethane,  RNG,  

Bright Biomethane
Date: 2021-05-24
In the Netherlands, Bright Biomethane reports construction its first "Bright BaaS" (Biomethane as a Service) conversion of biogas into green gas project for the Belgian water company Aquafin in Antwerp is underway and expected to be completed by the end of June, this year.

The facility will include a Bright PurePac Compact biogas upgrading unit that purifies water at the rate of 100 Nm3 per hour and can also produce biomethane. Upon delivery, Bright Biomethane will be responsible for the maintenance of the installation . (Source: Bright Biomethane, Website PR, May, 2021) Contact: Bright Biomethane, +31 53 460 9088, info@brightbiomethane.com, www.brightbiomethane.com; Aquafin, www.aquafin.be

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bright Biomethane,  

Hitachi Zosen Inova
Date: 2021-05-17
Zuric-based Swiss waste-to-energy (WtE) and biogas technology specialists Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (HZI) reports it is partnering with Cesaro Mac Import (CMI) to construct a seventh dry anaerobic digestion (AD) "Kompogas" technology biogas plant in Reggio Emilia, Italy, for Iren S.p.A Italy. The project, HZI's 100th installation , is expected to be completed and delivered by December 2022.

The project will incorporate four PF2100 digesters processing 100 000 tpy of organic "green" waste to produce around 16.7 million Nm3 per annum of biogas that will be upgraded into biomethane -- renewable natural gas (RNG). (Source: Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, PR, 12 May, 2021) Contact: Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, P +41 44 277 11 11, F +41 44 277 13 13, info@hz-inova.com, www.hz-inova.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News anaerobic digestion,  Biogas,  RNG,  

WELTEC BIOPOWER
Date: 2021-05-12
Vechta, Germany-based biogas specialist WELTEC BIOPOWER reports it is constructing a €4 million biomethane plant for the Catalan, Spanish dairy cattle farm Torre Santamaria. The farm was the first milk producer in Spain to use residual materials for the production of energy.

WELTEC is installing two stainless-steel anaerobic digesters (AD) to process 60,00 tpy of cattle manure, dairy barn bedding straw and silage leftovers and similar wastes. Each of the digesters has a height of 6.30 meters, is 26.87 meters wide and has a capacity of 3,573m3 l. After processing the biogas generated in the digesters will be fed into the natural gas grid. (Source: WELTEC BIOPOWER, PR, 10 May, 2021)Contact: WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH, +49 4441/99978-220, presse@weltec-biopower.de, www.weltec-biopower.de

More Low-Carbon Energy News WELTEC BIOPOWER,  Anaerobic Digestion,  RNG,  

China Greenhouse Gas,OECD
Date: 2021-05-10
According to new research from the New York City-based Rhodium Group, China's heat-trapping, greenhouse gas emissions -- carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen triflouride (NF3) -- totaled 14.09 billion tons of CO2 equivalent in 2019, more than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 37 member nations emissions combined.

China accounted for 27 pct of global emissions followed by the U.S, with 11 pct with India in third place with 6.6 pct. Historically, OECD members have pumped four times more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than China since 1750. (Source: Rhodium Group, Bloomberg, May, 2021) Contact: Rhodium Group, 212.532.1157, 212.532.1162 -- fax, nyc@rhg.com, www.rhg.com: OECD, www.oecd.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News OECD,  China Carbon Emissions,  GHGs,  Greenhouse Gases,  

Columbia Universitys Center on Global Policy
Date: 2021-05-07
The attached report, part of the Carbon Management Research Initiative at Columbia University's Center on Global Policy, examines 19 CO2 recycling pathways to understand the opportunities, technical and economic limits of CO2 recycling products gaining market entry and reaching global scale.

The pathways studied consume renewable (low-carbon) electricity and use chemical feedstocks derived from electrochemical pathways powered by renewable energy. Across these CO2 recycling pathways, the authors evaluated current globally representative production costs, sensitivities to cost drivers, carbon abatement potential, critical infrastructure and feedstock needs, and the effect of subsidies. Based on this analysis, the paper concludes with targeted policy recommendations to support CO2 recycling innovation and deployment. Key findings of the analysis include :

CO2 recycling pathways could deliver deep emissions reductions. -- When supplied by low-carbon electricity and chemical feedstocks, CO2 recycling pathways have the combined potential to abate 6.8 gigatonnes of CO2 per year (GtCO2/yr) when displacing conventional production methods.

Some CO2 recycling pathways have reached market parity today, while the costs of remaining pathways are high. -- Electrochemical carbon monoxide (CO) production, ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, concrete carbonation curing, and the CarbonCure concrete process all have an estimated cost of production (ECOP) lower than the product selling price. These pathways have a combined carbon abatement potential of 1.6 GtCO2/yr. Most remaining pathways have an ECOP of 2.5 to 7.5 times greater than the product selling price. In particular locations and contexts, ECOP may be substantially lower, but these costs are representative of CO2 recycling at global scale.

Catalyst performance and input prices are the main cost drivers. -- The largest component of ECOP is electricity and chemical feedstock costs, and the main cost drivers are those who influence these two cost components. For electrochemical pathways, ECOP is most sensitive to catalyst product selectivity (the ability of the catalyst to avoid unwanted side reactions), catalyst energy efficiency, and electricity price. For thermochemical pathways, the largest cost drivers are product selectivity, chemical feedstock price, and the price of the electricity used to make the feedstocks.

CO2 recycling at the scale of current global markets would require enormous new capacity of critical infrastructure. -- Each pathway at global scale would consume thousands of tWh of electricity, 30--100 million metric tpy of hydrogen, and up to 2,000 Mt of CO2 annually. This would require trillions of dollars of infrastructure per pathway to generate and deliver these inputs, including a combined 8,400 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity and 8,000 GW of electrolyzer capacity across all pathways.

Based on these findings, the authors recommend the following policy actions:

Ensure CO2 recycling pathways are fed by low-carbon inputs. -- Without low-carbon electricity and feedstocks, CO2 recycling could potentially be more carbon-intensive than conventional production.

Prioritize certain pathways strategically. -- CO2 recycling methane and ethane production are extremely uneconomic and should be deprioritized. All other pathways are more economically promising and could be the focus of a targeted innovation agenda to reduce costs. In addition, the following pathways that have an ECOP less than 5 times the selling price could be prioritized for early market growth: electrochemical CO production, green hydrogen, ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, concrete carbonation curing pathways, CO2 recycling urea production, and CO2 hydrogenation to light olefins, methanol, or jet fuel.

Target research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to catalyst innovation to bring down ECOP and reduce input demand. -- Policy makers can promote RD&D to improve the selectivity and energy efficiency of CO2 recycling catalysts. By decreasing a pathway's consumption of electricity and feedstocks, these innovations would both decrease ECOP and alleviate the sizable critical infrastructure needs.

Create demand pull for early market CO2 recycling products. -- Governments can use demand pull policies such as public procurement standards to bolster early markets for the most mature CO2 recycling pathways.

Promote build-out of critical infrastructure. -- To provide for the substantial infrastructure needs of CO2 recycling, policy makers can seek to remove barriers to and catalyze investment in building renewables installations, transmission lines, electrolyzers, and CO2 transport pipelines.

Download the report HERE. (Source: Columbia University/ SIPA, Center for Global Energy Policy, 4 May., 2021) Contact: Columbia University, www.energypolicy.columbia.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  

GEVO
Date: 2021-05-03
Following up on our April 19 coverage, Englewood, Colorado-based Gevo, Inc. reports it has broken ground on its Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) from dairy cow manure project in Northwest Iowa. Upon completion and commissioning early in 2022, the facility is expected to generate roughly 355,000 MMBtu of RNG per year and significantly reduce methane from being released into the atmosphere.

According to the release, Gevo's mission is to transform renewable energy and carbon into energy-dense liquid hydrocarbons that can be used for drop-in transportation fuels such as gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel, that when burned have the potential to yield net-zero greenhouse gas emissions when measured across the full life cycle of the products.

Gevo uses low-carbon renewable resource-based carbohydrates as raw materials and is in an advanced state of developing renewable electricity and renewable natural gas for use in production processes, according to the release. (Source: GEVO, Website PR, 30 Apr., 2021) Contact: GEVO Inc., Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  RNG,  

Enbridge Inc
Date: 2021-05-03
Calgary-based Enbridge Inc., environmental waste management specialist Walker Industries and Cambridge, Ontario-based Comcor Environmental, are reporting a partnership to jointly develop renewable natural gas (RNG) projects . The partnership aims to transform landfill waste into carbon-neutral energy, which will be injected into local natural gas distribution networks across Canada, reducing the overall carbon emission of the gas supply used to heat homes, power businesses and fuel vehicle fleets.

The industry estimates over 33 Petajoules (PJ) of landfill derived RNG can be generated in Canada, potentially supplying energy to approximately 400,000 homes for a year. Canada has over 10,000 landfill sites, generating approximately 30 Megatonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually, accounting for 20 percent of national methane emissions, according to the release. (Source: Enbridge Inc., Website, PR, Greenlane, 28 Apr., 2021) Contact: Enbridge, Leanne McNaughton, Communications, 519-619-0370 leanne.mcnaughton@enbridge.com, www.enbridge.com; Comcor Environmental Limited, www.comor.com; Walker Industries, www.walkerind.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News RNG,  Enbridge,  

Qube Technologies, Enhance Energy
Date: 2021-05-03
On the Canadian prairies, Calgary-based Qube Technologies Inc. reports the Alberta Energy Regulator has approved Qube's alternative leak detection and repair pilot program to detect and repair climate-warming methane leaks from the Oil and Gas industry.

Qube uses low-cost, high-sensitivity sensors to continuously and autonomously measure a host of gases in real-time to detect emissions faster than traditional industry approaches. Qube analyzes field data with the help of artificial intelligence and, by combining gas measurements, atmospheric data, and other operational inputs, can locate and quantify different leaks by emission source and severity, according to the release.

In collaboration with Enhance Energy and Highwood Emissions Management, Qube has become the first continuous monitoring technology to successfully demonstrate emission reductions effectiveness in the eyes of a regulator. Enhance is an Alberta-based energy company that specializes in using carbon sequestration to improve the recovery of energy resources in a sustainable fashion. To date, Enhance has sequestered over 1 million tonnes of CO2. (Source: Qube Technologies Inc., Website, PR, 3 May, 2021) Contact: Qube Technologies, Alex MacGregor, CEO, Alex.MacGregor@qubeiot.com, www.qubeiot.com; Highwood Emissions Management, Thomas Fox, Pres., Thomas@highwoodemissions.com, www.highwoodemissions.com; Enhance Energy, www.enhancenergy.com

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

Obama Methane
Date: 2021-04-30
On Wed., the US Senate voted 52-42 to reinstate the Obama administration's 2019 federal limits on methane emission leaks from new and modified wells in 2016. Since 2016, Colorado and California have enacted more stringent methane emissions regulations.

The Clean Air Task Force, the Environmental Defense Fund and other environmental organizations have called on the Biden administration to pledge a 40 pct or more reduction in U.S. methane emissions by the end of the decade as part of its recommitment to the Paris Climate agreement.

On Oct. 1, 2019 we reported: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DoI) has announced its decision to ease Obama-era , 2016, regulations on methane leaks which the Trump administration describes as "burdensome on the private sector" restrictions on oil and gas industry."

Under the Waste Prevention Rule, oil and gas producing companies were required to inspect their wells twice yearly and repair reported leaks within 30 days. The rollback of the regulation means companies are no longer obliged to check their wells and equipment more often than annually and have 60 days instead of 30 to complete repairs.

Though not as long-lived as CO2, methane prevents as much as 80 pct more heat from escaping in the first 20 years of its release. Methane leaks are the largest drawback of the otherwise environmentally friendly switch from coal to natural gas as a source of energy. Natural gas releases half as much carbon dioxide when burnt.

The rationale behind Trump's rollback on methane leaks restrictions was largely economic. It is estimated that drillers would save $734 million to $1 billion over the next 10 years. (Source: Various Media, ICN, 29 Apr., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Obama ,  Methane Emissions,  

Carbon Emissions
Date: 2021-04-30
For greater clarity, 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 pct 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)

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

Greenlane Renewables
Date: 2021-04-26
British Columbia-based Greenlane Renewables Inc. reports its wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenlane Biogas North America Ltd. will begin immediate order fulfillment against the US$2.6 million ($3.3 million Cdn) previously announced contract as part of the $21 million in contract wins for a dairy farm cluster in California on June 29, 2020. The name of the supermajor involved in this project is not disclosed at this time.

The project will use Greenlane's Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA') biogas upgrading systems to create clean renewable natural gas (RNG) at a multi-location California dairy farm cluster through anaerobic digestion of the farm waste stream. The RNG will be supplied as fuel for the U.S. transportation sector.

According to the release, "Greenlane is the only biogas upgrading company offering the three main technologies: water wash, pressure swing adsorption, and membrane separation to remove trace impurities from the biogas stream and separate carbon dioxide from biomethane to create a clean, high-purity low-carbon fuel: RNG, no matter the size, feedstock or application. The company has 30 years industry experience, patented proprietary technology, and over 110 biogas upgrading systems supplied into 18 countries, including the world's largest biogas upgrading facility." (Source: Greenlane Renewables, PR, 19 Apr., 2021) Contact: Greenlane Biogas, Brad Douville, Pres., CEO, (604) 259-0343, brad.dauville@greenlanerenewables.com, www.greenlanebiogas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenlane Renewables,  Biogas,  Biomethane,  RNG,  

German Bioethanol Industry Association'
Date: 2021-04-23
In Berlin, the German Bioethanol Industry Association's (BDBe) recently published 2020 market data on certified sustainable bioethanol reported the overall fuel market and petro and bioethanol sales declined by almost 10 pct from 18.0 million tonnes to roughly 16.2 million tonnes due to the pandemic.

The amount of ethanol and ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) used as an admixture in Super E10, Super Plus and Super E5 petrol fell by 4 pct to just under 1.10 million tonnes from 1.14 million tonnes the previous year. More than 125,000 tonnes of bioethanol were used for ETBE production -- equivalent to 42.8 pct more than the 88,000 tonnes used in 2019. By contrast, bioethanol as an admixture in petrol fell to 971,000 tonnes from 1.1 million tonnes in 2019.

According to the release, in 2020 the use of bioethanol saved about 3 million tonnes of CO2 in transport

The German Bioethanol Industry Association (BDBe) represents the interests of its member companies and associations, spanning agricultural production of raw materials to industrial production and processing of bioethanol and its co-products (DDGS, CDS, biogenic carbon dioxide, gluten, yeast, biomethane, organic fertiliser). Different types of bioethanol are produced for use as transport fuels or for the beverage and industrial markets from agricultural feedstock, such as grains and sugar beet. Petrol at German filling stations contains between 5 pct and 10 pct certified sustainable bioethanol, the report notes. (Source: German Bioethanol Industry Association, Website, PR, Apr., 2021) Contact: German Bioethanol Industry Association, Stefan Walter, MD, Carola Wunderlich, 49 (0)30 301 29 53 13, presse@bdbe.de, www.bdbe.de

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol,  Bioethanol,  

EDF
Date: 2021-04-23
Today, the Biden administration announced an ambitious and credible emissions target under the Paris Agreement to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52 pct below 2005 levels by 2030.

"By announcing a bold target of cutting emissions 50-52 pct below 2005 levels by the end of the decade, President Biden has met the moment and the urgency that the climate crisis demands. The message from the White House is clear: The U.S. is ready to go all-in to beat the climate crisis. This target aligns with what the science says is necessary to put the world on the path to a safer climate, and vaults the U.S. into the top tier of world leaders on climate ambition. And it's backed up by numerous analyses demonstrating that it can be met through multiple pathways using existing technologies.

"For four years, the world wondered what's going on with the U.S. Now they're going to have to race to keep up. With this ambitious and credible target, the U.S. has joined the EU and UK at the top of the global league table, recaptured a leadership role on climate -- and positioned itself to push for greater global ambition in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow. Now it's time for other major emitters to follow suit and commit to deeper reductions in their own emissions over this next decisive decade.

"Going bold on climate will help America create the jobs of the future. By taking swift action to invest in clean industries and technologies, the United States can supercharge its competitiveness in the global clean energy economy. Leading businesses and investors already know this: That's why over 400 of them called on the administration to cut emissions at least 50 pct by 2030.

"With this target in place, there's not a moment to lose to start achieving it with a whole-of-government approach that leverages action from the White House and Congress. The Biden administration can jump-start progress by putting in place critical clean air and climate protections under existing law and by working with Congress to enact transformative investments in the American Jobs Plan. These measures can support millions of good-paying union jobs and improve air quality for low-income communities and communities of color that have borne and continue to bear a disproportionate share of harmful pollution.

"Critical near-term actions are available in three sectors: power, transportation, and methane from oil and gas. A key step toward meeting the 2030 target is an enforceable Clean Electricity Standard for the power sector that ensures reductions of 80 pct below 2005 by the end of the decade. With transportation as the largest source of climate pollution in the U.S. as well as a significant source of air pollution, electrifying cars, trucks and buses will be essential. And as the administration takes aggressive action to cut carbon emissions, it must also double down on actions to reduce methane -- the most immediate opportunity the world has to reduce warming now. As the world's largest oil and gas producer, the U.S. has both an opportunity and responsibility to take swift action to reduce oil and gas methane pollution here at home and be a leader in catalyzing international action on this global problem.

"As the administration implements a whole-of-government approach to meet this target, it should ensure that policies expand access to economic opportunity, reduce exposure to harmful air pollution and empower American workers in every community.

"We look forward to working with the administration, Congress, state and local leaders, businesses and advocates to help turn this bold commitment into strong policy action that delivers." (Source: Environmental Defense Fund, PR, 22 Apr., 2021) Contact: EDF Nathaniel Keohane, Senior VP for Climate, www.edf.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Paris Climate Agreement,  GHG,  Greenhouse Gas,  Carbon Emissions,  Climate Change,  

Fortistar, TruStar Energy
Date: 2021-04-23
White Plains, N.Y.-based privately owned investment firm Fortistar LLC reports its renewable natural gas (RNG) portfolio company Fortistar Methane Group (FMG) and RNG fuel supply specialist TruStar Energy are merging under Opal Fuels LLC -- a fully-integrated renewable fuels supply company for North America.

Founded in 1993, Fortistar provides capital to build, grow and manage companies that address complex sustainability challenges. The company utilizes its capital, flexibility and operating expertise to grow high-performing companies, first in power generation and now in mobility, carbon capture, the circular economy and other solutions that drive our transition to a zero-carbon future. As a team, Fortistar has financed over $3.5 billion in capital for companies and projects in the energy, transportation and industrial sectors, according to the company website. (Source: Fortistar, PR, 22 Apr., 2021) Contact: TruStar Energy, Scott Edelbach, COO, www.trustarenergy.com; Fortistar, Mark Comora, CEO, (914) 421-4937, MComora@fortistar.com, www.fortistar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Fortistar,  TruStar Energy,  RNG,  

Greenlane Renewables
Date: 2021-04-23
Vancouver, British Columbia- based Greenlane Renewables Inc. is reporting the signing of approximately $6.2 million in new biogas upgrading system supply contracts.

The first contract is for the supply of its pressure swing adsorption biogas upgrading system to a municipality in Colombia. Engineering work will commence immediately with a notice to proceed on equipment fabrication expected later this year. This project will be the first commercial-scale biogas upgrading system deployed in Colombia, producing clean, low-carbon renewable natural gas (RNG) for direct injection into the local natural gas grid.

The second contract is for the supply of Greenlane's water wash biogas upgrading system in Spain. Order fulfillment of this contract will commence immediately, however, and for further transparency, the customer has a two-week period in which it may exercise an option to halt further activity with no penalty. For competitive reasons, individual contract amounts have not been disclosed at this time.

"Greenlane continues to expand its pioneering global reach with a new system contract win in Colombia, which marks Greenlane's 19th country for technology deployment and 12th country to be the first to supply biogas upgrading equipment. Supplying biogas upgrading equipment for the first time into Columbia is further evidence that RNG continues to be globally recognized as a key component of the overall decarbonization solution. We see a significant opportunity in South America and continue to be seen as a market leader with multiple technologies, allowing us to be competitive on a global scale," according to Greenlane CEO Brad Douville. (Source: Greenlane Renewables, PR, 22 Apr., 2021)Contact: Greenlane Biogas, Brad Douville, Pres., CEO, (604) 259-0343, brad.dauville@greenlanerenewables.com, www.greenlanebiogas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Greenlane Renewables,  Biogas,  Biomethane,  RNG,  

Newpoint Gas
Date: 2021-04-21
Oklahoma City-headquartered Newpoint Gas LLC reports it has partnered with Plymouth, Conn.-based Brooks Energy Company to form Escalante H2 Power. The partners also announced a letter of intent to purchase Westminster, Colorado-headquartered wholesale power provider TriState Generation's shuttered 40-year old coal-fired Escalante Power Plant in New Mexico and convert it into a hydrogen facility at an expected cost of roughly $250 million.

This project comes after Newpoint's 2019 announcement it was working to develop a technology that would separate hydrogen, water and carbon from natural gas. If successful, the project will be the first of its kind and pave the way for future hydrogen infrastructure, according to Newpoint. The project will also have carbon capture and storage (CCS) capability.

According to the company website, "Newpoint has taken unprecedented action to develop and integrate processes to produce clean water, electricity and a hydrogen energy source from zero-emissions natural gas technologies. Newpoint's process converts methane and other gaseous hydrocarbons into blue hydrogen. The carbon dioxide produced in the process is sequestered and/or used in manufacturing." (Source: Newpoint Companies, PR, Apr., 2021) Contact: Newpoint Companies, Wiley Rhodes, CEO , info@newpoint.us.com, www.newpointgas.com; Brooks Energy Company, Robert Price, CEO, 860-585-1515, www.brooksenergycompany.com; Escalante H2 Power, www.linkedin.com/pulse/escalante-h2-power-mark-schott; TriState Generation, Duane Highley, CEO, 303-452-6111, www.tristategt.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Newpoint Gas,  Hydrogen,  Escalante ,  TriState,  

China, Climate Change
Date: 2021-04-19
China and the United States have issued a joint statement addressing the climate crisis after talks between China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry from Thursday to Friday in Shanghai. The following is the full text of the statement:

China and the United States are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands. This includes both enhancing their respective actions and cooperating in multilateral processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Both countries recall their historic contribution to the development, adoption, signature, and entry into force of the Paris Agreement through their leadership and collaboration.

Moving forward, China and the United States are firmly committed to working together and with other Parties to strengthen implementation of the Paris Agreement. The two sides recall the Agreement's aim in accordance with Article 2 to hold the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees C. In that regard, they are committed to pursuing such efforts, including by taking enhanced climate actions that raise ambition in the 2020s in the context of the Paris Agreement with the aim of keeping the above temperature limit within reach and cooperating to identify and address related challenges and opportunities.

Both countries look forward to the US-hosted Leaders Summit on Climate on April 22/23. They share the Summit's goal of raising global climate ambition on mitigation, adaptation, and support on the road to COP 26 in Glasgow.

China and the United States will take other actions in the short term to further contribute to addressing the climate crisis: both countries intend to develop by COP 26 in Glasgow their respective long-term strategies aimed at carbon neutrality/net zero GHG emissions; both countries intend to take appropriate actions to maximize international investment and finance in support of the transition from carbon-intensive fossil fuel based energy to green, low-carbon and renewable energy in developing countries; each county will implement the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbon production and consumption reflected in the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

China and the United States will continue to discuss, both on the road to COP 26 and beyond, concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping the Paris Agreement-aligned temperature limit within reach, including: policies, measures, and technologies to decarbonize industry and power, including through circular economy, energy storage and grid reliability, CCUS, and green hydrogen; increased deployment of renewable energy; green and climate resilient agriculture; energy efficient buildings; green, low-carbon transportation; cooperation on addressing emissions of methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases; cooperation on addressing emissions from international civil aviation and maritime activities; and; other near-term policies and measures, including with respect to reducing emissions from coal, oil, and gas.

The two sides will cooperate to promote a successful COP 26 in Glasgow, aiming to complete the implementation arrangements for the Paris Agreement (e.g., under Article 6 and Article 13) and to significantly advance global climate ambition on mitigation, adaptation, and support. They will further cooperate to promote a successful COP 15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, noting the importance of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, including its relevance to climate mitigation and adaptation. (Source: China.org Xinhua, 17 Apr., 2021)

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

Fortistar
Date: 2021-04-14
In the Empire State, White Plains--based Fortistar is reporting plans to construct and operate a new roughly $40 million renewable natural gas (RNG) plant at the Pine Bend Sanitary Landfill, in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

Landfill owner Republic Services will lease Fortistar the land for the 12,000 square-foot facility which is expected to be operational by March 2022. (Source: Fortistar,PR, Star Tribune, 13 Apr., 2021) Contact: Forttistar, Mark Comora, CEO, (914) 421-4937, MComora@fortistar.com, www.fortistar.com

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

CMA CGM
Date: 2021-04-12
In France, Marseille-based global ocean carrier CMA CGM Group reports it intends to invest in biomethane production facilities and is studying the viability of the liquefaction process and its potential as maritime shipping fuel. As a fuel for vessels, 12,000 tonnes of biomethane would provide the equivalent to a year's supply of fuel consumption for two 1,400-TEU ships operating on CMA CGM's European Balt3 line between St. Petersburg and Rotterdam, according to the release.

The initiative is in line with the company' s objective to become carbon-neutral by 2050. CMA CGM Group notes it cut its overall CO2 emissions by 4 pct in 2020 following a 6 pct reduction in 2019, and has also lowered its CO2 emissions per container-kilometer by 49 pct since 2008. With CMA CGM's dual-fuel gas-power technology, it can reduce entire value chain greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, by at least 67 pct, according to the company release. (Source: CMA CGM Group, PR, BreakBulk, 10 Apr., 2021) Group Contact: CMA CGM Group Rodolphe Saade, Chairman and CEO, +33 (0)4 88 91 90 00, www.cma-cgm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biomethane,  Biogas,  

WELTECH BIOPOWER
Date: 2021-04-12
Vechta, Germany-based WELTEC BIOPOWER reports it is setting up two agricultural 250-kW biogas plants for one of Japan's major milk producers. Both plants, one in Urahoro the other in Sakata, Yamagot prefecture, are on Japan's largest island, Honshu. The generated power and heat will be used directly on site. Commissoning is slated for summer 2021 in Urahoro and in autumn 2021 in Sakata.

The two biogas project dairy farms yield approximately 30,000 tpy of liquid cattle manure, which will be used for the energy production in the anaerobic digestion plants. Apart from the two projects' digesters, upstream and digestate storage tanks, separation and pump technology, WELTEC BIOPOWER is also setting up a 250-kW CHP unit at each location.

The biomass potential in Japan amounts to approximately 284.4 million tpy, enough to produce about 13 billion kWh of electricity and continually supply 2.8 million households, according to the WELTECH release. (Source: WELTECH BIOPOWER, PR, 9 April, 2021) Contact: WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH, +49 4441/99978-220, presse@weltec-biopower.de, www.weltec-biopower.de

More Low-Carbon Energy News WELTECH BIOPOWER,  Biogas,  Biomethane,  anaerobic digestion ,  

NOAA
Date: 2021-04-09
In Washington, just released research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has found carbon dioxide and methane -- which is nearly 30 times more potent at trapping heat within the atmosphere than CO2 -- emissions surged in 2020.

Research data collected at remote NOAA sampling locations indicated the global surface average for CO2 was 412.5 parts per million last year -- a 2.6 ppm increase. The global increase rate constituted the fifth-highest on record for a single year, after 1987, 1998, 2015 and 2016, according to NOAA. Atmospheric methane's annual increase for 2020 was 14.7 parts per billion, the largest in the 37 years NOAA has measured it. (Source: NOAA Research News, Website PR, 7 Apr., 2021) Contact: NOAA, oar.communications@noaa.gov, www. research.noaa.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News CO2,  Mathane,  NOAA,