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USA, Australia & Ontario Want to Increase Renewable Energy/RNG Use
Here’s an overview of key biogas news.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES & LAW
Tax Credits for Renewables Get Another Shot in Congress
Democrats in the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday unveiled draft legislation in the latest attempt to extend tax credits for renewable technologies. The Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now, or GREEN, Act would extend the federal Investment Tax Credit for solar and offshore wind for five years and keep a 60 percent Production Tax Credit for onshore wind — set to expire this year — in place for five years. The discussion draft also includes incentives for energy storage, electric vehicles and environmental justice programs at colleges and universities.
Australian agricultural waste-to-energy project receives government grant
A major agricultural waste-to-energy project that will power electric vehicles in Australia is one of the first recipients of a grant from the Queensland Government’s Waste to Biofutures Fund. Biogas firm Energy 360 received $363,000 (€223,540) to transform agricultural waste into bioenergy at a $1.899 million (€1.169 million) small-scale biotech facility, which is to be developed in Bundaberg. The project will support Queensland’s Electric Vehicle Strategy to prepare and ‘pave the way’ for greater uptake of electric vehicles, according to the Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick.
CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
Changes to Biogas Rules for Farms to Increase Economic Opportunity in Ontario’s Renewable Natural Gas Sector
Hamilton – The Government of Ontario will launch consultations to identify potential changes that would allow farmers to expand the emerging renewable natural gas market in Ontario and make the province a North American leader in the biogas sector. The consultations will focus on changes designed to reduce red tape and grow untapped economic opportunities for on-farm biogas operations. “Today we are launching consultations designed to unlock the economic potential of the biogas industry,” said Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Read more on Ontario Government
COMPANIES & ORGANIZATIONS
PlanET Biogas USA Brings Latest Digester Technology to Wisconsin
PlanET Biogas USA is working with DTE Biomass Energy (DTEBE) to construct new world-class anaerobic digesters at three dairy farms in Wisconsin. These projects will take manure supplied by the host farm, process and upgrade it into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for off-site grid injection. PlanET is proud to announce that digester foundations are well underway and all equipment will be delivered by the end of this year. When complete, these three sites will host 10 of PlanET’s latest in digester technology.
Read more on Planet Biogas
Leyline Renewable to fund 2 AD projects of RNG Energy
Renewables investor Leyline Renewable Capital will provide funds for two anaerobic digestion (AD) projects proposed by RNG Energy Solutions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Leyline Renewable will provide bridge financing for the two schemes, it announced on Thursday, saying that in such transactions it provides capital for the pre-construction phase of the projects, including permitting, engineering, site analysis and securing interconnection agreements. RNG Energy plans to install the AD facilities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Linden, New Jersey, with each of them producing renewable natural gas that will be used as transportation fuel.
Vermont Gas commits to zero emissions by 2050
Vermont Gas has unveiled plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% over the next 10 years and get to zero emissions by mid-century. The state’s sole natural gas utility plans to achieve its ambitious reduction targets in part by selling less gas, utility CEO Don Rendall said at a press conference Thursday. In a move indicating an intention to shift direction, the company redesigned its logo to simply state “VGS,” conspicuously removing the name of the fossil fuel it provides. “These steps are the next phase in our ongoing transformation here at VGS from a traditional gas utility to a climate forward energy services company, reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero while strengthening our commitment to safety, reliability and safety,” Rendall said.
HoSt to Supply Two Microferm Manure-to-Biomethane Installations for Jumpstart
Bioenergy company, HoSt, based in the Netherlands, will supply Microferm manure-to-biomethane installations to two Dutch dairy farmers who have the ambition to profitably produce energy from manure via the Jumpstart cooperative of dairy company and founder Friesland Campina. The contracts are signed, bringing the farms one step closer to biomethane production and a climate-neutral development of the dairy sector. The Stokman family from Koudum, province Friesland and the Haarman family from Blokzijl, province Overijssel are the entrepreneurs who have chosen HoSt manure biogas plants through the Jumpstart program: an exceptional opportunity to produce renewable energy from manure on a small scale.
Read more on Renewable Energy Magazine
RESEARCHES & STUDIES
Scaling up renewable gas production in Europe will create at least 600,000 direct jobs by 2050
A new Gas for Climate analysis prepared by Navigant, a Guidehouse company, shows that scaling up renewable gases in the EU can create 1.7 million to 2.4 million jobs by 2050, of which 600,000 to 850,000 would be direct jobs. Full decarbonisation of the EU gas sector is expected to be an important contribution to the goals of the EU Green Deal and the upcoming decarbonisation package. Renewable and low-carbon gases, combined with large quantities of renewable electricity, are essential to achieving a climate-neutral EU energy system. Production of renewable gases and low-carbon gases is already creating jobs today.
Read more on European Biogas Association
Farmers are key drivers in the transition to “net zero” emissions
Farming causes around 10 percent of UK greenhouse gas emissions and reaching “net zero” is now top priority, with a new range of incentives likely to feature heavily in future agricultural policy. Farmers will play a significant part in the replacement of fossil-derived fuels with low-carbon or carbon-negative alternatives. Not only is this crucial for the environment, with agriculture presenting a big part of the solution to the supply of renewable heating fuels, it’s profitable.Farmers and landowners wanting to find out more about diversification opportunities in renewable energy are urged to attend Energy and Rural Business Show, taking place in the East of England Arena on 3-4 March 2020.
HGVs to be fuelled by ‘carbon-negative’ manure from 2021
Renewable fuel provider CNG Fuels has announced plans to become the UK’s first supplier of carbon-neutral fuel for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), offering a range of hydrogen, battery-electric technologies and low-carbon biogas from manure. CNG Fuels is consulting on how its network of refuelling stations can accommodate the technologies and believes that biomethane from manure can act as a carbon-negative fuel and hopes to roll it out in the UK by 2021. Manure gives off methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Using methane as an HGV fuel prevents it from going into the atmosphere, therefore reducing emissions as a result.