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BiogasWorld Weekly Vol 28
Study lays out how cities can fight climate change
October 27, 2017 – It will be easier for cities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions coming from residential energy use rather than transportation, new research claims. This reduction will happen thanks to more efficient building practices and not greater housing density, the study, published in the Journal of Planning Education and Research, states. The aim of the study was to determine how extensively local planning policies in the US could either complement the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) of 2015 or compensate for its absence. The CPP was created to reduce greenhouse gas emission from power plants. In 2016, a US Supreme Court ruling halted the potential enactment of the act. The legal case is ongoing, but the Trump administration has announced it intends to roll-back the CPP.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
Miriam Dalli stresses importance of biofuels to reach renewable energy targets
October 28, 2017 – Miriam Dalli has drawn attention to the importance of electrification in reaching the EU’s 2030 renewable energy targets, saying that this can play a long-term role in the decarbonisation of transport. In a press release today, the Labour MEP and Social & Democrats energy spokesperson emphasised the need to actively use of biofuels to create a cleaner transport system powered by renewables. She maintained that S&D MEPs had this week opposed an attempt by the Conservatives and Reformists to dilute the EU’s ambitious targets during an renewable energy vote in the European Parliament’s environment committee.
Revolutionary waste disposal plant to open soon in the UK
October 31, 2017 – The White House Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the U.S. EPA’s final rule to set 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume requirements (RVOs), along with the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel. OMB review marks a final step before the final rule is released to the public. Under statute, the EPA is required to issue a final rule establishing 2018 RVOs by Nov. 30. The EPA first released its proposal to set 2018 RVOs and the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel on July 5. The proposal calls for 19.24 billion gallons of total renewable fuel, including 238 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel, 2.1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel and 4.24 billion gallons of advanced biofuel.
Stefanik introduces bill to extend biomass, biogas tax credits
October 31, 2017 – Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., recently introduced legislation that aims to extend the Section 45 production tax credit (PTC) for electricity produced from closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal, municipal solid waste, qualified hydropower facilities and marine and hydrokinetic facilities. Stefanik introduced the legislation, titled the Renewable Electricity Tax Credit Equalization Act, or H.R. 4137, on Oct. 25. To date, the bill has no cosponsors. “The North Country is the proud home of numerous renewable energy production facilities and it’s important that we ensure these clean energy sources are supported,” said Congresswoman Stefanik.
HomeBiogas Unveils Next Generation of Home Digester
October 31, 2017 – HomeBiogas, an Israel-based clean energy solutions provider, has launched its second biodigester on Kickstarter, HomeBiogas 2.0, which transforms leftover kitchen waste into reusable, clean gas at twice the speed of its original biodigester. Each system produces up to three hours of cooking gas per day with a ready-to-use stovetop. “Composting is certainly a good step in the right direction, but with HomeBiogas, you can get more out of your waste. HomeBiogas will take care of all your kitchen waste, and turn it into cooking gas and liquid fertilizer daily,” says Oshik Efrati, CEO and co-founder of HomeBiogas
U.S. to Become a Major LNG Exporter
October 31, 2017 – There is currently only one operational liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in the United States; it has been operating since early 2016. Cheniere Energy is exporting LNG at its Sabine Pass facility with three trains and a capacity of about 2 billion cubic feet per day. Its total capacity is expected to be 3.5 billion cubic feet per day when all 5 trains are completed. Cheniere is in the process of getting contracts and financing for a sixth train. There are five additional LNG projects under construction with a total capacity of about 7.5 billion cubic feet per day that will come online in 2018 and 2019, making total U.S. LNG export capacity about 10 or 11 billion cubic feet per day within just a few years.
Read more on Institute for Energy Research
US Congress act would fix biogas and AD tax credit inequality
November 1, 2017 – The American Biogas Council (ABC) has welcomed the introduction of a new bill in Congress which would extend the renewable electricity tax credit to include anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas technology. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s bill, labelled the Renewable Electricity Tax Credit Equalisation Act (HR 4137), would see tax credit applied to open and closed-loop biomass, hydropower, geothermal and waste energy. “The biogas industry applauds the introduction of the Renewable Electricity Tax Credit Equalisation Act which will fix inequities in our tax code and allow biogas systems and baseload renewable energy project development to grow,” said Patrick Serfass, executive director of ABC, in a statement.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
Vignan University trio produces biogas from sewage water
November 1, 2017 -In a significant experiment, a team comprising a professor of bio-technology and two students of Vignan University has produced biogas from solid wastes and polluted water on the campus. The effort has received accolades from across the country as several scientific companies have come forward to support the project for its commercialisation.
Read more on The Times of India
Brexit and waste management: in what direction will the government go?
November 2, 2017 – With regard to waste management there are two fundamental issues in need of clarification: how will the Circular Economy Package be interpreted, and what type of Brexit will actually emerge? Independently of this, everything depends on the importance that the government will give in future to the issue of waste management. For the time being measures have been taken to encourage the collection of organic refuse, so there is reason to hope for a rosy future for biogas.