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News: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission issues a Policy Statement on RNG program and Ottawa releases Clean Fuel Standard Regulations for Consultation
Here are the latest news in the biogas and biomethane industry:
GOVERNMENT POLICIES & LAW
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Issues Policy Statement on Renewable Natural Gas
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) issued a Policy Statement on renewable natural gas program design that provides important guidance for expansion of this nascent industry in the State of Washington. While not binding, the Policy Statement sets forth the UTC’s anticipated regulatory treatment for renewable natural gas, which many tout as the “next big thing” in green energy, a potentially major new industry that can tap methane produced by, for example, dairy farms and waste treatment facilities to replace natural gas produced from fossil fuels.
Read more on the National Law Review
New UK White Paper publication describes how RNG will help meet net zero goal
Biomethane, also referred to as RNG, will also play a key role in reaching the U.K.’s net zero goal, according to the white paper. The government is in the process of developing a support scheme for RNG. That scheme is currently expected to launch in fall 2021 and run four years. It will support continued deployment of anaerobic digestion biomethane plants in order to increase the proportion of green gas in the grid, the government said in the whit paper. That green gas support scheme is expected to deliver 2.8 terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable heat annually by 2030-’31, which is enough to heat approximately 230,000 homes.
Canada’s Clean Fuel Standard Regulations Released For Consultation
On December 18, 2020, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released a draft of the Clean Fuel Regulations. The proposed Regulations are intended to complement the federal carbon tax regime to help meet Canada’s greenhouse gas reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The CFS is the result of ongoing consultation efforts with stakeholders over the past four years, and will be open for public comment until March 3, 2021.
STATES & MUNICIPALITIES
Florida begins construction on its first municipal solid waste landfill gas to RNG project
The project, formally known as the New River RNG Project, will collect naturally occurring methane from the NRSWA municipal solid waste landfill, convert it to RNG and use it to fuel natural gas vehicles via TruStar Energy, a Fortistar company. At full output, the New River facility will extract 2,500 standard cubic feet per minute of landfill gas and produce 5.1 million gas gallon equivalents (GGE) of RNG per year. The overall project reduces emissions by 35,000 tons of CO2 per year.
Read more on Environment Energy Leader
Gasum’s Huittinnen biogas plant to be the first industrial-scale biogas facility using manure as its main feedstock in Finland
The plant would use mainly pig and cattle manure to produce biogas. As one of HKScan’s contract partners, contract pig meat producer Emomylly Oy has committed to the project.
The proposed plant would be Finland’s first industrial-scale biogas facility using manure as its main feedstock, utilizing 60,000 tonnes of various feedstock, of which 50,000 tonnes would consist of manures and agricultural side streams.
Read more on Bioenergy Insight
Sioux City’s treatment plant in Iowa is now turning wastewater into renewable gas
The facility is now turning wastewater into a renewable natural gas through a new pipeline facility. The project cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 23,000 tons a year, while also improving odor control in the area. The natural gas pipeline is enough to replace 1.5 million gallons of diesel fuel per year.
“The wastewater plant has always had enter anaerobic digestion, which is the last steps in the treatment process and that breaks down slug further and in that last process, it has always produced gas and it’s a waste gas that has just been flared. But now we are going to use that waste gas and we are going to turn it into something that is a renewable fuel,” said Randy Kenyon, of Bartlett & West.
Read more on SiouxLand and Proud
COMPANIES & ORGANIZATIONS
Unilever, Starbucks and Dairy Farmers of America join alliance to boost anaerobic digestion use in US
Major US food industry leaders have joined forces alongside renewable energy provider Vanguard Renewables to launch the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance (FPSA).
FPSA aims to accelerate long-term commitments to avoid or eliminate food waste first and repurpose what can’t be eliminated into renewable energy. FPSA first movers include Unilever, Starbucks, and Dairy Farmers of America. FPSA commits to reducing food waste from manufacturing and the supply chain and repurposing any unavoidable waste that cannot be eliminated into renewable energy via Vanguard Renewables farm-based anaerobic digesters.
An inside look at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the first carbon neutral airport in North America
As the largest carbon neutral airport in the world, DFW continually strives to find new ways to reduce emissions. RNG plays a key role in addressing one of the largest contributors to DFW’s carbon footprint – its fleet.
As part of its commitment to climate action, DFW established its first carbon reduction targets in 2015.DFW’s achieved its 2020 Strategic Plan goal to reduce carbon emissions by 15 percent per passenger two years early. DFW has now set an ambitious target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, supporting the United Nation’s Race to Zero campaign.
Read more on United Nations Climate Change
RESEARCHES & STUDIES
Global Market Insights’ new research study presents
6 Major Trends Likely To Propel Biogas Market Share Through 2025
The report provides 360 degrees analysis from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global market and estimates the future trend of the industry based on this detailed study.
The rising demand for highly efficient and well-planned waste management practices will also serve to increase the requirement of biogas plants and the like. Driven by the easy availability of feedstock, in tandem with a favorable regulatory spectrum, biogas market size is projected to cross USD 110 billion by 2025.
Read more on MarketWatch
Biogas Market projected to be worth USD 78.3 billion by 2027, according to Grand View Research
It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.48% during the forecast period. Increasing global demand for renewable energy coupled with environment friendly emission levels along with the rising demand for electricity generated from biogas plants will drive the market.
The industrial segment is anticipated to witness growth on account of surging demand for waste treatment techniques that will further enhance the industry outlook. Initiatives taken by the government will be a strong driving factor for the market growth. Extensive presentation for strict environmental laws to restrain greenhouse gas emissions will keenly promote the use of biogas across various segments.
A new biomethane plant is connected to the grid every week in France
The growth of the biomethane sector in France continues. After closing 2019 with a 73% growth in the quantity of biomethane injected into the gas grid compared to 2018, expectations are that 2020 will also close with satisfactory data. In the first half of 2020, in fact, the number of connections to the grid saw a 20% growth and by the end of the year it is expected that there will be more than 200 connected units. As Jean-Marie Gauthey, Head of European Affairs at GRDF, explained in this web talk, this is thanks to the undisputed advantages associated with the use of biomethane, which has a positive impact not only on the energy sector, but also on the agricultural and agro-ecological sectors.