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Friday, February 24, 2012
Fraunhofer turns brown bananas and squashed tomatoes into useful biogas
Fraunhofer turns brown bananas and squashed tomatoes into useful biogas
Mushy tomatoes, brown bananas and overripe cherries – to date, waste from wholesale markets has ended up on the compost heap at best. However, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB have developed a new facility that ferments this waste to make methane, which can be used to power vehicles. 
Drivers who fill up with natural gas instead of gasoline or diesel spend less on fuel and are more environmentally friendly. Natural gas is kinder on the wallet, and the exhaust emissions it produces contain less carbon dioxide and almost no soot particles. As a result, more and more motorists are converting their gasoline engines to run on natural gas. But just like oil, natural gas is also a fossil fuel, and reserves are limited.Now, though, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart (Germany) have developed an alternative: They have found a way to obtain this fuel not from the Earth’s precious reserves of raw materials, but from fruit and vegetable waste generated by wholesale markets, university cafeterias and canteens. Fermenting this food waste produces methane, also known as biogas, which can be compressed into high-pressure cylinders and used as fuel.
In early 2012, the researchers will begin operating a pilot plant adjacent to Stuttgart’s wholesale market. The facility uses various microorganisms to generate sought-after methane from the food waste in a two-stage digestion process that lasts just a few days.
“The waste contains a lot of water and has a very low lignocellulose content, so it’s highly suitable for rapid fermentation,” says Dr.-Ing. Ursula Schließmann, head of department at the IGB. But it still presents a challenge, because its precise composition varies every day. Sometimes it has a high proportion of citrus fruits, while other times there are more cherries, plums and lettuce. On days with a higher citrus fruit content, the researchers have to adjust the pH value through substrate management, because these fruits are very acidic.
“We hold the waste in several storage tanks, where a number of parameters are automatically calculated – including the pH value. The specially designed management system determines exactly how many litres of waste from which containers should be mixed together and fed to the microorganisms,” explains Schließmann. It is vital that a correct balance be maintained in the plant at all times, because the various microorganisms require constant environmental conditions to do their job.
Another advantage of the new plant lies in the fact that absolutely everything it generates can be utilized; the biogas plant, the liquid filtrate, and even the sludgy residue that cannot be broken down any further. A second sub-project in Reutlingen comes into its own here, involving the cultivation of algae. When the algae in question are provided with an adequate culture medium, as well as carbon dioxide and sunlight, they produce oil in their cells that can be used to power diesel engines. The filtrate water from the biogas plant in Stuttgart contains sufficient nitrogen and phosphorus to be used as a culture medium for these algae, and the reactor facility also provides the researchers with the carbon dioxide that the algae need in order to grow; while the desired methane makes up around two thirds of the biogas produced there, some 30 percent of it is carbon dioxide. With these products put to good use, all that is left of the original market waste is the sludgy fermentation residue, which is itself converted into methane by colleagues at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland and at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
Others involved in this network project, which goes by the name of ETAMAX, include energy company EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg and Daimler AG. The former uses membranes to process the biogas generated in the market-place plant, while the latter supplies a number of experimental vehicles designed to run on natural gas. The five-year project is funded to the tune of six million euros by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). If all the different components mesh together as intended, it is possible that similar plants could in future spring up wherever large quantities of organic waste are to be found. Other project partners are the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Freising, FairEnergie GmbH, Netzsch Mohnopumpen GmbH, Stulz Wasser- und Prozesstechnik GmbH, Subitec GmbH und the town Stuttgart.
Biogasrat to promote biogas in Russia
Biogasrat to promote biogas in Russia
RBC, 24.02.2012, Moscow 17:21:45.Russia's National Union for Bioenergy, Renewable Energy Sources and Environmental Protection (NSBE) and German union of biogas companies Biogasrat have agreed to cooperate in order to establish a biogas industry in Russia, Russia's Corporation GazEnergoStroy, a member of NSBE, said in a press release.
NSBE and Biogasrat will focus on securing investment, supplies of equipment and materials, R&D, and soliciting government relations for biogas companies.
The parties intend to finance the construction of biogas stations, use biogas in power generation, and produce biomethane, which is upgraded biogas. No biomethane is produced in Russia at present, but the parties expect to supply it to the gas transportation system for distribution to Russian consumers and exports to the EU sometime in the future.
Biogas plants in hostels, hotels in Chandigarh to save fuel
Biogas plants in hostels, hotels in Chandigarh to save fuel
Most of the hotels, Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Government Medical College and Hospital-32 (GMCH) and all hostels on the Panjab University (PU) campus will have to generate their own energy through biogas plants, according to the master plan of the city.
The master plan committee that is preparing a comprehensive plan for the futuristic development of city has received feedback from the department of science and technology that biogas plants using kitchen wastes of these institutions would results in saving LPG in city. The plan has been explored by the department of science and technology to switch over from conventional resources of energy to renewable energy resources in a phased manner. As per the proposal, biogas would be produced from the waste of kitchens of these institutions to meet the requirements. It would not only help reduce consumption of LPG, but would also manage waste.
Department has also prepared a plan in this regard and has been submitted to the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) of the central government. This was submitted before the committee that is preparing the master plan of city. As per the draft master plan, copy of which is available with the TOI, the aim of this proposal is to reduce the energy demand and to utilization of locally available resources.
All these institutions have also been asked to supply required information in this concern by the committee.
As per the feedback received on January 21 this year from the department of science and technology and various other departments by the master plan committee, there is possibility of installation of biogas plants.
Building Industry News
Building Industry News
A new network of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants will be built to create energy using organic waste, it has been revealed.
The £65 million Tamar Energy scheme is backed by investors including Lord Rothschild and the Prince of Wales's private Duchy of Cornwall estate.
Supermarket chain Sainsbury's has also pledged £2 million to the project.
The 40 sites will use waste such as food scraps to make green energy, as well as fertiliser for the agricultural industry.
Bacteria will be used to convert the waste into biogas, which can then be burned to create electricity or used in the gas grid.
Some 100 megawatts of energy will be produced at the plants, organisers said.
The power plants will be developed over the next five years.
Welcoming the announcement, energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey said: "This is the sort of project that will be crucial for keeping the lights on and emissions down in the UK in the coming decades."
Copyright Press Association 2011
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Green electricity to beat high tariffs
Karachi —The concept of bio waste energy generation is a cost effective way to generate electricity being used by Karachi Electric Supply Company at a commercial scale which is supposed to reduce generation cost enabling the utility to pass on the benefits to hard hit power consumers besides setting an example for rest of the country to follow suit.
The initiative is appreciable on the part of KESC yet to NGOs and pressure groups never tired to raise a hue and cry over energy shortage should also comeforward to conceive such projects of renewable energy generation to make easy the life of the fellow citizens in the real life as making headlines denotes gaining for cheap publicity unless something is done to redress the sufferings of the common man.
According to a report, Karachi Electric Supply Company, as part of its fuel diversification, green electricity generation and sustainable development vision, is planning the development of one of the world’s largest Bio Waste to Energy Project of its kind near the Landhi cattle colony situated inKarachi. This plant is likely to have the potential of generating up to 22 MW of electricity fueled from biogas alone.
A localized Biogas plant is a socio-economically sustainable venture and reliable in comparison to wind or solar, which are vulnerable to extraneous variables, biggest being weather conditions. The Landhi Biogas project in Karachi will not only generate up to 22MW of green power but will also be producing up to 300 tons/day (tpd) of organic fertilizer as a meaningful byproduct. This organic fertiliser has special application in place of eroded soil which has lost it’s utility and where standard urea fertilizer won’t be effective. In addition to the above, this eco-friendly energy unit will also earn a significant amount of carbon credits, thereby making this Project economically viable.
Under this sustainable, renewable energy project, up to 4,200 tons of bio-degradable waste will be collected on a daily basis largely from cattle farms in Landhi (feedstock) and organic food waste from industries, food outlets and wholesale markets (co substrates) throughout Karachi. Under the signed memorandum with Karachi Dairy Farmers Association in December last year, the Association would provide 3,500 to 4,000 tons of cattle waste on a daily basis to KESC to be used as feedstock to produce biogas required for electricity generation. This landmark step will facilitate waste collection studies, project implementation and rollout of many socio-economic initiatives in the Landhi area of Karachi.
KESC has also signed an agreement with biogas technology providers M/s Highmark Renewables (HRR Canada) for onsite technical studies (Phase I) leading to project plant design, which now stand completed. During May to July 2011, HRR conducted on-site feasibility analysis using HRR’s patented technology to produce biogas. The initial trial runs have demonstrated that the customized ‘recipe’ and feed plan are feasible, yielding significant amounts of biogas during the trial run. Currently, KESC is moving into the Phase II of the project. This phase entails activities which include land development, and developing, waste collection mechanisms, Gold standard carbon credits, formation of strategic partnerships and financial close.
Furthermore, KESC is looking for ways to engage private and public sector entities for provision of benefits to the residents and workers of the Landhi Cattle Colony. At the moment a ‘social needs assessment’ is in progress and going forward, the project team is looking towards evolving a mechanism to ensure that the benefits can be provided to the society in a sustainable fashion. KESC is looking forward to working with the local / city government and leading national and international NGOs, for developing a mechanism to successfully roll out this and other similar CSR initiatives.
Meanwhile the cap on generation capacity of provincial power plant had been removed under the new national power policy and provinces were now free to set up plants of any capacity to meet their needs. This power devolution infact need to invite private sector to play its due role in combat the most nasty issue of power shortage which had adversely affected socio-economic development across the country resulting in flight of capital to the neighboring countries specially Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, African region and other countries. This potentially dangerous trend could only be stopped through improving the energy as well as law and order situation as both issues scaring away the existing investors but quite sufficient to drive away foreign investment as well. According to provincial minister for power Shazia Marri, the government was considering the production of biogas from sugar mills distilleries. Marri pointed out that Chinese companies were preparing a paper for power generation through low-head hydel projects at main canals in Sindh as had been done in Germany and other European countries. The minister for power has also emphasised the need for exploring clean, inexpensive, and environment-friendly, and renewable options for electricity generation including the wind and solar resources so that power generation needs of people could be met in the shortest possible time and best possible manner. She said the Sindh had been actively making progress towards exploiting the abundantly available renewable wind power resource in the province and under this initiative; the province would be able to generate 500-MW electricity through wind energy by March 2013.
In order to encourage investment in power sector the government has offered 20 per cent return on coal projects. In this respect at least one coal-fired power plant would be commissioned by 2015-16 while 19 companies have submitted a bank guarantee of $300,000 with the government for setting up renewable energy project in Sindh.
Source: http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=138788
The initiative is appreciable on the part of KESC yet to NGOs and pressure groups never tired to raise a hue and cry over energy shortage should also comeforward to conceive such projects of renewable energy generation to make easy the life of the fellow citizens in the real life as making headlines denotes gaining for cheap publicity unless something is done to redress the sufferings of the common man.
According to a report, Karachi Electric Supply Company, as part of its fuel diversification, green electricity generation and sustainable development vision, is planning the development of one of the world’s largest Bio Waste to Energy Project of its kind near the Landhi cattle colony situated inKarachi. This plant is likely to have the potential of generating up to 22 MW of electricity fueled from biogas alone.
A localized Biogas plant is a socio-economically sustainable venture and reliable in comparison to wind or solar, which are vulnerable to extraneous variables, biggest being weather conditions. The Landhi Biogas project in Karachi will not only generate up to 22MW of green power but will also be producing up to 300 tons/day (tpd) of organic fertilizer as a meaningful byproduct. This organic fertiliser has special application in place of eroded soil which has lost it’s utility and where standard urea fertilizer won’t be effective. In addition to the above, this eco-friendly energy unit will also earn a significant amount of carbon credits, thereby making this Project economically viable.
Under this sustainable, renewable energy project, up to 4,200 tons of bio-degradable waste will be collected on a daily basis largely from cattle farms in Landhi (feedstock) and organic food waste from industries, food outlets and wholesale markets (co substrates) throughout Karachi. Under the signed memorandum with Karachi Dairy Farmers Association in December last year, the Association would provide 3,500 to 4,000 tons of cattle waste on a daily basis to KESC to be used as feedstock to produce biogas required for electricity generation. This landmark step will facilitate waste collection studies, project implementation and rollout of many socio-economic initiatives in the Landhi area of Karachi.
KESC has also signed an agreement with biogas technology providers M/s Highmark Renewables (HRR Canada) for onsite technical studies (Phase I) leading to project plant design, which now stand completed. During May to July 2011, HRR conducted on-site feasibility analysis using HRR’s patented technology to produce biogas. The initial trial runs have demonstrated that the customized ‘recipe’ and feed plan are feasible, yielding significant amounts of biogas during the trial run. Currently, KESC is moving into the Phase II of the project. This phase entails activities which include land development, and developing, waste collection mechanisms, Gold standard carbon credits, formation of strategic partnerships and financial close.
Furthermore, KESC is looking for ways to engage private and public sector entities for provision of benefits to the residents and workers of the Landhi Cattle Colony. At the moment a ‘social needs assessment’ is in progress and going forward, the project team is looking towards evolving a mechanism to ensure that the benefits can be provided to the society in a sustainable fashion. KESC is looking forward to working with the local / city government and leading national and international NGOs, for developing a mechanism to successfully roll out this and other similar CSR initiatives.
Meanwhile the cap on generation capacity of provincial power plant had been removed under the new national power policy and provinces were now free to set up plants of any capacity to meet their needs. This power devolution infact need to invite private sector to play its due role in combat the most nasty issue of power shortage which had adversely affected socio-economic development across the country resulting in flight of capital to the neighboring countries specially Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, African region and other countries. This potentially dangerous trend could only be stopped through improving the energy as well as law and order situation as both issues scaring away the existing investors but quite sufficient to drive away foreign investment as well. According to provincial minister for power Shazia Marri, the government was considering the production of biogas from sugar mills distilleries. Marri pointed out that Chinese companies were preparing a paper for power generation through low-head hydel projects at main canals in Sindh as had been done in Germany and other European countries. The minister for power has also emphasised the need for exploring clean, inexpensive, and environment-friendly, and renewable options for electricity generation including the wind and solar resources so that power generation needs of people could be met in the shortest possible time and best possible manner. She said the Sindh had been actively making progress towards exploiting the abundantly available renewable wind power resource in the province and under this initiative; the province would be able to generate 500-MW electricity through wind energy by March 2013.
In order to encourage investment in power sector the government has offered 20 per cent return on coal projects. In this respect at least one coal-fired power plant would be commissioned by 2015-16 while 19 companies have submitted a bank guarantee of $300,000 with the government for setting up renewable energy project in Sindh.
Source: http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=138788
