Cedar Road Bioenergy is the first user of the double membrane gas storage technology for landfills in BC. The new standalone gas holder will hold 1180m3 of landfill gas. This will help to run the two generators of this facility with full power during on peak time. The gasholder will also act as a buffer to compensate for fluctuations in the supply of landfill gas. It took only three days to install the gasholder thanks to the great preparations of Cedar Road Bioenergy.We hope to hear soon from the efficiency improvements of the facility. Cedar Road Bioenergy can produce up to 1.4MW of clean energy from landfill gas for BC Hydro.
Methane (CH4) is a very potent and important greenhouse gas (GHG). Emitted into the atmosphere, its global warming potential is 25 times that of CO2 and a 12-year atmospheric life time. Reducing methane emissions to stop global warming is therefore key and main objective of the Global Methane Initiative (GMI). The initiative estimates that 40% of today’s anthropogenic methane emissions come from agriculture, coal mining, landfills and natural gas and oil systems. Targeted by the Global Methane Initiative, recovered methane can help to avoid the use of pollutant-intensive energy resources such as coal and oil as well and help spur local economic development. A good overview of methane as a clean energy source and more information on its utilization can be found at globalmethane.org.
Fortunately, numerous cost-effective technologies for the collection, capturing, storage and utilization of methane already exist today. Greentech Avenue and technology partner work collaboratively to facilitate methane capture and use projects internationally. More information on low cost methane storage technologies such as gasholder, storage ponds or tank cover membranes can be found at our website.
In 2013, the GMI will be hosting The Methane Expo in Vancouver, Canada. During the week of 11 March 2013 at the Vancouver Convention Centre and after 2007 in Beijing, 2010 in New Delhi this event will bring together people from all over the world. More information on this event and how to get involved, please find at the expo website.
Taking place in Portland, OR the 26th Annual BioCycle West Coast Conference 2012 provided excellent insights and networking opportunities on composting, organics recycling and renewable energy. More than 65 exhibitors addressed sustainability topics like rapid composting, AD/biogas, bio fertilizer or biosolid management. Next to the trade show, excellent speakers and industry leader presented over 90 conference sessions and workshops. The show also integrated site tours to the Metro’s Central Solid Waste Transfer Station, operated by Recology Oregon Recovery, Inc.; Pacific Region Compost (PRC), owned by Republic Industries; and the dairy manure digester at Lochmead Farms, Inc. close to Junction City. This conference is a must-see event for decision maker in waste diversion management and organized by Biocycle, a magazine on composting, organics recycling, anaerobic digestion and renewable energy and published since 1960. We also liked the micro breweries and the city center, which from our perspective was definitely worth the trip. As a small token of memory we found this nice picture on the web.
After the 2-year review of the Ontario Feedin Tariffs, the Ontario Power Authority announced no changes for biogas feed in tariffs. While solar and wind feed-in tariffs were decreased, the biogas rates stayed about the same. Current rates are expected to be for on farm biogas at 19.5ct/kWh for installations of smaller than 100kW and 18.5ct/kWh for installations of 100kW to 250kW. Biogas projects smaller than 500kW are paid at 16ct/kWh while sizes from 500kW to 10MW are compensated with 14.7ct/kW. Large Biogas projects of more than 10MW will receive 10.4ct/kWh. Landfill biogas plants smaller than 10MW receive 11.1ct/kW and larger than 10MW are compensated by 10.3ct/kWh.
All biogas projects receive a 50% escalation percentage based on the Consumer Price Index, which will be applied to eligible Renewable Fuels. Criteria for FIT price adders are aboriginal and community involvement and incentivized from 0,4 to 0,6Ct/kWh. Further information can be found at the site of the Ontario Power Authority. The only scenario estimation which we found on the web was prepared by the APAO, see picture. The APAO also has interesting biogas projects in Ontario.
3rd Annual First Nations Renewable Energy Symposium, Victoria, February 15-16, 2012
The University of Victoria’s Office of Indigenous Affairs in partnership with the T’Sou-ke Nation, BC Hydro and Fortis BC presented the third annual First Nations Renewable Energy Symposium, “emPowering First Nations,” at First Peoples House on the UVic campus.
The two-day gathering of community leaders, Aboriginal students and youth, the energy industry, government and academia integrated feast and cultural celebration. Speakers, presenters and panelists from across British Columbia discussed the sustainability philosophies and solutions underway by BC First Nations. The forum showcased community energy projects within British Columbia and offered an excellent learning and networking opportunity with local First Nation representatives and communities.
Speaking for Greentech Avenue, Aqua Libre and Smart Hydro Power, we would like to thank the University of Victoria’s Office of Indigenous Affairs for the invitation and excellent organization of this event, making it a valuable experience for exchange of ideas and the development of new relationships.
The 14th Annual Pacific Agriculture Show, January 26-28, 2012
Greentech Ave went to this year’s Pacific Agricultural Show in Abbotsford to see how the agricultural sector is progressing with the biogas utilization. The Pacific Agriculture Show is the largest and most important agriculture exhibition in B.C. The Show attracts over 7,500 attendees from all the livestock and horticulture sectors across the Pacific Northwest. The Show is incredibly popular amongst producers and farmers. In 2011, the Pacific Agriculture Show added the Renewable Agri-energy Forum to its already impressive repertoire. This Forum provides farmers, producers and all other attendees with the opportunity to learn more about renewable energy technologies.
This year’s show introduced the initiative Cowpower a not-for-profit that provides British Columbians with a unique opportunity to support on-farm renewable energy production in BC, while also increasing their environmental sustainability. This is achieved by supporting BC farmers to build anaerobic digesters that convert organic waste into renewable energy.
“GLOBE 2012 will be the 12th event in one of the world’s largest and longest-running event series dedicated to business and the environment. Every two years, the world gathers in Vancouver for three days of thought-leading sessions presented by world-renowned sustainability experts, for the opportunity to see leading-edge environmental innovations, and to participate in unparalleled global networking opportunities.
Business leaders, corporate executives, NGOs, and government policymakers from around the world will meet in Vancouver, March 14-16, 2012 to explore corporate sustainability and competitiveness, clean energy, climate change, sustainability in finance, and greener cities. A number of special sessions will also be offered addressing water, global emissions management, and greening the retail sector.”
Located in Vancouver, the team of Greentech Avenue will be attending the Globe 2012 as well. Supporting our European technology supplier and Canadian collaboration network partner and clients, we’re happy to support your organization in becoming and taking part in this event as well. Please do not hesitate to contact us at info@greentechavenue.com anytime.
The Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce organized the „2nd Canadian German Conference on Bioenergy” in Guelph, Ontario. At this year’s conference attended various Canadian and German companies working in the bioenergy sector as well as several industry experts from associations and clean energy clusters. More than 110 representatives from the bioenergy industry, research and governmental institutions joined the one-day conference to discuss current challenges and opportunities for technology providers, developers and end-users. The conference allowed Canadian and German bioenergy experts to discuss and present leading technologies and new approaches. The Speakers on this conference were from the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Eclareon, German Bioenergy Association, Canadian Bioenergy Association, Ulmo Verfahrenstechnik Beteiligung, GFA Envest, Farm Credit Canada, German Biogas Association, AgriEnergy Producers’ Association of Ontario, Biogas Weser-Ems, Wackerbauer Umwelttechnik, EnviTec Biogas, MT-Energie, Dynergy Biogas Solutions, 2G Energietechnik.
Source: German-Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Speaking for Greentech Avenue, we would like to thank the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce for the invitation and excellent organization of this event, making it a valuable experience and location for exchange of new ideas and contacts.
Through a road trip, Green Tech Avenue explored the opportunities in the adjacent province, Alberta. In Alberta we explored technologies presented at the Global Clean Energy Conference in Calgary.
After all, we have seen similar trends in Alberta as in BC: although not mandated, renewable energies become a growing trend, too. We have seen the electric car testing program of Enmax recognized new bio refinery projects such as the one of biorefinex and heard about the Lethbridge Biogas Project. We also met with Alberta Innovates Technology Future and talked about latest R&D initiatives in Biogas Technology. After a day at the conference we moved north to Edmonton and had a chat with Edmonton Waste Management Center of Excellence. which gave us a good understanding about their technology development program. This centre and attached members is definitely worth a visit and offers technology development, research, education and advisory services – a world class facility and maybe unique in Canada.
Moving on, we also saw the landfill in Edmonton, which was one of the most advanced landfills in Canada with regards to Waste Management, eg the composting facility. EPCOR and the city of Edmonton are also currently working with Enerkem to build the first waste to syngas to ethanol plant. In the aftermath, we met with the recycling council of Alberta to get a better understanding about current challenges of municipalities in Alberta.
After all, it’s been a great trip, which also gave us a good impression of the countryside, environment, technology and people.
Increasing world population, overfished oceans and the growing demand for fish are the driver for innovative and sustainable concepts in aquaculture. Double-digit growth-rates can be found especially in Asia, where market economics demand more and bigger fish production units as well as circuit technologies to sustain the sensitive life conditions needed by most marine animals. BC is well positioned to supply this need based on a strong industry and world-renowned for its remarkable fish products.
Hatcheries, society and industry recognize the need for sustainable fish populations and new aquaculture technologies are required to maintain declining number and volume of various local fish species and other marine animals threatened by e.g. climate change and human impact. However, this increased need for hatcheries will result in a rising energy consumption. In order to cope with the increased energy demand, energy efficiency technologies and renewable energies can be applied.
One example and a promising and energy-saving approach is the usage of waste-heat, e.g. biogas from agricultural residue and used for close-loop circuit fish farms or land based hatcheries. In moving up the value chain, farmers moved to bio energy farmers and transform now to bio energy based fish farmers using excess waste heat for the production of land based, qualitative fish species for e.g. export purposes.
While in earlier years many biogas developers couldn’t find a compelling waste heat sink or buyer of excess of waste heat close to their plant, the energy intense fish production offers a new revenue stream and business opportunity to the biogas industry. Biogas Technology based on wastewater and Aquaculture requiring constant heat source is therefore – a good fit. In producing warm water fish species (20-260) such as walleye, bass, barramundi or catfish, endangered cold water fish species can further be spared.
The development of closed-loop circuit technologies and its interplay with various forms of renewable energy may therefore be given more attention and may be one pathway and precondition to support the local fish industry and keep it viable long-term.
Reconditioning, recovery and filtration of polluted water are energy intense processes and important to closed loop fish farms with no access to rivers. Maintaining large amounts of water at certain temperature and quality levels is key to the upbringing of many fish populations and breeding success of diminishing species. Innovative technology is needed to use water and fish feed economically and maintain a competitive cost level.
Forums, conferences and tradeshows where such kind of innovative concepts can be found, are GoFishBC or the Aqualliance, Eurotier or Fish International.