German biogas debate heats up

A recent report by German environmental organization NABU has heated up the biogas debate by claiming that biogas systems are always damaging to the environment.

. Photo: Ingo Bartussek/fotolia

Germany's corn-based biogas boom is a an eyesore for some, and the discussion is becoming polemic

The boom in German biogas facilities has led to a boom in corn as an energy crop. In the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, corn could even surpass wheat as the main crop next year. Roughly ten percent of the state's cropland is apparently devoted to corn for energy purposes. The number of biogas facilities is also expected to rise from 420 at the end of 2010 to as much as 600 at the end of this year in that state.
Nonetheless, Germany’s biogas sector has trouble understanding why NABU focuses so much on corn. After all, they argue, wheat is itself a monoculture has roughly the same detrimental effect on biodiversity and the environment as corn monocultures do.

Critics of energy crops counter that adding yet another monoculture does not make things better – the amount of land left up to itself is shrinking. And the amount of bioenergy needed would indeed require large additional plots of land to be covered with energy crops.
Germans are increasingly focusing on the potential conflict between energy crops and food crops, with church groups – who have traditionally supported renewables in Germany – being especially prominent in the debate against energy crops. The debate has now become emotional, and the only way out may be to ensure that bioenergy is used efficiently. For instance, Germany still has no feed-in tariffs for heat. Better use of bio-heat could cool down the discussion a bit. (Dittmar Koop / Craig Morris)
For those who can read German, here is an overview of the texts:
NABU Schleswig-Holstein’s paper
Fachverband Biogas’s response:
Offener Brief an Klaus Dürkop, Landesbeauftragter für Naturschutz in Schleswig-Holstein
Link zur NABU-Stellungnahme

Read More

More About Biogas From blog.paksc.org

Benefits of biogas

Share Benefits of biogas Benefits of biogas The social and economic benefits of domestic biogas for rural household are enormous and diverse. These benefits are to be found in improved health and sanitation, workload reduction, increased agricultural production, reduced use of non-renewable fuels and improved lightning situation. Biogas fuel reduces drudgery on women who have to walk long... 

Tags: Benefits, Benefits of biogas, biogas, Biogas Installation, biogas technology, cooking, Explaining Boigas, fuel

First Biogas Plant for Electricity and Heat Generation

ShareBiogas Plant for Electricity First Biogas Plant for Electricity and Heat Generation by Enovos Luxembourg S.A. in Belgium STRASSEN, Luxembourg, October 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –   Enovos Luxembourg is successfully expanding its activities in the field of renewable energy and takes a share in the Biopower Tongeren N.V. On Monday, 17 October 2011 at the industrial estate “Tongeren... 

Tags: biofuel, biogas, biogas news, biogas plant, Biomethane, electricity, Generation, Heat

Read More

Biogas in general

What does “Biogas” mean?

Biogas is a gaseous mixture composed of methane (40-75 %), carbon dioxide (25-55 %) and trace gases (0-10 %). In anaerobic and dark environment organic material is metabolised by means of microorganisms.

Biogas is also well known as marsh gas, sludge gas, landfill gas or digester gas.
The term “Biogas” concerns the fermentation of waste materials or of renewable materials, respectively. Biogas is generated as a metabolite by methane bacteria.

How can “Biogas” be established?

The degradation of biopolymers to “Biogas” and its components is done in four interdependent steps:

1. Hydrolysis:

In the first step water-insoluble biopolymers are fractionalized into basic monomer modules or in other dissoluble fragments. This reaction is done by facultatively anaerobic microorganisms and disaggregated via exoenzymes. Carbohydrates like starch and cellulose are splitted into low saccharides, fat to glycerine and high fatty acids.
Initially proteins are splitted to poly- and oligopeptides and afterwards to amino acids by the use of peptidases.

2. Acidification:

The acidification takes place at the same time as the hydrolysis step (1st step). The low molecular compounds, which were built in the first step, are implemented in short-chain organic acids, alcohols, H₂ and CO₂.

During this step the facultative anaerobe microorganisms gain energy. 20 % of the total amount of acetic acid is generated.

3. Acetogenesis phase:

In the third step organic acids and alcohols are transformed by obligate H2-building acetogenic microorganisms to acetate/acetic acid, H₂ and CO₂, respectively.

4. Methanogenis phase:

Strictly anaerobic methane bacteria build methane and CO₂ from acetic acid (~ 70 %) as well as from CO₂ and H₂ (~ 30%). For methane bacteria these reactions are an important energysource.

“Biogas” is made of...

Biogenic substrates like liquid manure, sewage, maize, grass, sunflower, biodegradable waste, slaughterhouse waste, vegetable and fruit waste,…..

How can “Biogas” be recycled?

There are various possibilities for the utilisation of “Biogas”.

• electricity generation
• production of heat
• fuel
• supply in natural gas network – can be useful in the future
  

The pros and cons of “Biogas”:

Cons:

• possibly unpleasant odour made of substrates
• Dependence on substrate price (if substrates are bought in addition)
• High capital investment costs

Pros:

• energetic benefit
• reduction of fossil fuels
• reduction of greenhouse gas
• economisation of chemical fertiliser
• increase of plants tolerance
• CO2 neutral energy production
• Environment-friendly
  

sources:

http://www.biogas-netzeinspeisung.at
http://blog.paksc.org/category/technology/biogas-technology/

Read More

Benefits of biogas

Benefits of biogas

Benefits of biogas

 

The social and economic benefits of domestic biogas for rural household are enormous and diverse. These benefits are to be found in improved health and sanitation, workload reduction, increased agricultural production, reduced use of non-renewable fuels and improved lightning situation.
Biogas fuel reduces drudgery on women who have to walk long distances to fetch firewood. And with depleting forests cover – the primary sources of firewood, in many countries women have to walk for long distances, some for over two days, to obtain firewood. Below, we share some of the benefits noted in a baseline survey conducted in Uganda:
The baseline survey done in Uganda showed that rural women spend six hours daily on cooking, more than one and a half hour on firewood collection and another hour on water collection. Because of their multiple roles in the household as well as on the farm and other productive work, women have only 2 hours for social activities while men have over 35 hours in a week for leisure activities (Uganda baseline survey, 2010).
A users’ survey that was done one year later, among biogas users, indicated that the majority of the respondents (61 %) strongly agree that the plant had greatly reduced their work load. Time saved as a result is productively devoted into things like attending community development activities (male (72%) female (65%)), supporting children in their homework (female (54%) male (49%)), making handcrafts (male (31%) female (40%)). Women are able  to participate in home based enterprises (such as sell vegetables from Kitchen gardens, poultry keeping, selling of second hand clothes) to generate additional income, or at least generate income in a way that suits their life and obligations.
Use of biogas energy reduces indoor air pollution hence improvement in health and hygiene standards. This greatly reduces incidences of respiratory illnesses associated with smoke, especially among women and children who are most vulnerable since they spend most time in the kitchen. The Uganda users’ survey indicated that 57% male and 65% female reported improvement in health and hygiene.
Occurrence of diseases (respiratory, diarrhea and eye irritations) decreased by 56%. All the respondents reported that they never had an experience of respiratory complications as a result of the biogas plant. 93.9% didn’t encounter any experiences of eye ailments as an after effect of the plant installation. A significant number of respondents, 20.3% and 22.0% however, still reported prevalence of ailments like cough and headache. Majority of the respondents (96.7%) said they did not experience any fire accident in the last six months by the time of the survey.

Connection of latrines to digesters improved sanitation and reduction in communicable diseases. In most countries where ABPP operates, toilet connection is still emerging. In Ethiopia, around half of the digesters have latrines connected. In Uganda, this is around 10%. Taboo associated with human feaces remains obstacle to connection of latrines to the biogas plants. “When people hear about human feaces, it’s like the worst thing that can ever cross their minds… Others don’t even want to hear about it however much you try to explain to them… Culture can allow but it depends on how someone feels about the bio-toilet (Interview with the biogas promoter in Kapchorwa).

Bio-slurry, an end product in a biogas plant (digester) is used in agriculture as organic fertilizer and in fish farming as fish feed. Bio-slurry use leads to improved agricultural produce, hence improved nutrition and food security. 72% of the surveyed biogas owners in Uganda reported that slurry has effectively fertilized their gardens. 84% reported improved farm productivity and income. Most, 54 % applied it in its liquid form. Composting could further enhance the quality of the slurry but is not yet widely practiced. The majority of the respondents said they used this slurry in their own gardens as compared to only 9 % who said that they sold it for money. Selling bioslurry is however an interesting business potential for farmers and deserves more attention from the programmes.
Most respondents reported to use bio gas in (49 %) for two hours for lighting and 58 % reported to be using it on ironing. This has translated into more children being able to do their home work (56 %) and 51 % were using it for brooder lighting.
Besides the commercial use of bioslurry, biogas saves money as fuel expenditures, and other incidental energy costs, are greatly reduced.
On average, the farmers spent about EUR 40 on lighting and cooking before installation of biogas. This has been drastically reduced to less than EUR 15 per week. The potential for saving fuel is not yet fully used as quite a few (13 %) reported to be only use biogas for cooking while majority of the respondents (87%) reported to be using a combination of biogas and other sources of energy. Biogas stoves were only used as a complementary stove to the traditional stoves and could not fulfill the variety of cooking needs of local women.
Women remain the biggest beneficiaries of biogas, as they are traditionally the ones fetching firewood and cooking. However, a biogas stove is much easier to use and increased the participation of men in cooking. 91% of the households reported that both men and women use biogas for cooking and lighting. 15% of the plants were constructed at female headed households.
http://blog.paksc.org/2011/10/31/benefits-biogas/ 

Tags: Benefits, Benefits of biogas, biogas, Biogas Installation, biogas technology, cooking, Explaining Boigas, fuel animal waste, bio-digester, bio-fertiliser, bio-methane, biogas, biogas plants, cattle, domestic fuel, electricity, KESC, Pakistan Biogas Development Enterprise, PCRT, plants

Read More

Konzen Clean Energy Gets Biogas Plant Contract Worth US$2.5 Million

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Konzen Clean Energy Sdn Bhd (KCE) has been awarded a US$2.5 million (US$1=RM3.03) contract by Indonesia's PT Paramitra Internusa Pratama to set up a biogas plant at its Belian Estate in West Kalimantan by July 2012.

KCE is a BioNexus-status firm facilitated by Malaysian Biotechnology Corp Sdn Bhd (BiotechCorp) while PT Paramitra is a unit of PT SMART Tbk Agribusiness & Food.

In a statement Friday, BiotechCorp's chief executive officer, Datuk Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal, said the initiative by KCE delivered on the agenda for Phase II of the National Biotechnology Policy -- commercialisation of biotechnology.

"It also reflects the maturity and strength of our local biotech firms and their competitiveness in embarking on strategic partnerships for the robust development of the industry," he said.

Under the agreement, KCE will provide the design, supply, engineering, installation, commissioning and project management of the effluent treatment plant, complete with anaerobic digester tanks and state-of-the-art process control system of the biogas plant.

The plant will have sophisticated monitoring equipment that facilitates comprehensive data logging, useful for plant improvements and future research and development work under the ongoing developmental activities of KCE.

Biotechcorp said the technology transfer from KCE for the development of the biogas plant would therefore be relevant far beyond the project itself and would be appreciated by industry in the future.

It said as an alternative to fossil fuels, PT SMART planned to use biogas at this plant produced from its palm oil mill effluent to generate electricity for its palm oil mills, the statement said.

"The surplus supply of the electricity would be directed to the community," it said.

-- BERNAMA

Read More

Using Bio Gas for Public Transportation Video

Peter Unden of SvenskBiogas in Sweden, talks about the benefits of using bio gas for the environment and how much cheaper it is than diesel fuel.

Using Biogas for Public Transportation

Read More

How BioGas Digesters Can work Video

How Bio Gas Digesters Can Sell Energy Back

Host:    Today waste from the farm's animals, which include 1,000 head of cattle flows into 27 large biogas digesters. Together they produce about 2000 cubic meters of gas each day. Some of it is used to cook lunch for Dong Yuan's 300 staff. But most of it is used for another purpose. It's being used to produce electricity. Costing about $162,000 US dollars, engineers here built the first biogas-fuelled electric generator in the province. Capable of producing as much as one million kilowatt hours of electricity each year, Huang Bing Quan estimates he will have paid off his initial investment in just over two years through energy cost savings.Huang Bingquan:    The biogas pits we built solved the pollution problem we had from the wine factory. It provided fuel for our staff canteen, electricity for our factory operation and helped improve the surrounding environment in our community. As a result our costs have dropped
and our profits are higher.

Host:    But Huang thinks his profits can be even higher. Over the next few years he'll be adding 10,000 head of cattle and wants to generate enough electricity to sell to 200,000 people.Huang Bingquan:    I really think this is a good model. You could think of us as a pollution treatment factory that provides energy, protects the environment and offers employment.

Host:    Imagine thousands of large farms with biogas-fuelled generators producing electricity for millions of people. That's the sort of future that the head of China's biogas society hopes for.

Li Jingming:    I am confident that more and more large farms will use biogas to generate electricity for urban and rural residents. I'm sure of it. And all this production will ease local energy scarcities and
broaden the prospects for biogas development throughout China.

Host:    By 2020, China's central government wants 15% of the country's
energy consumption to come from renewable sources like biogas
and even the poorest farmers are being called upon to help reach
the goal. In the village of Fada, Mayor Lu Gui Hong, welcomes a
group of farmers bussed in from a nearby county. The government
is promoting Fada's success as a new socialist village and
educational tours like this are instrumental in encouraging more
farmers to build biogas digesters.

    In Guangxi, there are now three million biogas tanks in operation,
according to the government, making the province the largest
producer of biogas in China if not the world. As each one routes
animal and human waste into biogas digesters they not only
prevent vast amounts of methane from escaping into the
atmosphere but an estimated eight million tons of standard coal
and 13 million tons of firewood from being burned each year,
according to IFAD.

Zhang Mingpei:    Forest coverage in Guangxi is now 70%, which is ranked ahead of all provinces in China. When you visit Guangxi you see trees, green mountains and clean rivers, flowers and birds everywhere. Guangxi is now a beautiful province and biogas has contributed foremost to this.

Host:    As the rainy season begins in West Guangxi, Liu Chun Xian no longer worries about finding dry wood or venturing out in the bad weather. China's central government wants to have 50 million
households, a population the size of France and Germany producing biogas by the end of the decade. It's hard to predict what impact so many farmers might have in reducing China's
greenhouse gas emissions or in generating energy. But for rural families like this one, it's proof of what a simple technology can do to improve lives.

Read More

www.woodsend.org. Company President Will Brinton explains their research findings. | Biogas Video

Informational segment produced for Woods End Laboratories www.woodsend.org. Company President Will Brinton explains their research findings.

Read More

TNs bio-gas project on BBC award shortlist

CHENNAI: An Indian project has been shortlisted as a finalist on BBC World News’ “World Challenge 2011”. A bio-gas project, initiated and managed by social and developmental organisation, Hand in Hand in Mamallapuram, is one of the 12 finalists who will be showcased on the channel at the end of this month, after which the winner will be chosen by an online poll.

Called Trash to Gas, the project is being run in conjunction with Mamallapuram town panchayat, and converts the food waste generated by hotels into bio-gas. This is done through a 100cu m bio-gas plant, which is used to generate electricity through a 12.5 KVA generator specially designed to run on this gas. The project was shortlisted out of 640 international entries, and the only one form India to make it to the finals.

Speaking at a press conference, Chief Operating Officer of Hand in Hand N Amuthasekaran said, “The local body has been very helpful to us; we could not have carried the project forward if not for their cooperation. The project is self- sustainable, and employs 45 people.” He also said that if the project was to be among the first three places, the grant from Shell would enable them to expand operations.

The first place will win a grant of USD 20,000, and two runners up will get USD 10,000 each. When asked if the organisation would think of similar operations in Chennai as well, Krishnamurthi, Solid waste management project head, said, “We can support the corporation by helping spread awareness and share our technical know-how. We are already involved in talks with areas like Sholinganallur, Meenambakkam, Pallikaranai and Chembarambakkam.

Read More

What Moos, Gives Milk, and can Save your Energy Costs?

Yes, cows.The answer to how they do it is in Biogas technology




In Shri Mafi, a small village near Okara, Wazir Ali and his wife religiously feed the ‘digester’ of their biogas plant every day with fresh cow dung. Even if Wazir Ali forgets, his wife cannot, after all her life has been made considerably easier since the ‘plant’ became part of their lives.

Domestic Biogas Plant (Green Circle Organization)

Installation of Community Biogas Plant at Syedanwala (Green Circle Organization)

Wazir Ali is a small farmer with a land holding of 1 acre. He has three cows which help him meet his daily requirements of milk and he supplements his income by selling the additional milk. Before the installation of the biogas plant, his wife made dung cakes from the cow manure and used them as fuel for cooking. All this has changed. Utilizing the five feet space near his cow shed, Wazir Ali had a 3 cubic meter biogas plant installed. Now the manure from his cows is fed into the digester of the plant, and he daily gets a supply of about 3 cubic meter gas. This amount is enough to meet his fuel requirements for cooking and lighting i.e., cooking three times a day and lighting one gas lamp- of luminosity equivalent to a 60-watts electric bulb- for four to six hours. Moreover, after fermentation the digested manure becomes a high quality organic fertilizer which is used in the field.

“The one-time investment of about forty thousand Rupees in the biogas plant has changed the environment in my home. My wife doesn’t have to cook on a wood stove or with dung cakes. Now her chronic cough, which she developed due to inhalation of wood and dung smoke, is also getting better. I put 40 kg of cow manure in the digester and daily get 3 cubic meter gas and 35 kg of good quality fertilizer. As a result, my fertilizer cost has also reduced,” says Wazir Ali.

Biogas technology involves converting unwanted organic waste-from animal and human excreta to crop residue- into usable and environment friendly fuels. The organic matter is fermented in a biogas plant to generate methane gas which can be used as kitchen gas and also as fuel to drive agricultural machinery. Moreover, digested manure or biogas slurry is a high quality organic fertilizer which does not carry pathogens and insect eggs thus providing favorable conditions for sprouting and budding of seeds and seedlings.  In a growing number of countries biogas is becoming a viable alternative energy source. Especially in agro-based countries like Pakistan, an easy and workable method to generate gas is by using cow manure and every small farmer who has one or two cows can benefit from this technology. While China, India and Nepal have made a significant progress in the field of biogas technology, Pakistan still lags behind.

Iftikhar Butt, a retired director of PECRET, tells that in Pakistan work on biogas technology was started by ATDO (Appropriate Technology Development Organization) during the mid 1970s. About 22 plants were installed, but these plants were based on a Chinese model which was not suitable for our environment and there were also workmanship problems, thus the project failed. In 1980, a successful experiment was conducted by adopting an Indian model, with some additional changes in the design. Subsidies were given to small farmers to install 2000 biogas plants all over the country. However, at this stage the government created another organization under the Ministry of Petroleum called Directorate General of Energy Resources, and handed over the project to them. The project was disseminated by the Directorate without need assessment and the plants were installed haphazardly which resulted in a complete failure. This also brought a bad name to biogas technology. “My experience of 32 years proves that there is no technology failure. Problems arise when the plant is not fed properly, or the user is not guided regarding maintenance of the plant,” says Iftikhar Butt.  In 2000, the project was again handed over to ATDO, at that time the name of this organization had changed to PECRET. In a Unicef funded, totally subsidized project, 25 Chinese plants were converted and adapted to our local environment and successfully installed for small farmers.

Embolden by this success, in 2002 PECRET installed about 1800 plants all over Pakistan, however, the major thrust of the project was in the Southern Punjab.  In the second phase of this project, due to complete in June 2009, PECRET will install 2500 more plants all over the country. These plants are subsidized by the government.  The beneficiary (farmer) bears cost of the civil works and the government provides the various components of a biogas system.

Pakistan is the fourth biggest livestock producer in the world and there are more than sixty four lacs small and big farms. Considering these figures, not even one fourth of the potential for biogas has been explored yet. Rana Shafiq, president of the Green Circle Organization, an NGO working on biogas technology, emphasizes the need to widen the scale of this technology. “Biogas plants have not become commercial in Pakistan and this one of the major reasons why this technology has failed to catch up here. In India, these plants are easily available in the market and people can buy them and have them installed on demand. In Pakistan, small farmers are stilly relying on subsidies, but the government cannot possibly give subsidy to every farmer. Moreover, people with ten acres of land holding or more can easily invest in biogas technology and start saving their energy costs immediately, the system can pay for itself in two years,” he remarks.

GCO (Green Circle Organisation) has been working on biogas technology since 1990 and has so far installed 450 plants. Their biggest challenge was the community biogas plant installed at the Syedan Wala farm near in Kasur District. It’s a 70 Cubic meter plant which uses manure of about a hundred cows and meets the energy needs of thirty households. “The plant though technically successful, poses social problems,” says Rana Shafiq, “since thirty families are involved, there is a tendency to pass the buck. As a result the plant is not fed properly and no one takes the entire responsibility.”  The success rate of small and medium sized plants is greater. According to Rana Shafiq, success is guaranteed where women are involved. “In many villages electricity is either not available or is too expensive, kerosene oil is also not cheap. Women normally use wood fuel or dung cakes for cooking. This not only has adverse effect on their health but also blackens the utensils. Biogas provides cheap, clean and harmless fuel and also saves time spent in gathering wood or making dung cakes. Because women are the direct beneficiaries they make extra effort to maintain their biogas plants,” he explains. Currently, GCO has also started a biogas consultancy. The objective is to raise awareness about power generation through biogas technology and provide advisory and consultative services for installing biogas plants. Ran Shafiq feels that it is just a small step, though in the right direction. “We are encouraging the agriculture sector to meet the challenge of energy crisis and exorbitant electricity rates by switching to low cost, environment friendly fuel. However, all over the world biogas is being used in a big way. In Sweden, many dairies are being run entirely on biogas, India uses community biogas plants to supply fuel to many villages, and successful experiments have also been made to use biogas as car fuel.  What we need in Pakistan is a biogas manufacturing company. The government should play a role in financially supporting such a company and provide soft loans to the people for benefiting from this technology,”  he suggests.

In the face of looming energy crisis and increasingly unaffordable electricity, the sustainability of our agricultural sector has become a challenge. There is an urgent need to explore and develop alternative energy sources. Biogas technology, with the added advantage of its simulating impact on the agricultural production, can be one of the environment friendly answers to our energy related problems.

Read More

United Plantations plans more biogas plants

By EDY SARIF

TELUK INTAN: United Plantations Bhd (UP) plans to add more biogas plants in one or two years at its palm oil mills in Malaysia and Indonesia to save energy cost.
Vice-chairman/executive director (corporate affairs) Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen said the company reduced 25% of fossil fuel usage yearly at its Perak plantation by relying on electricity generated from its biogas plant in Teluk Intan.

Lim says in view of the fuel-price volatility, plants will enjoy significant cost-savings as the energy generated will reduce the dependency on fossil fuel.

 

“Currently, we have three biogas plants in the country and they help a lot in terms of cost-savings. Though it is costly to set up a biogas plant, the impact that we receive is really worth it,” he told reporters during a media visit to UP's plant here.
He said the cost of building a biogas plant was about RM7mil and the group had invested RM20mil for its existing three plants.
Meanwhile, Dr Lim Weng Soon, director of Malaysian Palm Oil Board's engineering and processing research division, urged more palm oil mill operators to build biogas plants to boost revenue.
“Mills can use steam or/and electricity generated from the biogas plant for their own use. In view of the fuel-price volatility, plants will enjoy significant cost-savings as the energy generated will reduce the dependency on fossil fuel,” he said.
Under the Palm Oil National Key Economic Area of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), the country is targeting 500 biogas plants by 2020.
Lim said Malaysia was on track to achieve the target. “There are currently 46 in operation, 22 under construction and another 46 in planning stage.”
Lim said the three states with the highest number of plants are Sabah (10), Johor (nine) and Perak (eight). Of the commissioned plants, 18 are generating electricity for their own use.

Independent mill: One of United Plantations Bhd’s three biogas plants.

The biogas plant under the ETP are expected to generate about RM2.9bil in gross national income and create 2,000 jobs by 2020.
In assisting independent millers to fund the development of their biogas plants, an existing Green Technology Fund of RM1.5bil is being set up by the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.

Source:http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/21/business/9740268&sec=business

Read More

Biogas makes big waves in the villages

More and more farmers in Samtse are taking up biogas production.
Under the Bhutan Biogas Project, there are plans to construct about 100 biogas plants in Samtse alone.
Five have been constructed in Tshakaling village under Yoeseltse Geog recently. One of them belongs to Sonam Choden whose daily chore now includes collecting and filling her bio gas plant with cow dung. She learnt how to produce bio gas at a two-week long training organized but the Bhutan Biogas Project with farmers from all the 15 geogs in Samtse.
Biogas production is well suited for rural areas. The major raw material required for its production is cow dung which is available easily in the villages. The process is simple.
All you have to do is “fill the bio gas plant with 3,000 kilograms of cow dung and wait. Within two weeks, the plant will start producing biogas,” explains Sonam Dorji, the livestock production supervisor in Yoeseltse.
“Thereafter, you have to fill the plant with 60 kilograms of dung daily every day to meet your daily requirements.”
Sonam Choden is excited that she “will no longer have to collect firewood or buy LPG gas.”
Money does not come easily in remote villages and the cost of cooking gas is increasing every year. Collecting firewood is as expensive as it is hard.
“We have to pay people to chop the wood and hire a truck which costs a lot of money to transport it from the forest,” said Pema Yudon, another Yoeseltse farmer.
Biogas is therefore being hailed as the answer.
20 more farmers in Yoeseltse will be switching to biogas soon. Some have already started constructing the biogas plants with support from the Bhutan Biogas Project.

Related Posts

Read More

Job Vacancy Saraff Group, Biogas Manager Krabi Oktober 2011

Job Vacancy Saraff Group, Biogas Manager Krabi Oktober 2011



Saraff Group of Companies are a diversified group having interests in Energy, Plastics, Real Estate and Information Technology. We are now seeking a highly qualified, enthusiastic, energetic person to join our team of professionals in the post of Finance Manager. The position will suit a mature professional with experience in large companies. The company culture is friendly but professionally demanding, and the ideal candidate will bring both and energy to the regional expansion of this ambitious group. Prior experience in Professional Services is not mandatory, but the attitude and intelligence to adapt to a new working environment is.

Biogas Manager (Krabi, Thailand)
Krabi

Responsibilities:

• Develops production schedules in conjunction with the Vice President of Production and Operations; plans, directs and assigns duties for manufacturing personnel; schedules and authorizes overtime as necessary to meet production schedules.
• Recruits, hires and trains employees on manufacturing functions; conducts safety orientations and meetings; assures that established policies and procedures are followed.
• Coordinates and responsible for activities of all engineering personnel and outside consultants and/or contractors; develops engineering action plans to guide timely and cost effective development of projects; maintains the system of budget and schedule control.
• Supervises engineering services for preparation and drafting of drawings, schematics, product specifications, bill of materials, operation/service manuals, assembly manuals and other documentation necessary to manufacture new products.
• Prepares and/or reviews engineering change requests; discusses feasibility with product development committee; develops and oversees preparation and implementation of all engineering change notices and document change control.
• Performs other manufacturing duties as required

Requirements:

• Male, Age not over 40 years old.
• Nationality: THAI
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in engineering preferred.
• Experience: 8-10 years experience for Engineering
• Other Qualifications
• Should be proficient in using computers.
• Ability to read, speak and understand English.
• Ability to work well under pressure, high level of initiative

All applicants can apply in person or send application in English including resume with details of work experience, recent photograph, transcript, current and expected salary by e-mail or by post to the following address
Human Resources Department
Saraff Infotech Co.,Ltd.
77/32 Sinn Sathorn Tower 11thFloor,
Krungthonburi Road, Kwaeng Klongtonsai,Khet Klongsarn, Bangkok 10600
Tel. 0-2862-2061-2 ext.163 Fax. 0-2862-2060

Read More

How to make a biogas digestor

biogas digestor

A biogas digester is readily becoming a common sight in rural areas due to its low cost construction and numerous benefits. It uses agricultural wastes, animal wastes, biofuel crops and segregated (even non-segregated municipal wastes, and food wastes) for its operation.
The anaeorbic decomposition process carried out in these plants gives a source of energy that not only reduces green house emissions but improves sanitation as well. Moreover, one also gets a high-quality organic fertilizer in the end (as a waste). The article below gives a simple description of how to carry out a construction of Biogas Digester plant.
Difficulty level
Based on usage, scale and complexity of building a plant, one can classify the different types of Digesters in following categories.
a. Easy: (For first timers. Anyone can do it)
This requires two plastic drums of 1 cubic meter and 0.75 cubic meter capacity. Unlike other plants one does not require cement construction for installing this unit.
b. Moderate: (Requires basic knowledge)
The bigger biogas digester plants with 4 to 6 cubic metre capacity will require 25 to 35 kg of dung on daily basis. Moreover, one should have basic knowledge about plumbing, construction and stone masonry to carry out construction of these units.
c. Moderately Challenging: (May require expertise in few areas)
These are bigger plants with 8 to 15 cubic meter of capacity. A group of skilled and unskilled labor might be needed for installation of these units.
d. Challenging: (Requires considerable experience and expertise)
Installing plats with 20 cubic meter of capacity is a quite a complex job and one should take professional help for design and installation of such units.
Time required
The article below will give details about the easiest type of biogas digester which relies on plastic drums instead of cement construction. The unit could be erected easily in three hours and should not take more than ten hours, even if some issue arises. It becomes productive in less than two weeks.
Estimated cost
The cost at very liberal estimates involving the 2 plastic water tanks, flexible pipe, stable horizontal base, a frame to stop the gas tank rise and inlet and outlet fittings should not cross $ 100.
Instructions
The plant works on the principle of biomethanisation. It is a process in which anaerobic digestion of organic material is carried out by the bacteria. These bacteria decompose organic material (Feedstock) to release methane and carbon dioxide.

1. Select two plastic water tanks (1 and 0.75 cubic meter) so that one could be fitted into another, when there tops are cut open. Out of these two tanks, the bigger tank is the main digester which holds the Feedstock and water mix (Slurry). Smaller tank is placed in an 'upside down position' inside the chamber and serves as a gas holder.
2. An inlet flexible pipe about 300 mm diameter and slightly longer than the height of the tank is needed to be fitted at the bottom side of the bigger tank. This will require minor plumbing and fitting skills. At the top end of this pipe a funnel could be fixed as it serves as an entrance for the feedstock material in the chamber. Make sure that this arrangement is kept loose and not permanent, so that it can act as a purge if required.
3. The effluent outlet is supposed to be built at the upper part of the bigger tank with similar type of pipe. It determines the maximum level mix that can be maintained in the tank.
4. The gas outlet requires a tightly secured fitting at the top of smaller gas tank, and it connects the unit to the gas stove inside the homes.
5. A frame structure has to be built for preventing the gas tank form falling apart in case it is overfilled. One can also put additional weight on upper tank to increase gas pressure build up.
6. Special burners which have a valve arrangement for mixing air with methane are required so that flame remains blue.
7. For starting operation, a slurry of about 20 kg of cattle dung, waste flour or starch and water is required to be feed in via inlet pipe.

Frequently asked questions
Are there any special additives or bacteria required for production? No, it is the bacterial growth inside the tank due to presence of cattle dung which is responsible for Biomethanisation of organic material into methane and carbon dioxide. In less than two weeks the upper tank will raise, indicating the gas build up. If initial tests show that the gas is combustible, one can start adding the high calorie material.
How much of feedstock is required on daily basis?
In the above capacity, 1 to 1.5 kg of mashed feedstock mixed with 10 to 15 liters of water is required to be put in, twice a day.
Apart from using cattle dung and waste flour what else could be used as a feedstock?People can use vegetable residues, waste food, fruit peelings and rotten fruit pulps as feedstock. One can also use rhizomes of banana, non-edible seeds and spoilt grain as a possible feedstock material.

What is the output of such a digester?
A steady supply of gas of around 250 grams per kg of (dry matter) of feed could be achieved with this digester.
Quick tips
It is advisable to break down the larger lumps of waste into a uniform mix before feeding it into the tank, as larger lumps don't decompose easily and would lower the efficiency of the entire plant. For better yield the system should be installed at a warmer place (32 to 37 degree Celsius).
Things to watch out for
Methan along with air forms an explosive mix. So all fire safety norms sould be adhered to, while using this system.The digester area needs to be well ventilated (ideally an open space) to minimize the risks of fire/explosion and asphyxiation.

Source:http://www.ecofriend.com/entry/biogas-digestor/

Read More

Foundation stone laid for major biogas facility in Flanders

Foundation stone laid for major biogas facility in Flanders



This week saw the laying of the foundation stone of what will be the largest biogas plant in the province of Limburg in the Flanders region of Belgium. The Tongeren Oost industrial estate is the home to the new 3-MW facility which will generate enough electricity to meet the demand of 6,500 homes.
Enovos Luxembourg S.A. and its project partners NPG Energy N.V. and Pholpa BVBA celebrated the laying of the foundation stone of the largest biogas plant in the Belgian province of Limburg in the town of Tongeren. A tree was also planted in the presence of Enovos Luxembourg’s CEO, Jean Lucius, and the Mayor of the City of Tongeren, Patrick Dewael, to symbolise that this biogas plant will be 100% carbon neutral. The plant start-up will take place in April 2012.
In August 2011, Enovos Luxembourg S.A. signed the contracts to acquire a 24.9% stake in the biogas plant. For Enovos Luxembourg, this represents the first investment in renewable energy in Belgium. "The participation in the Biopower Tongeren N.V. emphasises Enovos' consistent commitment to the field of renewable energy and we are pleased that with this first project we were able to assert this message on the Belgium market," said Lucius.
Located in a predominantly agricultural area, the biogas plant will mainly ferment corn that is grown in close cooperation with local farmers within a 15-km radius.
The resulting environmentally friendly biogas is converted into electricity via a motor and is then fed into the local power grid. The heat resulting from the process is used to dry the fermentation substrates. These substrates are returned to the fields as low-odour, high-quality fertilisers, thus producing a closed cycle.
"With a capacity of approximately 3 MW, the amount of electricity generated corresponds to the annual consumption of 6,500 households and an annual carbon dioxide reduction of 10,000 tonnes, thus achieving an important step towards further expanding renewable energies," explains Daniel Christnach, Head of Renewable Energies & Cogeneration at Enovos Luxembourg. In cooperation with the project partners, the plant's capacity can optionally be subsequently expanded to 5.6 MW. The building licence for this already exists.
The project developers NPG Energy N.V. and Pholpa BVBA are involved as additional partners in the project company, Biopower Tongeren N.V., each with 47.6% and 27.5% respectively.
As energy supplier on the Luxembourg, German, French and – since 2011 – Belgian energy market, Enovos Luxembourg's mission consists of generating electricity, natural gas and renewable energy for municipal providers, industries and private households. Expressed in numbers, the Enovos Group currently boasts more than 280,000 points of delivery, over 8,700 km of electric lines and more than 3,600 km of gas pipelines.

Read More

First Biogas Plant for Electricity and Heat Generation

First Biogas Plant for Electricity and Heat Generation

Share

Biogas Plant for Electricity

First Biogas Plant for Electricity and Heat Generation by Enovos Luxembourg S.A. in Belgium

STRASSEN, Luxembourg, October 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Enovos Luxembourg is successfully expanding its activities in the field of renewable energy and takes a share in the Biopower Tongeren N.V.
On Monday, 17 October 2011 at the industrial estate “Tongeren Oost” (Tongeren, Belgium), Enovos Luxembourg S.A. and its project partners NPG Energy N.V. and Pholpa BVBA celebrated the first stone ceremony of the largest biogas plant in Limburg. In presence of a.o. Jean Lucius, CEO Enovos Luxembourg S.A. and the Mayor of the City of Tongeren, Patrick Dewael, a tree was planted to symbolise that this biogas plant will be 100% CO2 neutral.
In August 2011, Enovos Luxembourg S.A. signed the contracts to acquire a 24.9% stake in the biogas plant. For Enovos Luxembourg, this represents the first investment in renewable energy in Belgium.
Located in a predominantly agricultural area, the biogas plant will mainly ferment corn that is grown in close cooperation with local farmers within a 15 km radius. The resulting environmentally friendly biogas is converted into electricity via a motor and is then fed into the local power grid. The heat resulting from the process is used to dry the fermentation substrates. These substrates are returned to the fields as low-odour, high-quality fertilisers, thus producing a closed cycle.
“With a capacity of approximately 3 MW, the amount of electricity generated corresponds to the annual consumption of 6,500 households and an annual CO2 reduction of 10,000 tonnes, thus achieving an important step towards further expanding renewable energies,” says Daniel Christnach, Head of Renewable Energies & Cogeneration at Enovos Luxembourg. In cooperation with the project partners, the plant’s capacity can optionally be subsequently expanded to 5.6 MW. The building licence for this already exists.
Jean Lucius, CEO Enovos Luxembourg highlights: “The participation in the Biopower Tongeren N.V. emphasises Enovos’ consistent commitment to the field of renewable energy and we are pleased that with this first project we were able to assert this message on the Belgium market.”

The plant start-up will take place in April 2012.The project developers NPG Energy N.V. and Pholpa BVBA are involved as additional partners in the project company, Biopower Tongeren N.V., each with 47.6% and 27.5% respectively.

Enovos Luxembourg S.A. – Natural gas, electricity and services
As energy supplier on the Luxembourg, German, French and – since 2011 – Belgian energy market, Enovos Luxembourg’s mission consists of generating electricity, natural gas and renewable energy for municipal providers, industries and private households and in delivering it to them.
100% owned by Enovos International S.A., Enovos Luxembourg is a part of the Enovos-International-group.
They are subordinate to Enovos International S.A., which is an operative holding company with its headquarters in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In addition to supplying energy, the parent company also acts as an umbrella for the management of the grid operator, Creos Luxembourg S.A.
Expressed in numbers, the Enovos-International-group currently consists of more than 1,300 employees, more than 280,000 points of delivery, over 8,700 km of electric lines and more than 3,600 km of gas pipelines.
In addition to its traditional core business, the company is expanding its activities mostly in the field of renewable energy.
25.44% of Enovos International S.A. belongs to Luxembourg State, 10.01% belongs to the state-owned investment bank SNCI and 8.00% belongs to the City of Luxembourg. ArcelorMittal owns 23.48%, RWE owns 18.36%, E.ON has 10.00% and Electrabel holds 4.71%.
For more information, please visit: http://www.enovos.eu

Source: http://blog.paksc.org/2011/10/19/biogas-plant-electricity-heat-generation/

Read More

From landfill biogas to transport fuel

Research: From landfill biogas to transport fuel

 

Helsinki -- Within the Academy of Finland’s research programme Sustainable Energy, researchers looked at the use of biogas as a transport fuel. As a joint Finnish-Chilean effort, the researchers studied the upgrading of landfill gas into fuel. “In recent years, interest in using biogas technology in the utilisation of industrial by-products for energy purposes has increased considerably. Some countries have already introduced this technology on a large scale,” says Professor Jukka Rintala, the principal investigator of the project.

Foto: ©Michael Buehrke/Pixelio

Biogas can be produced from many different materials ranging from biodegradable waste to energy crops. “The biogas produced in this process is a versatile source of energy. It can be used for heat and electricity, be processed into vehicle fuel or fed into the natural gas grid. In addition, the residual material, the so-called digestate, from the process can be used as fertilizer or soil conditioner,” Rintala explains.

Methane derived from biogas has been shown to be one of the most suitable candidates for use as biofuel, thanks to its sustainable production chain. Methane also meets the EU’s criteria for sustainable biofuels, which will take effect in a few years’ time. Rintala: “Biogas can be used as a biofuel once its methane content is raised above 95 per cent. In our research, we used water absorption, which yielded a methane content of 80–90 per cent. The rest is carbon dioxide and nitrogen.”

Nitrogen does not cause any damage to car engines, but it does lower the energy content of biogas. “To reach a higher methane content through this process, we should prevent the access of nitrogen in the gas collection system in the landfill. Carbon dioxide does not damage engines either, but it lowers the energy value of biogas,” says Rintala.

Rintala would like to see more research on the effects of process parameters on the costs of biogas upgrading and the effects of pressurisation on compound removal. “As a rule, the only criterion for biomass is that it can be broken down by microbes under oxygen-free conditions. Of course, the composition of feedstocks does affect the composition of the biogas produced and also the chosen method of purification. Landfill gases are generally thought of as being the most difficult ones to upgrade into fuel.” Quelle: Academy of Finland

Read More

Animal Poop Can Make Power

In Maryland farm animal waste could become a source of electricity for people. A state program called the Clean Bay Power project intends to use animal poop as a fuel for creating methane which is burned to spin turbines that generate electricity. The technology is known as a biogas digester. Maryland’s program requires the new proposed biogas digester plant to be able to generate ten megawatts of electricity. The program will also reduce the amount of chicken litter and farm animal manure entering the Chesapeake Bay. Nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients from animal farms get washed into the regional watershed and wind up in the bay where they damage the marine ecology. Oxygen-deprived dead zones in the bay result from excessive amounts of such farm-related chemicals.
“Maryland is leading the nation’s efforts in clean energy and sustainability, and our state’s growing green jobs sector is vital to our ability to create jobs and compete globally in the new economy,” said the state’s governor. (Source: Hometownannapolis.com)
Reducing animal waste entering the bay could also save money because trying to do clean-ups once it is already there is very expensive. The old adage an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure applies in this situation to the tune of about five to ten billion dollars. That is the cost estimate for the state’s proposed program to clean waste from the bay by 2017.
A company called Fibrowatt has indicated an interest in submitting a proposal for a plant. Their design and construction cost is about $300 million. Permitting and construction would require about forty months. This company already has one such facility operating in Minnesota, but it initially showed excessive air pollution from its smokestacks. The problem apparently was fixed, and would actually help improve the design of their next plant it has been reported.
Already about $850,000 has been granted to local farmers for manure-to-power plants by the federal government.
Biogas digesters can capture and burn methane before it enters the atmosphere and methane is a strong contributor to climate change. Another potential benefit of biogas digesters removing animal waste from the environment is the reduction of animal antibiotics in natural watersheds.
Image Credit: Larry Rana

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/animal-poop-can-make-power.html#ixzz1b6hqNBQ5

Read More

Biogas Plant in India Video, Adats: koken op biogas

In de 40dagentijd vraagt Kerk in Actie aandacht voor het werk van Adats in India, een organisatie die zich inzet voor duurzaamheid.

Read More

How to make a biogas filter

How to make a biogas filter

This instructional video shows the steps needed to create a biogas (methane) filter for your digester. Biogas can be concentrated and cleaned for storage using such simple items as a water bottle, steel wool, and baking soda. See them in action in this video.



Biogas Plan

Read More

BACK-YARD BIOGAS IN CHINA By Florita Botts

BACK-YARD BIOGAS IN CHINA

By Florita Botts

Biogas Plant Construction

The cadre described her village of forty-eight families.
“Biogas was introduced in our village four years ago. Up to now forty-four families have built their own individual units for cooking and lighting.”

1980. China

I was deep in the heart of rural Sichuan, sitting in the kitchen of a peasant farmhouse drinking green tea. A smiling young lady of the house was busy unwrapping cookies to offer us while the village cadre talked, and Ho, my interpreter, translated while I took notes.
The cadre, her style of presentation brisk and singsong as though memorized, continued: “By producing and using biogas in our homes we no longer have to burn coal nor kerosene for cooking. And trees need not be cut for firewood.”
I watched our hostess while she lit a burner attached to a rubber tube, inserted it in a gap in her cement stove– the gap for traditional fuels, but now it was for her own homemade biogas. The burner reminded me of my high-school chemistry classes; we’d called them “Bunsen burners.”
“We’ve improved our environment, and improved our health with biogas production.”
Dream words to me. After the countless countries I’ve been sent to, to photograph their trees — forests — being destroyed just for cooking fires: Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, northern Ghana, Mandalay in Burma, Nepal, India… everywhere in the third world, really. And when I was guided through peasants’ homes in Tsuong Ching County, Sichuan, and watched how each individual biogas unit functioned, it was a miracle sight.
The village people were eager to invite me into their ancient whitewashed stone houses and offer tea in their gemlike courtyards with pools of goldfish and flowers, and show off their own biogas cookers.
A handsome couple in classic Sichuan peasant garb posed together for a photo. Man in black velvet cap and matching jacket and trousers, woman in black velvet tunic and trousers, gray hair pulled tightly back in a bun. They stood proudly together at their cooking counter, made of slate, like the floors. The wife held a wok above the lit burner. Burner lit with biogas produced in their back yard.

Read More

Anganwadis, schools to get biogas plants

Anganwadis, schools to get biogas plants

Naina J A,Mangalore, Oct 13, DHNS:

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat is planning to make schools and anganwadis in rural areas self-sufficient in fuel, for preparing mid-day meals by setting up of biogas plants.

The ZP is planning to set up biogas plants in schools, anganwadis and backward class and minority hostels which will convert kitchen and bio degradable waste into cooking gas. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr K N Vijayaprakash said “many schools and anganwadis situated in villages find it difficult to get refilled LPG cylinders due t the delay in the supply by the gas agencies. Biogas plants will reduce the dependence on LPG and firewood. The Zilla Panchayat has earmarked Rs 20,000 for each biogas plant in the district.” The biogas plants will be initially set up in the anganwadi centres at Daddelakadu and Soornadu in Bantwal taluk, hostels run by the department of backward class and minority in Bajpe in Mangalore taluk and Balthila in Bantwal taluk, he said. “This is an attempt to save fuel and popularise non conventional energy in the schools. The biogas produced in the plant can be used for cooking mid-day meals in schools. It will also be used in the kitchens of anganwadis and hostels for preparing food for the children,” he added. “The bio gas plants will also help in maintaining cleanliness in the schools, the anganwadi and hostel premises, as kitchen waste and other bio-degradable waste can be used for the plant. The biodegradable waste like remaining rice and other food, vegetable waste can also be used for producing gas. In fact, a biogas plant with two kg waste can produce sufficient gas to prepare mid-day meals,” he said. The CEO said “I have already given directions to my officials. By December, atleast few biogas plants would be ready in the district. All the government schools will be covered under non conventional energy in a phased manner.” Toilets Dr Vijayaprakash said “at juncture of time when all the 203 Gram Panchayats had won the Nirmal Gram Puraskar award for sanitation, there are several houses which do not have toilets in the district. The Zilla Panchayat is also trying to create ‘Nirmala and swaccha grama’ in all the 368 grama in the district. The district will be made free from open defecation at the earliest,” the CEO said.

Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/197692/anganwadis-schools-get-biogas-plants.html

Read More

Kenya Biogas Video

Kenya Biogas Video

A prison in Kenya goes green, using sustainable systems including biogas produced by waste material, replacing fuelwood.

Read More

SU supports renewable energy Video

SU supports renewable energy Video

SU recently signed an MOU with MicroAfrica group that will see the University support and implement various green based technologies. One of these technologies is the use of Biogas as a source of energy in the home. In Kiambu county, this environment friendly technology is already in use and the residents there shared this story with us...

Read More

First biogas flame lit in dedication

First biogas flame lit in dedication

Bhutan biogas project (BBP) will train people to construct and operate 1,600 plants in Tsirang, Sarpang, Samtse and Chukha from 2011 to 2014

Sarpang Dzongda Kinzang Wangdi inaguarates the first biogas stove

Royal Wedding 13 October, 2011 - When he turned on the gas stove, TP Homagai had already calculated the benefit of switching to biogas for cooking at his home in Dargaythang, Sarpang.

The owner of a biogas plant (six cubic metres in size) says switching to biogas will not only save trees, but also canes cut to make ropes and baskets to carry firewood. “With such a facility, at least two trees will be saved every year, besides other benefits to the environment,” says TP Homagai. “My house can be clean, and my wife and children free from smoke or smoke-related diseases.”
To commemorate the royal wedding, the project team of Bhutan biogas, SNV Netherlands development organisation, and project officials and staff of Tsirang, Chukha, Samtse and Sarpang dzongkhags inaugurated the first flame produced from biogas at Dargaythang, Sarpang, yesterday.
The first flame produced from burning biogas was dedicated to the royal wedding, wishing the royal couple an “evergreen, happy and prosperous life”.
Project manager Dorji Gyeltshen said, through such projects, they would be able to deliver green services to the country, and help remain carbon neutral utilising animal waste. “Such projects not only neutralise the GHG emission-escape of methane from animal waste, but reduce the burden of fuelwood collection, save trees and forest products, minimise utilisation of electricity, LPG gas and other energy resources,” the project director said.
A biogas project costs around Nu 25,000, which, if used and maintained, will last for a minimum period of 25-30 years, according to engineers. To run the stove for three to four hours, the owner has to fill about 20 to 40kg of dung and 20 to 40 litres of water in the biodigester size (4cu m) plant.
Meanwhile, the Bhutan biogas project (BBP) team on a trial basis will train public and private sector people to construct and operate 1,600 biogas plants in the dzongkhags of Tsirang, Sarpang, Samtse and Chukha from 2011 to 2014.
The project has completed constructing six biogas plants in Sarpang, and five in Tsirang as of today.
By Dawa Gyelmo

Read More

Biogas Europe Conference Features Biomethane for Transport

Biogas Europe Conference Features Biomethane for Transport

Biomethane and its applications is a crucial topic for biogas’s future development across Europe. As such it has been accorded a half-day segment at an upcoming Biogaz Europe conference, to be held on October 25-26 in Nantes, France. The afternoon session with start off with an overview of the status of biomethane today in Europe from Andy Bull, Project Co-Ordinator of the IEE project, BioMethane Regions. The French biomethane context for direct injection and for transport will be given by GRDF and the French Natural Gas Vehicle Association (AFGNV).

Case study : Valtra N101 dual-fuel tractor

Additionally, four innovative case studies will exemplify the benefits of biomethane for transport (from Sweden, UK, Austria and France).
Valtra Tractors (SE) : The Valtra N101 dual-fuel tractor has 110 horsepower and is intended as an all-purpose tractor for farms, municipalities and contractors that have the possibility of refuelling with biomethane while working. Without making any changes to the original diesel engine, 70 to 80 percent of power is generated by biomethane. The dual-fuel engine functions like a diesel engine and performs the same whether operating on dual-fuel or just diesel. The gas is injected with the intake air, and combustion occurs when a small amount of diesel fuel is injected into the cylinder. If biomethane is not available, the engine can run completely on diesel fuel.
Adnams Brewery (UK) : Adnams Bio Energy Limited has constructed and is now commissioning a groundbreaking anaerobic digestion (AD) plant, which will be the first in the UK to use brewery and local food waste to produce biomethane for direct injection into the national gas grid (in partnership with British Gas and the National Grid) as well as providing gas for use as a vehicle fuel. In the future the facility will produce enough renewable gas to power the Adnams brewery and run its fleet of lorries, while still leaving up to 60 per cent of the output for injection into the National Grid.
Fuchsn’hof, Austria (AT) : Austria’s first biogas feeding-plant has been operating in Upper Austria since June 2005. This pilot project supplies the existing natural gas grid with biogas up-graded to natural gas quality. Fuchsn’Hof, an existing biogas plant that used biogas for generation of electricity, now serves as a gas production plant. The substrate consists of a mixture of manure from 10,500 hens and 50 breeding pigs.
BioEnergie de la Brie (FR) : BioEnergie de la Brie is a project under development which anticipates to utilise a blend of cattle slurry, vegetable, cheese production wastes and cereal residues to produce and upgrade biogas to biomethane quality for direct injection to the gas grid.
Conference details here.

Source: http://blog.paksc.org/2011/10/13/biogas-europe-conference-features-biomethane-transport/

Read More

Biogas Plant Construction, production Video

Biogas Plant Construction, production Video



Part of film from Humana People to People India's Green Action project in Dausa, Rajasthan, showing the building of a biogas system and the use of the gas.

Read More

Biogas Plant Construction Site Selection

Biogas Plant Construction Site Selection

  Table of Contents

  Construction Site Selection
The following points should be kept in mind when deciding on a site for biogas plant construction.

•   For proper function of the plant, the optimal temperature has to be maintained in the digester.  Therefore, a sunny site should be selected to keep the digester near 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).  This is more important in the higher elevations year-round while generally a concern in the winter only for the lower elevation sites.

• To make plant operation easier and to avoid wastage of raw feedstock the plant must beas close as possible to the feedstock supply (toilet, animal pen, compost pits, etc.) and water source.  If a readily available supply of feedstock or water or both is not available then the biogas plant should not be installed.
•  Gas pipe length should be kept as short as possible.  A longer pipe increases the risk of gas leaks because of the increased number of joints; the cost of a longer pipe is also a factor.  The main gas valve should be opened and closed before and after each use, therefore the plant should be as close as possible to the point of use to facilitate proper operation.
•  The edge of the foundation of the plant should be at least two meters away from any other structures to avoid risk of damage during construction.
•  The plant should be at least 10 meters away from groundwater wells or surface water bodies to protect water from pollution.

5.  Site Layout
After selection of the plant size and site location, the site layout is marked on the ground surface with wooden stakes, rocks, chalk or other materials.  To mark the plant a small peg is stuck in the ground at the planned center of the digester.  A cord the radius of the digester is attached to the peg (length indicated on the drawing under dimension „C‟, Figure 2.1).  The circumference can
be marked by rotating the end of the cord in circular fashion.  A suitable arrangement must then be marked for the inlet tank, inlet-pipe(s), outlet-chamber, compost-pits and gas piping.  After the site layout is marked, the engineer should review the selected location again to ensure the best site has been chosen and will not interfere with other activities normally performed at the planned biogas plant.
6.  Excavation
The pit depth is indicated on Figure 2.1 under dimension ‘E’.  The excavation work should only be started after deciding the location of manhole and outlet tank.  For safety, the pit wal1s should be vertical and stepped from the ground surface by one meter away from the center of the excavation for each meter in depth excavated.

Photo 6.1: Excavation for Digester. Mechanical or Manual Excavation is Practical.

Excavated soil should be placed at least one meter away from the edge of the dig so it does not fall inside the pit during construction.  The pit bottom must be leveled and the earth must be untouched. If the design depth cannot be achieved because of hard rock or high groundwater, the design will need to be modified to a smaller plant or wider digester or combination of both.  It is not recommended to construct the biogas plant at or below the groundwater table elevation.  The earth base of the excavation is then compacted using mechanical or manual tools.

 Table of Contents

Source: http://blog.paksc.org/2011/10/12/construction-site-selection/

Read More

 Selection of Construction Materials, Biogas Plant Construction Manual Fixed-dome Digester

 Table of Contents

If the materials used in the plant construction such as cement, sand, aggregate etc. are not of good quality, the quality of the plant will be poor even if the design and workmanship are excellent.  A brief description regarding the specifications for some of the construction materials is provided below to assist with selection of the best quality materials.  The list of construction materials is given in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1. Biogas Plant Construction Materials

3.1  Cement
The cement to use in the plant construction must be of high quality Portland cement from a brand with a known reputation.  It must be fresh, without lumps and stored in a dry place.  Bags of cement should never be stacked directly on the floor or against the walls to protect the cement from absorbing moisture before use.
3.2  Sand
Sand for construction purpose must be clean.  Dirty sand has a very negative effect on the strength of the structure.  If the sand contains 3% or more impurities by volume, it must be washed.  The quantity of impurities especially mud in the sand can be determined by a simple test using a bottle and clean water.  For the test, the bottle is half-filled with sand, filled with clean water, and then stirred vigorously.  Allow the bottle to sit stationary to allow the sand to settle.  The particles of sand will settle first while mud particles will settle last.  After 20-25 minutes, compare the thickness of the mud layer to the sand inside the bottle are; the percent of mud should be less than 3% of the overall volume.  Course and granular sand can be used for concrete work however fine sand is necessary for plastering work.
3.3  Gravel
Gravel size should not be too big or too small.  Individual gravel diameter should not be greater than 25% of the thickness of concrete product where it is used.  As the slabs and the top of the dome are not greater than 8 cm (3″) thick, gravel should not be larger than 2 cm (0.75″) in size.  Furthermore, the gravel must be clean.  If it is dirty, it should be washed with clean water.
3.4  Water
Water is mainly used for preparing the mortar for masonry, concrete and plastering work.  It is also used to soak bricks/stones before using them.  Water is also used for washing sand and aggregates.  It is advised not to use water from ponds and irrigation canals for these purposes, as t is usually too dirty.  Dirty water has an adverse effect the strength of the structure; hence,
water to be used must be clean.
3.5  Bricks
Bricks must be of the best quality locally available.  When hitting two bricks together, the sound must be crisp or clean.  They must be well baked and regular in shape.  Before use, bricks must be soaked for few minutes in clean water.  This will prevent the bricks from soaking moisture from the mortar after laid in place.
3.6  Cobble Stones
If cobble-sized stones, 7.5-30 cm (3-12”) in diameter are used for masonry work, they must be clean, solid and of good quality.  Cobbles should be washed if they are dirty.

Source : http://blog.paksc.org/2011/10/12/selection-construction-materials-biogas-plant-construction-manual-fixed-dome-digester/ 

Read More

Cuba working with Vietnam on biogas

Cuba working with Vietnam on biogas

The Hanoi-based Biogas Technology Center is setting up two midsize biogas generators in Cuba, official news agency ACN reported.
Larger-scale biogas technology allows to generate electricity with methane from agricultural waste. In 2010, biogas plants helped Cuba save the equivalent of 2,000 tons of oil. The fossil fuel savings will allow Cuba to sell tradable CO2 certificates worth millions of dollars per year.
The two 300-cubic meter plants donated by Vietnam are expected to begin operating before the end of the year. They will be sufficient to provide electricity for a small community, a Cuban expert with Biomas Cuba said during an alternative-energy conference in Las Tunas. The ACN report didn’t say where the two generators are being built.
Vietnam, which established a comprehensive infrastructure at home with 2 million micro-size and thousands of larger digesters, has provided Cuba with biogas know-how since 2003, and the two generators are part of a larger program, Duan Thi Hai, an engineer with the Vietnamese group told the conference. Vietnam has already donated at least four biogas generators in Las Tunas and Matanzas province, according to local newspaper Tiempo 21.
In a project funded by German development aid agency DFG, the Cuban sugar ministry has worked with a German company, Bielefeld-based Biogas Nord GmbH, to set up pilot project biogas plant in 2004 at a sugar mill in Ciego de Ávila province. The methane produced by the biogas plants is used to power the sugar mill’s boiler room. However, no new projects have emerged since for Biogas Nord.
Thirty-one biogas generators are up and running in Las Tunas province, according to Tiempo 21. A dozen biogas plants are operating in Holguín province, according to Granma, and four more biogas plants are under construction there. A total of 19 plants, possibly 21, could be completed by the end of this year, a utility official with the Holguín power company said during the conference. Most of the plants are located at the rural town of Aguas Claras in the eastern province.
Meanwhile, a Holguín power company official said during the conference that another expansion of the Gibara wind farm is being planned. Chinese wind generator manufacturer Goldwind was the supplier for a six-turbine expansion that has just been completed.

 

Read More

Biogas to solve LPG crisis in rural DK

Bantwal: Rural schools, anganwadis and backward class and minority hostels in the Dakshina Kannada (DK) district need not shell out money to get refilled LPG cylinders anymore. DK zilla panchayat plans to set up biogas production plants in schools, anganwadis and backward class and minority hostels which would convert waste into cooking gas.

Many of the rural schools in the district find it difficult to get refilled LPG cylinders due to irregularities in the supply by the gas agencies. Biogas plants will help the schools cut down their dependence on LPG and firewood for cooking and not just save money.

While biogas produced in the plant will be used to cook mid-day meals in schools, it will be used in the kitchens of anganwadis and hostels. The zilla panchayat has already earmarked Rs 20,000 each to set up biogas plants in four centres in the district.

The plants will be initially set up in the anganwadi centres of Daddelakadu and Soornadu in Bantwal taluk, backward class and minority hostels in Bajpe in Mangalore taluk and Balthila in Bantwal taluk.

Total sanitation officer of the district Manjula told press that an agency that quotes a suitable price will be given the task of setting up the biogas plants, which will reduce the burden on rural schools, anganwadis and hostels in several ways. In addition to saving money, it will also help to maintain cleanliness in the schools, the anganwadi and hostel premises as kitchen waste and other bio-degradable waste can be used as a raw material for the plant, she said.

The proposed plants will have the capacity to produce biogas, sufficient for two hours of cooking, with two kilograms of waste. Also power can be generated from the plant with the help of a generator, she said, adding that the work will commence soon.

More rural schools will be chosen where such biogas plants will be set up in near future, she added.

Read More