Sweden
Recent press releases from Greenlane Biogas are clear indicators of a growing desire to harness biogas for fuel:
Sweden
The Swedish Department for Agriculture has proposed that the Government should introduce a new support scheme for production of biomethane. The proposed budget for the five years 2009-2013 is a total of 600 MSEK (more than $US100 million) covering up to 30 % of investments made into facilities using at least 50% manure as the feedstock. The scheme aims to support relatively small scale efforts where the support for each individual company is maximized to around $300,000 (it would thus take at least 325 projects to consume the proposed budget).
USA
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the availability of FY 2008 funds for its Discretionary Clean Fuels Grant Program. The program makes funds available to assist non-attainment or maintenance areas in achieving or maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone or carbon monoxide (CO). The program supports emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies for transit buses and markets for those technologies. In FY 2008, $28,753,000 of Clean Fuels Grant program funding remains available for discretionary awards. For more information visit FTA Web site at:http://www.fta.dot.gov. Final selections will be announced in the Federal Register. Complete proposals must be submitted by July 21, 2008.
NGVA Europe, the new European Association representing the NGV industry, has completed registration formalities and is now operational out of offices in Madrid. Stakeholders represented by the association include suppliers and distributors of natural gas and biomethane, manufacturers of OEM vehicles and components used in vehicles and filling stations, as well as NGV related national Associations and other NGV supporters.
Canada, Calgary
Dynetek Industries Ltd have received approval from U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for their 450 Bar ( 6527 PSI) cylinder for use in Dynetek "BT450" Tube Trailer Systems. These first systems were approved by Transport Canada for operation within Canada in October last year, for the transport of hydrogen.
USA, Boston
With awareness of natural gas vehicles still relatively low, a tipping point could be coming with mainstream media starting to pay more attention to natural gas as a serious alternative to traditional transport fuels. The respected Boston Globe posed the question on the weekend, asking if the US is overlooking natural gas as a fuel alternative. Comparing the US to Europe, the item highlights the success of natural gas vehicles, both from an OEM vehicle production and CNG refueling infrastructure points of view. The item also quotes IANGV Executives, Rich Kolodziej and Dr Jeffrey Seisler. With oil now at $130 + per barrel, we can expect to see more coverage like this in the near future.
(Editor’s note – readers down under may also be interested in this recent television item from Australia’s ABC 7.30 Report, including comment from former IANGV President Ollie Clark)
Thailand, Bangkok
Thailand passed a tax incentive package on 26th May to encourage motorists and truckers to switch from gasoline or diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG) or ethanol as the net crude oil importer seeks to counter soaring oil prices. The package was moved up by two years from an original schedule as the country sees oil prices pushing up inflation and affecting economic growth, cabinet ministers said. "We have to speed up the plan as global oil prices have already exceeded our projected price of $120/barrel for this year," Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee told reporters. U.S. crude was up nearly 40 percent this year, after touching a record high of $135.09 last week.
USA, Arizona
The National Park Service (NPS) has purchased twenty new low-floor compressed natural gas (CNG) powered transit buses to be used as part of the visitor transportation system on the South Rim at Grand Canyon National Park.
These buses will replace the park’s aging diesel and liquid natural gas (LNG) buses. With the addition of these new buses, Grand Canyon’s entire visitor transportation system will become wheelchair accessible and will be operated using a 100 percent dedicated fleet of 29 CNG
powered buses. The first of the new buses arrived on the South Rim April 25; the remaining 19
buses will arrive by June 13.
Industry members who missed out on attending the ANGVA 2007 Conference in Bangkok, Thailand last year now have the opportunity to benefit from the presentations made. Proceedings from the conference can be purchased via download from the ANGVA 2007 website. The purchase price, allowing access to more than 50 presentations, for ANGVA members is $US35 and for non-members is $55.
1st International Exhibition and National Conference on CNG
& Related Industries
Olympic Hotel, Tehran, August 2 – 4 2008
Abstracts invited – 20 June Deadline
The National Iranian
Gas Co. (NIGC) and National Iranian Oil Refinery and Distribution Co. (NIORC)
are organizers for this event, endorsed by IANGV and ANGVA . They are currently inviting interest from
exhibitors and speakers interested in submitting abstracts for presentation at
the conference. For more information please see www.cngiranconf.com.
USA
Japan has decided to pursue joint research and development on methane hydrate with the US, aiming to commercialize it as an energy source by 2018. By sharing their findings, Japan and the US aim to accelerate research and development efforts and establish a global standard for production technology. The two governments already have begun working-level talks, and are expected to reach a final agreement by this summer.
USA, Las Vegas
NGVAmerica and a number of its NGV equipment and service suppliers participated in the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute’s (AFVi) Annual Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference-Expo last week in Las Vegas. Highlights included:
USA
The US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has published a solicitation announcing the availability of $28.7 million in federal funding for clean fuel bus programs. Natural gas buses (as well as infrastructure improvements to support natural gas buses) qualify for funding under this program. The funding awarded under this program goes to transit agencies that operate clean fuel buses located in non-attainment or maintenance areas. Vehicles other than buses also may be purchased under this program as long as they are revenue producing vehicles.
Canada
Enbridge Gas Distribution’s NGV fleet is profiled in the Spring 2008 edition of CGA’s Canadian Natural Gas Magazine. Three quarters of Enbridge’s fleet is capable of operating on natural gas and, at a $3.78 per gallon gasoline and natural gas selling at 48 percent of natural gas utilization rate, the company estimates annual fuel savings at $916,000. Fleet and Equipment Manager Evelyn Thompson will present the Enbridge success story at this year’s Canadian Utility Fleet Forum on June 1-3 in Richmond, BC. (Link to magazine is at http://www.cga.ca. Article is on page 15.)
USA, Long Beach CA
The City of Long Beach, California has announced the renewal of its contract for the provision of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from Applied LNG Technologies, LLC, a subsidiary of Earth Biofuels, Inc. The city utilizes LNG as transportation fuel for its municipal fleet of approximately 200 natural gas-powered vehicles, with weekly fuel consumption of approximately 10,000 gallons. “We are pleased to continue the relationship with ALT,” stated Erik Sund, purchasing agent for the City of Long Beach. “ALT has provided LNG to Long Beach since 2003 and this contract renewal ensures that our city will continue to utilize clean burning, domestically produced fuel for our fleet vehicles.”
IANGV SPONSORS
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