Xebec's skid-mounted NGX Solutions M-3200
Xebec Adsorption Inc., a provider of biogas upgrading, natural gas and hydrogen purification solutions for the clean energy market, has been awarded a $2.2 million contract to supply a biogas upgrading plant for a waste to energy project located in South Korea. The order was placed by Potlatch Inc., a Korean developer and operator of renewable energy and fuel cell projects.
Cornerstone Environmental Group, LLC, an environment-focused engineering consultancy, is part of a team that received a 2011 Project of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Rodefeld Landfill BioCNG Vehicle Fuel Project as part of the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP). The award was presented during the 15th Annual LMOP Partner and Project of the Year Awards Ceremony on January 18, 2012, in Baltimore, MD. The project partners include the Dane County Solid Waste Department, Cornerstone Environmental Group, ANGI Energy Systems, Unison Solutions LLC, and Madison Area Technical College.
Surrey's pilot CNG refuse collection truck
“Surrey will have a refuse and recycling fleet by 2014 powered … by a renewable form of natural gas [biomethane] made from the city’s own wastes.”
Surrey, the second largest city in the Canadian province of British Columbia, is implementing a ground-breaking municipal waste management and transportation initiative as part of its sustainable future plans. Their endeavours have been reported on by the New York-based non-profit environmental organization Energy Vision, entitled The City of Surrey: Setting the Pace for Sustainable Transportation, authored by Joanna D. Underwood, President of Energy Vision, and Michael S. Lerner.
“Biomethane is far superior to first generation liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel – Dr Jerry Murphy, ERI
Ground-breaking research into the use of renewable gas at University College Cork’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI) in Ireland has received an EUR 0.25 million (USD 0.318 million) boost for 2012. The initiative which involves minority funding from national natural gas distributor Bord Gáis Networks (BGN) will enable the Institute to develop its research beyond the academic sphere and into industry. ERI and Bord Gáis have recently issued a report entitled “The Future of Renewable Gas in Ireland”, which outlined that the potential resource of renewable gas in Ireland is sufficient to provide for 10% of transport fuel or 40% of natural gas used in houses.
Germany’s 900th compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station is now officially operating, located in the capital city of Berlin, reports Gibgas, an independent consumer portal. Gibgas managing director, Birgit Maria Wöber, says “the currently available infrastructure can provide basic care for the fuel CNG / Natural Gas in Germany”, adding that with reasonable planning the whole of Germany can now be driven using natural gas vehicles. The report adds that 21% of all CNG filling stations offer a natural gas/biomethane mix to varying ratios. 38 stations offer pure biomethane (renewable natural gas) which produces virtually no CO2 emissions.
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Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 Turbo ecoFLEX CNG
1.6 liter CNG Turbo ecoFLEX with 110 kW/150 hp, only 129g/km CO2
530 kilometers CNG range with full seven seat configuration
Following the premier of the new Zafira Tourer at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show (September 2011), Opel will add the new compressed natural gas (CNG) Zafira Tourer in January 2012. The new natural gas ecoFLEX version of the compact monocab will deliver what Opel describes as a best-in-class CNG range of up to 530 km – well beyond the 500 km mark. Like the previous model, the Zafira Tourer features Opel’s monovalentPlus system and has a 14 liter gasoline reserve, giving it an extra 150 km range.
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VW Scirocco - biomethane power on display
After its debut in the 2010 Scirocco R-Cup the 275 hp VW Scirocco GT 24 will again be fielded at the Race of Champions in 2011. The world’s best racers will meet with each other in the biomethane-powered coupé at the Düsseldorf Football Arena on 3 and 4 December. 2011 Formula One world champions Sebastian Vettel is back to do one better, have tasted defeat in 2010 at the hands of U.S. Motocross superstar Travis Pastrana. Pastrana took advantage of the Scirocco’s innovative push-to-pass button which delivers an additional 50 hp for a few seconds, to snatch victory.
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Scania Omnilink NG bus
Nobina AB, supplier of passenger transport to local communities throughout the Nordic Region, has invested over half a billion SEK (USD 74 million) in new biogas fueled regional buses. The buses will be put into service in Skåne and Uppland as of summer 2012. The order from Nobina is Scania AB’s biggest order for gas engines to date and represents a breakthrough for the new generation of gas engines introduced by Scania in the autumn of 2010. Of the 121 buses for Nobina, 109 will be run on biomethane and the rest on biodiesel.
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Steyr Profi 4135 operates on CNG or biomethane.
Under the ‘Steyr’ brand, CNH Global N.V., a worldwide manufacturer of agricultural and construction machinery majority-owned by Fiat S.p.A., has presented what they say is the first production tractor powered by natural gas, at the recent Agritechnica 2011 exhibition. Based on the Profi 6125 model, the new Steyr Profi 4135 Natural Power is equipped with a turbocharged dedicated (mono-fuel) compressed natural gas (CNG) engine, made by Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT), another Fiat group company.
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At the ‘Techno Buzz’ session of the Mobilis 2011 conference held mid-November in Belfort, France, a new natural gas – electric concept car was presented. This vehicle, a partnership between GDF Suez (CRIGEN), FAM Automobiles and France Craft, is said to be the first natural gas / biomethane to electric traction vehicle. Its design can be adapted for use as a pick-up (see image) or to carry four people.
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Bord Gáis headquarters, Cork
“CNG, and then renewable bio-CNG [biomethane], should become an integral part of government energy and transport policy” - John Barry, Managing Director of Bord Gáis Networks
Bord Gáis Éireann (Bord Gáis), a commercial energy supplier owned by the Irish State, has delivered the message that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV) can reduce fuel costs by up to 60% for businesses in Ireland, whilst also significantly reducing vehicle emissions, to over 150 transport and energy industry professionals at a Bord Gáis Networks conference this week. The conference was entitled Natural Gas Vehicles – Fuelling Ireland’s Transport Future.
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In southeast Finland, in the region of Kymenlaasko, biomethane (biogas) produced for transport fuel has been sold for several months through Gasum fueling stations. Demand for the product is high, leading fuel retailer Gasum to consider the possibility of local self-sufficiency in motor fuels. During the first month of sales up to 10 per cent of motorists buying gas have opted for biomethane.
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VW Passat police car refuels with biomethane
Finland-based natural gas importer and retailer Gasum has donated a VW Passat Variant TSI Ecofuel to Finland’s traffic police department for trial as an environmentally friendly vehicle, powered by biomethane. The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications is currently preparing a legislative amendment concerning the selection methods employed in the procurement of public transport and government agency vehicles, with stricter environmental requirements to be taken into consideration in the future. The National Traffic Police regards biogas as an interesting new breakthrough.
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VERBIO AG's biogas plant at Zörbig
Natural gas vehicle drivers in Augsburg graduated on November 1 from 35% biomethane in dispensed fuel to 100%, filling their cars with biogas supplied by VERBIO AG . This saves gas cars 90 percent CO 2 compared to a gasoline vehicle. The biomethane has been included in the fuel mix since May, at municipal utility pumps. The upgrade of fuel also applies to the Stadtwerke Augsburg bus fleet; approximately 100 natural gas buses can now operate virtually CO2-neutral. Natural gas (CNG) as fuel is not only more economical than gasoline or diesel, but also environmentally friendly. With over 1,600 vehicles Augsburg has the greatest density of natural gas vehicles nationwide.
(This article compiled using information from a VERBIO AG press release)
NGVA Europe, the Natural & bio Gas Vehicle Association, has welcomed the recently published Grosch report, prepared by the Belgian MEP and TRAN Committee member in the European Parliament, Mathieu Grosch, which itself “welcomes the 2011 White Paper, but notes that major goals of the 2001 White Paper were reached either only in part or not at all.”
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