News form the Biogas field:

On this page you will find news and informations about the reserach area and technical utilization as well as energy generation from biogas.

 

 

<h3>Biogas could replace EU natural gas imports </h3>

Biopact received quite a few reactions to their translation of a reportage on a study which shows biogas can replace all EU natural gas imports by 2020. Other media outlets, blogs and content networking tools have picked up on the story. But apparently there is some confusion about what exactly Biopact presented and where to find more precise references.

1. In 2006, the German Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grüne) commissioned a study to analyse the potential of biogas - both biogas obtained from anaerobic digestion as well as synthetic biogas (Bio-SNG) obtained from the gasification of biomass - in Germany and in the EU as a whole. It asked in particular for an analysis of the potential to feed biogas into the natural gas grid on a large scale.

2. This study was conducted by two science institutes: the Öko-Instituts - Institut für angewandte Ökologie (Eco-Institute - Institute for Applied Ecology) and the Institut für Energetik und Umwelt (Institute for Energetics and the Environment), two leading German environmental science organisations, known throughout Europe for their work on renewable energy.

The analysis was published under the title: "Möglichkeiten einer europäischen Biogaseinspeisungsstrategie" ("Possibilities for a European biogas feed in strategy") and presented by the Greens to the Bundestag last year.

The two-part document is available - only in German - in one part from the Green party here [*.pdf].

And in its original two parts from the Öko-Instituts:

"Teilbericht I, Potenziale" [Potential], written by Daniela Thrän, Michael Seiffert, Franziska
Müller-Langer, André Plättner, Alexander Vogel.

"Teilbericht II, ökologische und sozialökonomische Analyse" [Ecological and Socio-Economical Analysis], written by Uwe R. Fritsche, Katja Hünecke, and Klaus Schmidt.

German-speaking Biopact members referred to the original study in an earlier article. As far as we know there is no English translation of the report.

4. Because the original study concluded that biogas has such a large potential, German media picked up on it before the document was formally presented to the Bundestag. ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), a large public service German television channel, made a reportage about the report, for a broad audience. ZDF put this reportage online, and Biopact translated it into English (see here) to augment its earlier article. ZDF's short overview of the findings of the report is not meant as a scientific discussion but merely as a presentation for a non-expert audience. Hence it contains figurative expressions (e.g. "with biogas made from one hectare of energy crops per year, you can travel 70,000 kilometers or two times around the world").

5. After seeing the (translation of) the reportage, English-speaking readers have asked for more info about the potential of using grass species as a (single) substrate for the production of biogas, because that would imply the production of a (gaseous) "cellulosic" biofuel of sorts. Well, here are some good starting points:

Last year, the UK Government's Department of Trade & Industry (DTI, now BERR) published a study under its New and Renewable Energy Programme on grass as a biogas substrate. The potential was assessed on the basis of field trials and result (yields, energy balances, economic feasibility, etc...) presented in an analysis with the following reference:

Lucy Holliday, "Rye grass as an energy crop using biogas technology" [*.pdf], Greenfinch Ltd, prepared for DTI, s.d. [2007]. Executive summary and appendices, here [*.html].

 

A more comprehensive study, covering a wider variety of (herbaceous) energy crops is a PhD dissertation published in 2006:

Annimari Lehtomäki, "Biogas production from energy crops and residues" [*.pdf], Jyväskylä Studies in Biological and Environmental Science, PhD thesis, Jyväskylä University, Finland, 2006.

On the biogas potential of a tropical grass species like sugarcane, see the older paper:

Colen, F. and Pasqual, A., "Sugar cane (Saccharum sp.) juice energetic potential as substrate in UASB reactor", Energia na Agricultura, 2003, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 58-71.

Research on grasses as dedicated energy crops for biogas is ongoing throughout Europe. Earlier we reported on research by the Northsea Bioenergy Partnership into sorghum and sudan grass, by a German university on many different sorghums, by a French development agency turned private company working equally on sorghum (here), and on the DTI study dealing with rye grass (previous post). Practical applications are found in Austria, where smooth meadow-grass (Poa pratensis, known in the U.S. as Kentucky bluegrass) is anaerobically digested and the biogas used as a transport fuel. German researchers and companies are active in India in projects that deal with the conversion of bagasse, the abundant cellulosic residue from sugarcane processing, into biogas with the goal of using it, amongst other purposes, as a transport fuel (earlier post and here and here).

Interestingly, in Austria the world's first grass/biogas based biorefinery is being built. The refinery will use grass as a feedstock for the extraction of amino-acids and lactic-acid, - green platform chemicals used for a variety of products - with the remaining biomass cascading towards becoming a substrate for biogas, and in a final step ending up as an organic fertilizer.

Source: Biopact, 11 January 2008

 


3. NATURAL GASOLINE TAXIS FOR BASEL

 

One year following the launch of its project, 27 natural gasoline

or biogas taxis are on the road in the Swiss region of Basel. The

goal is to build a taxi fleet of about 100 environmentally friendly

vehicles by 2015 to serve the north-western part of Switzerland.

 

The results of a recent study indicate that almost 90% of customers

believe that natural gas taxis are a sensible alternative to regular

taxis. Moreover, 19 taxi companies have already joined the project.

 

To read more:

http://www.iwb.ch/de/erdgas/treibstoff/erdgastaxis.php

 

(Source: IWB, 15 October 2007)

 

4)  Biomass Gasification for Synthesis and Production of Renewable

Automotive Fuels (GASPAR)

 

This project comes under a broader research and development programme

that aims to develop in the medium term an industrial process capable

of transforming any type of biomass into biofuel that can be used

in today's automotive engines, at a competitive cost. The technical

pathway selected is thermochemical conversion by steam.

 

To read more:

http://www.cirad.fr/ur/index.php/biomasse_energie/projets/projets/gaspar

 

(Source: Biofuel Cities Project Database)

 

 

5. VOLVO LAUNCHES BIOFUEL TRUCKS

 

Exhibited in Stockholm, Sweden, for the first time at the end of August, Volvo

Group displayed seven FM trucks equipped with Volvo’s own 9-litre engines that

have been specially modified by the Group’s engineers to illustrate the possibilities

of carbon dioxide-free transport.

 

“Volvo is part of the climate problem, but today we have shown that carbon dioxide-free

transport is a possibility and that we, as a vehicle manufacturer, both can and

will be part for the solution to the climate issue,” says Leif Johansson, CEO

of the Volvo Group.

 

The current shortage of both biomass for the production of renewable fuels, and

finished fuels, does not lead the Volvo Group to view CO2-free transport as a utopian idea. One of the reasons for this are the second generation of renewable

fuels that are produced through gasification and that generate both large volumes

and a greater number of fuels to choose between.

 

The trucks exhibited in Stockholm were operated on the seven following renewable fuels/fuel combinations: biodiesel, biogas, DME, ethanol/methanol, synthetic

diesel, hydrogen gas and biogas.

 

To read more: http://www.biofuel-cities.eu/index.php?id=4022

 

(Source: GAVE-news, Sept 2007/ Transport News Network)

 

 

 

 

 


Global Biogas Events

 

January 2008

European Compost Network: International Workshop 16-17 January 2008, Congress Centre Nuremberg, Germany

Url of Event : www/biogastagung.org

World Future Energy Summit 21-23 January 2008, National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Url of Event: www.wfes08.com

3rd Methanol Markets & Tech 22-23 January 2008, Manama, Bahrain
Url of Event: http://www.cmtevents.com/eventschedule.aspx?ev=080107&

February 2008

Bioenergy World, 7-10 February 2008, Verona Fair Ground, Verona, Italy
Url of Event: www.bioenergy-world.com

Developing and Commercialising Next Generation Biofuels, 12-13 February 2008, Atlantic Kempinski Hotel, Hamburg, Germany

Url of Event: www.agra-net.com/nextgenbiofuels

 

Bioenergy Europe 2008, 18-19 February 2008, London, UK

Url of Event:  www.environmental-finance.com/conferences/2007/BioEur08/intro.htm

 

Energy from Waste, 19- 20 February 2008, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, UK

Url of Event: www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk/conferences

March 2008
CEP Clean Energy Power 2008, 7-9 March 2008, Stuttgart, Germany
Url of Event: www.cep-expo.com

World Biofuels Markets Congress 2008, 12-14 March 2008, Brussels, Belgium
Url of Event:  www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com

 

April 2008

Bioenergy: Challenges and Opportunities, 6-9 April 2008, Guimarães, Portugal

Url of Event: www.cebio.net/bioenergy_challenges_2008

 

June 2008

16th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition 2008, 2-6 June 2008, Feria de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Url of Event: www.conference-biomass.com

 

Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development in Africa

Venue: Nsukka, Nigeria

29th of July � 1st of August 2007

Web: http://www.ncerd-unn.org/renewable07.htm

 

 

Southeast Bioenergy Conference 2007

Venue: Georgia, US

31st of July � 2nd of August 2007

Web: http://www.sebioenergy.org/speakers/WilkieAnn.htm

 

 

2nd ETP Conference on Biogas

Venue: Leipzig, Germany

6th - 8th of August 2007

Web: http://www.german-renewable-energy.com/Renewables/Navigation/Englisch/Service/veranstaltungen,did=205120.html

 

 

5th European Biorefinery Symposium

Venue: Flensburg, Germany

29th � 31st of August 2007

Web: http://www.biorefinery.fh-flensburg.de/

 

 

Bioenergy 2007

Venue: Jyvaskyla, Finland

3rd � 6th of September 2007

Web: http://www.finbioenergy.fi/

 

 

Biogas Trade Conference

Venue: Erfurt, Germany

6th � 9th of September 2007

Web: http://www.narotech.de/uk/besucher_fachtagung_biogas.html

 

 

Gas Conference 2007

Venue: Paris, France

11th � 13th of September 2007

Web: http://www.congresdugaz.fr/uk/index.html

 

 

Biomass-to-Liquids 2007

Venue: Vienna, Austria

12th � 13th of September 2007

Web: http://www.cmtevents.com/eventschedule.aspx?id=98&ev=070940&

 

 

13th European Congress on Biotechnology

Venue: Barcelona, Spain

16th � 19th of September 2007

Web: http://www.ecb13.eu/

 

 

Progress in biogas

Venue: Stuttgart, Germany

19th � 21st of September 2007

Web: http://www.biogas-zentrum.de/ibbk/termine_information_PROGRESS_IN_BIOGAS-09-2007_EN.php

 

 

IBBK International Biogas Study Tour

Venue: Germany & Belgium

24th � 29th of September 2007

Web: http://www.biogas-zentrum.de/ibbk/termine_information_STUDY-EN-09-2007.php

 

 

Africa Biofuels, Conference & Expo

Venue: Durban, South Africa

25th � 27th of September 2007

Web: http://www.africabiofuels.com/

 

 

Energy from biomass and waste

Venue: Pittsburg, US

25th � 27th of September 2007

Web: http://www.ebw-expo.com/

 

 

RENEXPO 2007

Venue: Augsburg, Germany

27th - 30th of September

Language: German

Web: http://www.renexpo.de/de/biogas.html

 

 

7th Annual BioCycle Conference On Renewable Energy From Organics Recycling

Venue: Indianapolis, US

1st � 3rd of October 2007

Web: https://www.jgpress.com/conferences1/archives/_7th_annual_biocycle_conference_on_renewable_energy_from_organics_recycling/001316.html

 

 

11th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium

Venue: Cagliari, Italy

1st � 5th of October 2007

Web: http://www.sardiniasymposium.it/SARDINIA_eng/index_eng.html

 

 

Next Generation Biofuels Markets

Venue: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

4th -5th of October 2007

Web: http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/biofuelsmarkets/documents/NextGenBrochure_002.pdf

 

 

Energy for development 2007

Venue: Beja, Portugal

10th � 12th of October 2007

Web: http://www.energyanddevelopment-2007.net/pages/news.php

 

 

Renewable Raw Materials for Industry: Contribution to Sustainable Chemistry

Venue: Brussels, Belgium

17th � 18th of October 2007

Web: http://www.europoint.eu/events/?rrm

 

 

Biodiesel Congress

Venue: Buenos Aires, Argentina

18th � 19th of October 2007

Web: http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/biofuelsmarkets/documents/ArgentinaESpdf_000.pdf

 

 

2nd Annual Congress on Natural Gas Vehicles

Venue: Berlin, Germany

23rd - 24th of October 2007

Web: http://www.iqpc.com/cgi-bin/templates/document.html?topic=772&event=13715&document=100722

 

 

Asian International Bio Energy Conference & Exhibition

Venue: Beijing, China

29th � 31st of October 2007

Web: http://agenda.bioenergynews.org/index.php/en/2007/10/31/347-biomass-asia-2007

 

 

R & D Seminar on Anaerobic Digestion

Venue: Uppsala, Sweden

30th of October 2007

Web: http://www.compostnetwork.info/calendar/event.php?id=336

 

 

Clean Vehicles and Fuels

Venue: Stockholm, Sweden

7th � 9th of November 2007

Web: http://www.sgc.se/go/display.asp?ID=1095

 

 

20th World Energy Congress

Venue: Rome, Italy

11th � 15th of November 2007

Web: www.rome2007.it

 

 

5th International Expert Congress for Biofuels

Venue: Berlin, Germany

26th � 27th of November 2007

Web: http://www.bioenergie.de/fuels-of-the-future.htm

 

 

Fair and Congress on Alternative, Renewable, Clean and Co-generated Energy

Venue: São Paulo, Brazil

27th � 29th of November 2007

Web: http://www.latinevent.com.br/energias/news/ing/apdivulgacao.htm#home

 

 

Asia Biofuels, Conference and Expo

Venue: Singapore

11th � 13th of December 2007

Web: http://www.asiabiofuels.com/

 

 

Central European Biomass Conference 2008

Venue: Graz, Austria

16th � 19th of January 2008

Web: http://www.biomasseverband.at/biomasse/?cid=24803

 

 

Bioenergy World, Europe 2008

Venue: Verona, Italy

7th � 10th of February 2008

Web: http://www.bioenergy-world.com/europe/2008/

 

 

Intelligent Energy 2008

Venue: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

25th � 27th of February 2008

Web: http://www.intelligentenergyevent.com/page.cfm/Link=1/t=m/goSection=1

 

 

Nordic Biogas Conference 2008

Venue: Malmö, Sweden

5th � 7th of March 2008

Web: http://www.sgc.se/go/display.asp?ID=1119

 

 

World Biofuels Markets Congress

Venue: Brussels, Belgium

12th � 14th of March 2008

Web: http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/biofuelsmarkets/index.html

 

 

World Bioenergy Conference & Exhibition

Venue: Jönköping, Sweden

27th � 29th of May 2008

Web: http://www.elmia.se/worldbioenergy/

 

 

International Gas Union Research Conference

Venue: Paris, France

9th � 10th of October 2008

Web: http://www.igrc2008.com/

 

Central European Biomass Conference 2008
Venue: Graz, Austria
16th – 19th of January 2008
Web: www.biomasseverband.at/biomasse/

 

7th ManagEnergy Annual Conference
Venue: Brussels, Belgium
29th of January – 1st of February 2008
Web: www.eusew.eu/eusew2007/index.cfm


ENVIETECH 2008

Venue: Vienna, Austria
31st of January – 1st of February 2008
Web: www.icc.or.at


Bioenergy World, Europe 2008
Venue: Verona, Italy
7th – 10th of February 2008
Web: www.bioenergy-world.com/europe/2008/


3rd International Solar Cities Congress
Venue: Adelaide, Australia
17th -21st of February 2008
Web: www.solarcitiescongress.com.au


Intelligent Energy 2008
Venue: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
25th – 27th of February 2008
Web: www.intelligentenergyevent.com/page.cfm/Link=1/t=m/goSection=1

Nordic Biogas Conference 2008
Venue: Malmö, Sweden
5th – 7th of March 2008
Web: www.sgc.se/go/display.asp

World Biofuels Markets Congress
Venue: Brussels, Belgium
12th – 14th of March 2008
Web: www.greenpowerconferences.com/biofuelsmarkets/index.html

22nd Annual WEF Conference on Residuals and Biosolids
Venue: Philadelphia, United States
30th of March – 2nd of April 2008
Web: www.wef.org/ConferencesTraining/Conferences/SpecialtyConference/ResidualsandBiosolids.htm

5th European Biorefinery Symposium
Venue: Flensburg, Germany
9th – 11th of April 2008
Web: www.biorefinery.fh-flensburg.de