Biomethane News - CNG Services

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Regulatory Round-UpManaging Director of CNG Services, John Baldwin isChairman of the Renewable Energy Association'sBiogas Group. The following sets out key developmentsin the last few months:• JB attended a Ministerial Round table meeting inJuly hosted by Ministers Greg Barker (DECC) andLord Henley (DEFRA). It was agreed to develop anAD Action Plan which would remove the remainingbarriers to the development of a thriving anaerobicdigester market in the UK. Subsequently Johnwas appointed at Chairman of the ‘Smarter WorkingModels” workstreams that are developing the ADStrategy. This is expected to be published by DECC/DEFRA in May 2011 and will set out how the industryis to move forward.Biomethane NewsServices is the only UK member inCNG the German Energy Agency (DENA)“Biogaspartnership” project. The project aims toform a leading platform for the injection of biogasinto the gas grid. Although Dena’s role is of a neutralfacilitator for the acquisition and preparationof information and its distribution, Germany setsa prime example of the potential of BtG, as shownby the growth of the country’s biomethane market(see graph).• On behalf of the REA, JB has attended a numberof meetings of the Uniform Network Code ReviewGroup 251 to discuss the issues associated withenrichment of biomethane. There is consensusamongst this group (which includes all main gastransporters and gas suppliers) that it is appropriateto add propane, the costs associated with thisshould be taken into account by DECC when thelevel of RHI is set.• Following on from the success of the Didcot andAdnams projects, a 'Green Gas Certificate' schemehas been introduced which will allow the biomethaneenergy that enters the grid to be tracked andallocated properly to any consumers. This will allow,for example, supermarkets to have their food wastemade into biomethane and injected into the grid withan equivalent amount of natural gas taken out ofthe gas grid at a distribution depot and used to deliverfood to stores by fuelling dual fuel CNG/Dieseltrucks. For more information see page 7.• The REA Biogas Group has a Compressed Biomethane(CBM) sub-group and this has made a numberof proposals to DfT (Department for Transport) inorder to promote CBM as a vehicle fuel. Proposalsinclude making CBM duty free, offering 2 RenewableTransport Fuel Certificates and allow a higher GVWfor 3.5te vans that have CBM storage tanks to preventloss of payload (as is approved in the Frenchmarket) without affecting their vehicle categorisation.ReaseheathFarm slurry is a significant contributor to UK methaneemissions. As such, having AD plants on farms isseen as a highly attractive option to prevent methaneemissions and also create renewable energy. However,small individual farm AD plants are often noteconomic.CNG Services have completed a Feasibility Study forReaseheath College as part of a Rural DevelopmentProgramme for England funded project that analysesthe potential of joining farms together into a biogassystem, with a larger plant allowing BtG.The model presented is based on the formation of'clusters' of farms across the Cheshire area. The farmsin each cluster would first transport slurry to a centralAD plant to produce biogas; this would then be pipedto a single clean-up and upgrading facility at a gridinjection point. Not only would harnessing the biogasproduce a clean, renewable source of energy but puttingthe digestate by-product back onto the farmlandwould reduce the need for expensive and environmentallydamaging mineral fertilisers.For details please contact:terry.williamson@cngservices.co.uk
Biomethane for TransportIn the search for alternatives to petrol and diesel forfuelling vehicles, biomethane is making a strongchallenge with an ever increasing range of vans andtrucks. The first natural gas vehicles developed in theUK in the 1990s were petrol vehicles converted to runon natural gas. However, as the gas was 'wet'; this ledto problems both with the vehicles and filling stations.Additionally in the past the CNG storage cylindersmeant that storage space was reduced.In 2010, following from the example set by mainlandEurope, the UK is restarting the CNG industry. Naturalgas has claims to be a safer fuel than diesel or petrolas it is non-toxic and lighter than air so will rise anddisperse if a leak occurs. A gas-fuelled vehicle canreduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 97%,hydrocarbons by 81%, nitrous oxides (NO X) by 86%and particulate matter by 94%. By designing thevehicles from first principles to run CNG, the storagecylinders arehidden underthe floor, withno loss of luggagespace.The UK producesthelargest volumeof renewablemethane (biomethane)in Europe due to the high level of wastesent to landfill sites. The other major source of biogasproduction is at sewage works, such as the YorkshireWater site in Sheffield.Biomethane NewsSheffield City Council and the council’s main recyclingand waste management contractor, Veolia EnvironmentalServices, have launched the country’s largestfleet of gas powered vehicles. This follows the council’ssuccessful six month trial of biomethane fuelledcaddy vans, part of a new initiative to promote ‘green’fuels. The fleet, purchased by Veolia, consists of 10Mercedes-Benz Econic lorries which will be used forrefuse collection across the city. The Econic runs oncompressed natural gas (CNG) which will produceless CO 2than a vehicle that uses fossil based fuels ona 'well to wheel' basis as well as very low emissions ofN0x and particulates.CNG Services supported Sheffield City Council in itssuccessful application to have a grant for a new CNGfilling station which is expected to be in operation bySummer 2011.MB Sprinter CNGThe Mercedes Benz Sprinter van runs on CNG butalso has aback-up petrolcapacity givinga total rangeof 1100km. Ithas a 1.8 litreturbochargedengine and fuelconsumptionof 13km per kgof fuel.VW Caddy EcofuelThis car runs primarily on CNG but has a back-uppetrol capability similar to the Sprinter. It has a 2.0 litreengine and a range of 550km. CO 2emissions per kmare around 20% less for the Ecofuel Caddy than forthe gasoline Caddy. Fuel consumption is around 18kmper kg of fuel.Passat EcofuelDuring September 2010, Volkswagen’s Passat Ecofuelmade its debut in the UK to showcase the drive forbiogas as a renewable vehicle fuel. The car proved popularat the recent Low Carbon Vehicle event at MillbrookProving Ground and made itsfirst TV appearance on BBCLook North and ITV Yorkshireat the launch of the biogasto Compressed Biomethane(CBM) plant in Sheffield. Suchapproval, however, comes asno surprise given the car’scredentials. It is exceptionallyenvironmentally friendly andproduces very little waste.On fossil Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the vehicleemits 119 g CO 2per km, around 20% less than theequivalent performance diesel. On CBM, it produces just20g of CO 2emissions per km on a Well to Wheel basis.Cars powered by biomethane are indistinguishable intheir performance from fossil fuel powered cars.After 5 years of development(2004 – 2009), the CBM-fuelledPassat is now one of Sweden'stop selling low carbon vehicles.With a 1.4 litre engine, twinsuperchargerand turbochargerthe Passat offers high performanceof 0 - 60 mph in 9.5seconds and a range of 400 kmon CBM and a further 400 kmon petrol, so easily matches itsdiesel competitors.
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