____________________________________________________

Fuel Grade Ethanol
www.FuelGradeEthanol.com

What is Fuel Grade Ethanol?

Fuel Grade Ethanol starts out as pure ethyl-alcohol, also referred to as E100 Ethanol, but to be used as a fuel, a small amount of gasoline is added to the E100 Ethanol, to make it unsuitable for human consumption. 

The amount of gasoline that must be added to the pure ethyl-alcohol for it to become Fuel Grade Ethanol is usually defined defined by each state that the ethyl-alcohol is produce.  Many states have adopted a 1.97% to 2% gasoline by volume for the Fuel Grade Ethanol to be sold in that state as a transportation fuel.

What is E100 Ethanol?

E100 Ethanol, also referred to as ethyl-alcohol, and is the fuel of champions that will help our country become energy independent!  E100 Ethanol has been used as the fuel for the recent Indianapolis 500 races. Did you know that all of the race cars at the Indy 500 car race are fueled with E100 Ethanol?

E100 Ethanol is 100% ethanol that can be produced from a wide variety of biomass feedstock, including, sugar cane, sugar beets, and other biomass materials and waste-streams including cellulosic biomass feedstock that is commonly referred to as "cellulosic ethanol."  

Our company designs and builds optimized E100 Ethanol plants we refer to as a Modular Ethanol Plant.  Our modular ethanol plants are pre-engineered and pre-assembled ethanol plants that save our customers a significant amount of money over the typical ethanol plant.  We specialize in "waste to ethanol" projects that take various waste-streams such as Bakery Waste and Brewery Waste which is then converted into 
E100 Ethanol.

We develop, own, operate and maintain Fuel Grade Ethanol plants, including "Waste To Ethanol" plants that produce E100 Ethanol featuring the Modular Ethanol Plant.

We specialize in clean power generation systems.  These may include our natural gas engines or diesel engines that are packaged in either "cogeneration" or "trigeneration" configuration, that are fueled with Biomethane, B100 Biodiesel, E100 Ethanol or Synthesis Gas.  Our cogeneration and trigeneration power plants are about 90% efficient, and when fueled with renewable fuel, are carbon neutral, producing no greenhouse gas emissions and the optimum solution for clients seeking to reduce their energy expenses and greenhouse gas emissions.

Our company or its' affiliate companies also provide engineering, legal, finance, power purchase agreements, energy service agreements and greenhouse gas emissions consulting services for clients whose projects are located in the U.S.,  Canada, the Caribbean and Central/South America.

____________________________________________________

Ethyl-Alcohol
www.Ethyl-Alcohol.com

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We provide "vendor-neutral" renewable energy engineering and project development services.  We will soon be packaging our own cogeneration plants and trigeneration plants - all of which can be fueled with any renewable fuel, including;  B100 Biodiesel, Biomethane, E100Ethanol, Renewable Natural Gas, Synthesis Gas produced from our Anaerobic Digesters, Biogas Plants, Biomass Gasification plants, Plasma Gasification Plants, and other waste to energy and waste to fuel technologies.  It all starts with our Biomass Feasibility study, led by an engineer with a Ph.D. in agricultural engineering and over 30 years experience in waste to energy and waste to fuel solutions or an engineer with a Ph.D. in Thermodynamics and 25 years expertise in cogeneration and waste heat recovery.

We offer the following products, services and consulting services: 

• Anaerobic Digesters

• B100 Biodiesel sales

• Biodiesel Plants

• Biogas Plants

• Biogas to Biomethane

• Biomass Gasification

• Biomethane 

• Carbon Dioxide Emissions Consulting

• Carbon Emissions Consulting & Solutions

• Carbon Free Energy

• Clean Energy Parks

• Clean Power Generation

• Cogeneration Plants

• Concentrating Solar Power

• Decentralized Energy

• Demand Side Management

• Distributed Generation

• Geothermal Power Plants 

• Ground Source Heat Pumps

• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

• Onsite Power Generation

• Natural Wastewater Treatment Plants 

• Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells

• Plasma Gasification 

• Pollution Free Power

• Renewable Energy Centers

• Renewable Energy Parks

• Solar Cogeneration

• Solar Desalination

• Solar Trigeneration

• Synthesis Gas

• Thin Film Photovoltaics

• Trigeneration

• Waste To Energy 

• Waste to Fuel 

• Wind Farm Development

• Wind Power Generation

Waste to Energy Solutions and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Services

About Us

We provide our clients with comprehensive "waste to energy" solutions. This includes our in-house engineering services - and assists our clients understand their best path forward through our engineering and feedstock feasibility and economic analysis. Once our clients and our company understands the specific needs, requirements and goals of our clients, we can then optimize the waste to energy solution, that might include one or more of our products and services, including; anaerobic digester, biomass gasification plant, cogeneration plant, natural wastewater treatment plant, trigeneration plant or other waste to energy or waste to fuel solution. 

begin most and assist our commercial and industrial clients by providing recommendations and strategies for helping them reduce their carbon emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, greenhouse gas emissions and keep informed of current laws and pending legislation relating to climate change, global warming and how they can prepare for Cap and Trade.  See our website at:  www.CapAndTrade.net  for more information on Cap and Trade issues, pending legislation and preparing for federal laws and compliance.

Our clients benefit from our extensive experience and knowledge of issues relating to renewable energy, environmental and sustainability issues as well as implementing real world solutions that accomplish our client's goals and objectives.

We have been providing products, consulting services, information, education and solutions for reducing: 

Carbon Emissions (www.CarbonEmissions.com)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions (www.CarbonDioxideEmissions.com)

and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (www.GreenhouseGasEmissions.com) 

since 2003.

No company is better prepared to help their clients in meeting these legal and environmental challenges with proven solutions that help save money through significantly lower energy expenses while simultaneously reducing or eliminating their Greenhouse Gas Emissions, or eliminating them entirely, than us!  We are the pioneers of "Carbon Free Energy," "Pollution Free Power" and "Clean Power Generation" strategies and solutions that can completely eliminate your company's Greenhouse Gas Emissions.  Our solutions and strategies provide our customers with an integrated approach to today's climate challenges with real world solutions that solve these problems, while reducing energy expenses.

Our solutions include: 

We turn your waste into green power and energy!  Stop "Wasting Waste!"

Biomass Gasification Engineering and Feedstock Feasibility Studies
Turnkey Biomass Gasification plants
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessment
Greenhouse Gas Emissions 
Carbon Footprint verification
Sustainability Assessment 
Automated Demand Response
Biomass Gasification
Carbon Free Energy
Cogeneration plants
Demand Side Management
Pollution Free Power
Clean Power Generation
Renewable Energy Technologies
Solar Cogeneration
Solar Desalination
Solar Detoxification
Solar Trigeneration
Trigeneration plants


Frequently Asked Questions

How does our company receive credit for our early actions at reducing our Greenhouse Gas Emissions? 

Before taking action independently, companies should first contact us so that we can help them establish a Greenhouse Gas Emissions "inventory" which we can provide as a qualified third-party. 

What is the generally accepted format for sustainability reports?

At present, most companies are using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) protocols as this provides for the "triple bottom line" reporting which includes social, economic and environmental performance measurements. We also line to include in our triple bottom line "people, planet and profit."

What are the benefits of verifying your company's Greenhouse Gas Emissions? 

1.  Satisfies regulatory compliance regulations as well as accounting regulations relating to accuracy in reporting to customers, stockholders and other company stakeholders.

2.  Prepare for present and future regulatory compliance - Cap and Trade is coming!

3.  Establishes a present-day baseline for receiving future Greenhouse Gas Emissions Credits when your company begins taking action to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 

4.  Provides a blueprint and strategy for knowing how, where and when to begin reducing your company's Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

We also help clients with tax credits when they use renewable energy technologies
such as the Synthesis Gas produced from Biomass Gasification plants.

Section 45 Tax Credits
Renewable Energy Tax Credits

Our renewable energy project development expertise has made us a leading authority of helping our clients with Section 45 Tax Credits.  Our company and our attorneys are skilled in the areas of renewable energy project finance and tax issues relating to renewable energy projects. We are able to assist our clients in connection with Section 45 tax credit project finance.

Our experience in Section 45 tax credits has helped us structure optimal renewable energy project solutions that match our clients unique economic and tax goals and requirements, which include regulatory constraints and regulatory compliance for most any state. 

Section 45 tax credits generate $.021 cents per kwh of electricity produced by the taxpayer and sold to an unrelated person or company. Section 45 tax credits are available for renewable electricity produced from certain renewable energy projects including, closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal power plants, solar energy, small irrigation power, municipal solid waste, and qualified hydro power production, refined coal and wind power generation.

See one of our following sites at: 

www.Section45TaxCredits.com   or  www.RenewableEnergyTaxCredits.com  

Call/email us for more information

Moving forward with us - next steps

Typically, we are engaged by new clients after they have identified renewable energy or renewable fuel opportunity.  We require an initial retainer from new clients. The amount of the retainer is based upon the number of hours and resources for the specific project.  Our Phase I feasibility studies are led by a licensed professional engineer that holds a Ph.D. in engineering along with significant experience in biomass, renewable energy and waste to energy technologies. 

After completing the engineering feasibility and economic study, we are then able to move forward with the EPC (Engineering-Procurement-Construction) project development and would provide several of the key project management team members.

Our specialty is both both cogeneration and trigeneration energy systems. There is probably not a better, more cost-effective "demand side management" method for reducing the energy expenses for commercial businesses than your own cogeneration and trigeneration energy system fueled with one of the following renewable energy fuels: 

Biomethane

B100 Biodiesel 

E100 Ethanol (fueled with Sugar Cane Ethanol - NOT corn ethanol) 

or 

Synthesis Gas.

We  develop, sell and install cogeneration and trigeneration energy systems that approach 100% net system efficiency. This means our energy systems utilize nearly 100% of the fuel in the form of power (electricity) and hot water and/or steam with our cogeneration energy systems and cooling, heating and power (electricity) with our trigeneration energy systems - that our customers use "onsite" in their buildings, restaurants, health clubs, hotels, casinos, office buildings, hospitals and many other types of commercial buildings, facilities and plants.  

For qualified clients, we will build-design-finance-own-operate and maintain our cogeneration or trigeneration energy systems.

What is "Trigeneration"?

Trigeneration is the simultaneous production of three forms of energy - typically, Cooling, Heating and Power - from only one fuel input. Put another way, our trigeneration power plants produce three different types of energy for the price of one.  

Our company's trigeneration energy systems reach overall system efficiencies of 86% to 93%.  Typical "central" power plants, that do not need the heat generated from the combustion and power generation process, are only about 33% efficient.  

Trigeneration Diagram
Trigeneration Power Plants' Have the Highest System Efficiencies and are 
About 300 % More Efficient than Typical Central Power Plants

Trigeneration plants are installed at locations that can benefit from all three forms of energy.  These types of installations that install trigeneration energy systems are called "onsite power generation" also referred to as "decentralized energy."

One of our company's principal's first experience with the design and development of a trigeneration power plant was the trigeneration power plant installation at Rice University in 1987 where our trigeneration development team started out by conducting a "cogeneration" feasibility study.  We installed a 4.0 MW Ruston gas turbine for the power plant.  Rice University selected an EPC company that installed the trigeneration power plant, along with waste heat recovery boilers and absorption chillers. A "waste heat recovery boiler" captures the heat from the exhaust of the gas turbine.  From there, the recovered energy was converted to chilled water - originally from (3) Hitachi Absorption Chillers - 2 were rated at 1,000 tons each, and the third Hitachi Absorption Chiller was rated at 1,500 tons. The Hitachi absorption chillers were replaced shortly after their installation by the EPC company.  The first trigeneration plant at Rice University was so successful, they added a second 5.0 MW trigeneration plant so today, Rice University is now generating about 9.0 MW of electricity, and also producing the cooling and heating the university needs from the trigeneration plant and circulating the trigeneration energy around its campus.

Trigeneration Chart
Trigeneration's "Super-Efficiency" compared 
with other competing technologies
As you can see, there is No Competition for Trigeneration!

Our trigeneration power plants are the ideal onsite power and energy solution for customers that include:  Data Centers, Hospitals, Universities, Airports, Central Plants, Colleges & Universities, Dairies, Server Farms, District Heating & Cooling Plants, Food Processing Plants, Golf/Country Clubs, Government Buildings, Grocery Stores, Hotels, Manufacturing Plants, Nursing Homes, Office Buildings / Campuses, Radio Stations, Refrigerated Warehouses, Resorts, Restaurants, Schools, Server Farms, Shopping Centers, Supermarkets, Television Stations, Theatres and Military Bases.

We partner and collaborate with other forward thinking companies and communities that are interested in changing the outdated power and energy model of the past - inefficient and highly-polluting central power plants that average 33% efficiency - to a new paradigm and model for the future -  community-based cogeneration and trigeneration energy systems at more than 90% efficiency - and therefore provides power and energy at lower prices while significantly reducing and even eliminating typical power plant emissions and greenhouse gas emissions.  

Call/email us for more information about community-based cogeneration and trigeneration energy systems or about making your community, hospital, university or other commercial facility a model for the future.

We presently contract the packaging of our new trigeneration energy systems by a 3rd party/supplier but plan to build a new trigeneration manufacturing plant - near Houston, Texas where we will be able to significantly increase our trigeneration power plant production.

At about 86% to 93% net system efficiency, our trigeneration power plants are about 300% more efficient at providing energy than your current electric utility. That's because the typical electric utility's power plants are only about 33% efficient - they waste 2/3 of the fuel in generating electricity in the enormous amount of waste heat energy that they exhaust through their smokestacks.

Trigeneration is defined as the simultaneous production of three energies: cooling, heating and power.  Our trigeneration energy systems use the same amount of fuel in producing three energies that would normally only produce just one type of energy. This means our customers that have our trigeneration power plants have significantly lower energy expenses, and a lower carbon footprint.

Our smallest trigeneration power plant "basic" power plant is a 500 kW trigeneration system. 

All of our trigeneration power plants can produce 42 degree F. chilled water (with a 20 degree chilled water option) as well as steam and hot water while generating at least 500 kW of power. We can build trigeneration power plants up to 10 MW and with system efficiencies approaching 100%.

Not sure what size cogeneration or trigeneration power plant is right for your business? We can help!

Our Trigeneration Feasibility will help you make a decision whether one of our trigeneration power plants are right for your facility.

Trigeneration Feasibility Study and Analysis

Provides a solid basis for moving a potential renewable energy project forward.  The cost for this depends on the type, location, amount of time we require, and any additional requirements that may be included by the client. 

Generally, a trigeneration feasibility study a good option for clients considering trigeneration that need a trigeneration energy system that is over 1.0 MW and up to about 3.0 MW.

The time required to complete the study is about 90 to 120 days, on average. 

The final study we deliver is usually the basis for the customer to obtain a loan, power purchase agreement, energy services agreement or placing an order with us.

To start a Trigeneration Preliminary Study and Analysis, we require a 50% cash payment of the study cost plus a refundable deposit for our reimbursable expenses.

Trigeneration Detailed Concept, Engineering and Design Analysis

The detailed engineering design is a good option for clients that would need a trigeneration energy system with an estimated trigeneration energy system over 3.0 MW and above. In a detailed engineering design, the trigeneration energy system is conceived, designed and engineered as a custom fit and optimized energy solution for your specific facility. 

Our trigeneration feasibility studies and engineering design are led by an engineer with a Ph.D. in Engineering with cogeneration and power plant design and operations expertise. 

While most new trigeneration power plants are capable of being fueled with clean natural gas, we seek to provide a renewable fuel solution such as B100 Biodiesel, Biomethane, E100 Ethanol or Synthesis Gas.  

Our range of services (some provided by affiliate companies or manufacturing suppliers) include:

• Design/engineering, Engineering Feasibility and Economic Analysis Studies

• Legal

• Energy Service Agreements

• Power Purchase Agreements

• Build

• Finance

• Own

• Operate

• Maintain

• Long Term Service Agreements

Our renewable energy projects generate Renewable Energy Credit or Certified Emission Reduction credits, which provide an additional income stream from our projects.

For pricing and delivery information on our Cogeneration, Trigeneration, Biomethane or B100 Biodiesel power plants, email us with your project's requirements to:  info@trigeneration.com

We provide custom-designed and manufactured
Cogeneration and Trigeneration Plants with 
Very High Efficiencies and Low Fuel Costs

Pictures below of a 900 kW Cogeneration Plant with (2) Natural Gas Engines  
@ 450 kW each on one skid and proprietary waste heat recovery 
and emissions controls.

The Effective Heat Rate is Approximately 
4050 btu/kW & System Efficiency is 92%

Our onsite cogeneration and trigeneration power and energy systems are an ideal solution for customers wanting increased power reliability and decreased energy and environmental costs.  A few of the types of buildings and businesses that would benefit from our cogeneration or trigeneration energy systems include:

Airports

Casinos

Central Plants

Colleges & Universities

Dairies

Data Centers & Server Farms 

District Heating & Cooling plants

Food Processing Plants

Golf/Country Clubs

Government Buildings and Facilities 

Grocery Stores

Hospitals 

Hotels

Manufacturing Plants

Military Bases

Nursing Homes 

Office Buildings / Campuses

Radio Stations

Refrigerated Warehouses 

Resorts 

Restaurants 

Schools

Server Farms

Shopping centers 

Supermarkets 

Television Stations

Theatres

For pricing and delivery information on our cogeneration or trigeneration energy systems, call/email us  with your goals, objectives and requirements.

We would be interested in meeting with potential joint venture partners who are as committed and passionate as we are about making a difference in the world by assisting us with the capital we need to begin producing our +/- 90% efficient cogeneration and trigeneration energy systems which will soon be located on the roof (or next to the building) of thousands of commercial business - such as fast food restaurants, restaurants, convenience stores, office buildings, medical/dental professional buildings, supermarkets/grocery stores, hospitals, casinos, universities, dairies, data centers and server farms.

Equity positions now available for qualified joint venture partners in multiple trigeneration projects we are seeking to develop with leading Fortune 1000 companies.  Our joint venture equity partners will assist us with manufacturing our cogeneration or trigeneration plants and start installing them on the roof-tops or next to our customer's facilities - pending orders from hospitals and restaurants who have agreed to purchase all of our energy generated from our trigeneration plants through our Energy Services Agreement (similar to a Power Purchase Agreement except in the case of an Energy Services Agreement, we also sell the hot water/steam and chilled water, in addition to the electricity our trigeneration plants generate).

Our cogeneration or trigeneration energy systems will;

* forever change the way that energy is generated and used.

* will be fueled with "green fuels" such as; Biomethane, B100 Biodiesel, Synthesis Gas (generated from biomass feedstock and "converted" through Biomass Gasification plants), Dimethyl Ether or Solar Energy.

* eliminate or greatly reduce our customer's electric demand charges.

* significantly increase the amount of renewable energy used in the U.S. and around the world when renewable fuels such as Biomethane, B100 Biodiesel, Synthesis Gas or Dimethyl Ether

* stop/reverse climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide emissions.

* reduce and eventually eliminate the use of "fossil fuels."

* reduce the need for inefficient and expensive central power plants owned by utility companies. 

* promote energy independence.

* end America's dependence on oil from OPEC and other countries in the Middle-East, Venezuela and end our need for importing natural gas from Russia.

Prospective joint venture partners are invited to send an introductory email regarding your interests in renewable energy along with your financial abilities and expectations to:  info@Trigeneration.com

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Biomass Gasification
www.BiomassGasification.com

We convert the following waste streams into Green Fuel or Green Power, or Both.

Agricultural Waste
Breweries
Coal
C&D - Construction and Demolition Debris/Waste
Cotton Gin Waste
Cow Manure
Dairy Manure
DDGS
Distilleries
Food Processing
Food Waste
Forest Residue
Forestry Waste
Glycerin
MSW - Municipal Solid Waste
Petroleum Coke
Railroad Ties
Paper Sludge
Peanut Hulls
Poultry Litter
Refuse Derived Fuel
Rice Husks
Sewage Sludge
Timber
Urban Wood Waste
Waste Coal
Wastewater
Wineries
Wood/Wood waste
Wood Chips

Our lead engineer has almost 30 years experience in biomass engineering. 

• Anaerobic Digesters

• B100 Biodiesel

• Biodiesel Plants

• Biogas Plants

• Biogas to Biomethane

• Biomass Gasification

• Biomethane 

• Carbon Free Energy

• Cogeneration

• Concentrating Solar Power 

• Decentralized Energy

• Demand Side Management

• Distributed Generation

• Geothermal Power Plants 

• Ground Source Heat Pumps

• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

• Onsite Power Generation

• "Natural Wastewater Treatment Plants" 

• Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells

• Plasma Gasification 

• Pollution Free Power

• Solar Cogeneration

• Solar Trigeneration

• Thin Film Photovoltaics

• Trigeneration

• Waste To Energy 

• Waste to Fuel 

• Wind Farm Development

• Wind Power Generation

INITIAL BIOMASS GASIFICATION ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES:

On a strictly "vendor-neutral" basis, we help client's with their Biomass Gasification goals, objectives and budget through our Initial Biomass Gasification Engineering Design.

Our Initial Engineering Design service is the primary instrument most of our clients use to make a "go - no go" decision regarding specific Biomass Gasification projects.  In addition, our Initial Engineering Design service oftentimes helps our clients secure additional investment capital or otherwise provides project financing.

Our Initial Engineering Design service typically includes the following deliverables:

• Basic Biomass Gasification system identified (manufacturer)

• Biomass Gasification plant operations identified

• Biomass analysis

• Preliminary Power, Heat & Mass balance determined

• Determination of power generation plant (cogeneration, trigeneration, simple-cycle, combined-cycle, etc.)

• Basic unit operations defined

• Biomass fuel/feedstock rate (per hour)

• Energy output (synthesis gas and steam)

• Biomass Gasification plant efficiency determined

• Co/trigeneration or simple/combined cycle power plant efficiency

• Preliminary P&ID’s and ancillary equipment sized

• Capital Budget established

• Operations and Maintenance Budget determined

• Synthesis Gas Clean-up & Purification equipment selected (if required)

• Flue Gas Clean-up (if required)

• Emissions modeling and analysis

• Preliminary Economic Analysis

• Preliminary Return on Investment analysis

• Preliminary P&ID Diagrams

• Preliminary environmental analysis

• Preliminary utility Interconnect analysis

• Preliminary Power Purchase Agreement analysis

• Preliminary Greenhouse Gas Emissions credits analysis

• Preliminary REC (Renewable Energy Credit) analysis 

Our Detailed Engineering Design service typically includes the following deliverables:

• Plant layout drawings

• Equipment selection

• Final budget

• Mechanical drawings 

• Structural assembly drawings

• P&ID Diagrams

• Final Heat & Mass Balance

• Electrical and Instrumentation Diagrams

We can also provide " turn-key" Biomass Gasification services which, in addition to engineering, also includes; equipment procurement, project construction, project management and project commissioning services. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Biomass & Biomass Gasification

What is "Biomass"? 

Biomass is any sort of vegetation, including trees, grasses, and plant parts such as leaves, stems, and twigs. During photosynthesis, plants form carbohydrates, which form the building blocks of biomass. The solar energy that drives photosynthesis is stored in the chemical bonds of the biomass.

What is "Biomass Gasification"?

Biomass Gasification is the process in which Synthesis Gas is produced in the Biomass Gasification process. The Synthesis Gas is then used like any other fuel, such as natural gas, which is not a renewable fuel.

What is the difference between Biofuels, Biopower, and Bioproducts? 

In practice, we tend to use these three different terms for three different end uses — transportation, electric power or heat, and products such as chemicals and materials. "Biofuel" is short for biomass fuel. We use the term biofuels for liquid transportation fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, that can be produced from biomass. We tend to use "biopower" for biomass power systems that generate electricity or industrial process heat and steam, such as combined heat and power (CHP) systems. The term "bioproduct" is short for biomass products and can be used to describe a chemical, material, or other product derived from renewable biomass resources. Renewable bioproducts are products created from plant- or crop-based resources such as agricultural crops, crop residues, and forestry residues. These products may include fabrics, plastics, and chemicals. Many of the products that could be made from renewable resources are now made from petroleum.


How much biomass is used for energy today? 

Worldwide, biomass is the fourth largest energy resource after coal, oil, and natural gas. It is used for heating (such as wood stoves in homes), cooking, transportation (fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel), and for electric power generation. Researchers estimate that there are about 278 quadrillion Btu of installed biomass capacity worldwide. According to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. biomass energy consumption was more than 2.8 quadrillion Btu in 2004.

What is biomass power? 

Biomass power, or biopower, uses biomass feedstocks instead of conventional fossil fuels (natural gas or coal) to generate electricity. Biomass is one of the oldest fuels known to humanity. Although primitive, the campfire illustrates the nature of using biomass for power. When the biomass is burned, it produces heat. In a power plant, this heat is used to turn water into steam. The steam is then used to turn turbines, which are connected to electric generators. Biomass Gasifiers heat the biomass to convert it into a gas that can be used in power systems such as combustion turbines or fuel cells.


Is it possible to use biomass to fuel a backup electrical generation system for wind energy? 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Biomass Gasification is emerging as a promising technology to supply electricity and heat - especially to rural areas and businesses. These rural Biomass Gasification systems use locally available biomass fuels such as wood, crop waste, animal manures, and landfill gas.

Won't producing enough biomass for substituting petroleum require tying up our valuable agricultural land, which we need to meet our food needs? 

If the question for biomass production food versus fuel, then this would be significant limits to how much energy we could produce from our land. But this is not what happens today. Choosing to produce ethanol from corn grain does not eliminate that grain from the food supply. The starch in the grain is what we use to produce ethanol. The rest of the corn kernel is processed into animal feed and other food products. Any sustainable scenario for energy production on the farm will involve both food and energy production. That said, however, we recognize that land is ultimately the limiting factor in our ability to replace petroleum with biomass.

What are energy crops?

Energy crops are grown for the specific purpose of producing energy (electricity or liquid fuels) from all or part of the resulting plant. Switchgrass, alfalfa, willow, poplar, and eucalyptus are examples of plants that can be grown as energy crops.

What is the difference between ethanol from crops like corn and from cellulosic biomass? 

Grain crops such as corn yield starch or sugar, which can be readily fermented to ethanol. There is already a large, thriving, corn-to-ethanol industry in this country, and a substantial portion of the dry mill ethanol plants are owned by farmer cooperatives. Wet mill plants tend to be much larger and owned by large companies. Dry mill plants produce ethanol and animal feed (distillers dried grains).

Cellulosic biomass includes crop residues such as corn stover, as well as wood residues and wood and herbaceous energy crops, like yellow poplar and switchgrass respecively, which consists primarily of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The first two can be broken down into their component sugars for subsequent fermentation, but that breakdown (hydrolysis) is a complex and challenging task.


Biomass Gasification Basics

Biomass fuels such as firewood and agriculture-generated residues and wastes are generally organic. They contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen along with some moisture. Under controlled conditions, characterized by low oxygen supply and high temperatures, most biomass materials can be converted into a gaseous fuel known as producer gas, which consists of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen. This thermo-chemical conversion of solid biomass into gaseous fuel is called biomass gasification. The producer gas so produced has low a calorific value (1000-1200 Kcal/Nm3), but can be burnt with a high efficiency and a good degree of control without emitting smoke. Each kilogram of air-dry biomass (10% moisture content) yields about 2.5 Nm3 of producer gas. In energy terms, the conversion efficiency of the biomass gasification process is in the range of 60%-70%.

Multiple Advantages of Biomass Gasification

Conversion of solid biomass into combustible gas has all the advantages associated with using gaseous and liquid fuels such as clean combustion, compact burning equipment, high thermal efficiency and a good degree of control. In locations, where biomass is already available at reasonable low prices (e.g. rice mills) or in industries using fuel wood, Biomass Gasifiers offer definite economic advantages. Biomass gasification technology is also environment-friendly, because of the firewood savings and reduction in CO2 emissions.

Biomass gasification technology has the potential to replace diesel and other petroleum products in several applications, foreign exchange.

Applications for Biomass Gasification

Thermal applications: cooking, water boiling, steam generation, drying etc.  Motive power applications: Using producer gas as a fuel in IC engines for applications such as water pumping Electricity generation: Using producer gas in dual-fuel mode in diesel engines/as the only fuel in spark ignition engines/in gas turbines.


What are Biomass Gasifiers?

Biomass Gasifiers are reactors that heat biomass in a low-oxygen environment to produce a fuel gas that contains from one fifth to one half (depending on the process conditions) the heat content of natural gas. The gas produced from a Biomass gasifiers can drive highly efficient devices such as turbines and fuel cells to generate electricity.

What is Synthesis Gas?

Synthesis Gas is produced through Biomass Gasification.  The Synthesis Gas is comprised of varying amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Our Biomass Gasification engineering and project development solutions:

• "Turnkey" Biomass Gasification plants

• Project Engineering Feasibility & Economic Analysis Studies Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Permitting, Utility Interconnects, Power Purchase Agreements, Operations/Maintenance and Training

• Environmental Engineering & Permitting 

• Project Funding & Financing Options; including Equity Investment, Debt Financing, Lease and Municipal Lease

• Long-term Service Agreements

• Operations & Maintenance

• Green Tag Consulting Services (Renewable Energy Credit, Carbon Dioxide Credits, Emission Reduction Credits) Brokerage Services; Application and Permitting

• We will only select the best products and technologies for your operation as we seek the optimum environmental and economic solutions for our clients.

What is Biomethane?

Biomethane is "renewable natural gas" made from organic sources - which starts out as "biogas" but then is cleaned up, removing the impurities in the biogas, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

"Cleaned-up" and ready for use in an onsite cogeneration or trigeneration power plant, the Biomethane could also be sold to a pipeline company and completely replace the "natural gas" that is typically transported to markets via the vast underground pipeline system.

Biomethane will some day replace the "methane" that is sold by the local gas companies. 

Biomethane has an unlimited supply, whereas the methane sold by gas companies has a limited supply.  Biomethane is renewable, whereas the methane sold by your gas utility company is not renewable. Biomethane recovery, use and production generates "Greentags" or a "Renewable Energy Credit" for the owners and is GOOD for our environment.  The production and use of the natural gas sold by the gas company does NOT generate these incentives and new revenue streams and is NOT good for our environment.

As previously mentioned, Biomethane is "naturally" produced from organic materials as they decay.  Sources of Biomethane include; landfills, POTW's/Wastewaster Treatment Systems, and every tree or agricultural product that is no longer living.  Biomethane also generated from animal operations where manure can be collected and the Biomethane is generated from anaerobic digesters where the manure decomposes. 

Biomethane, after installation of the Biomethane equipment is essentially free, as opposed to buying natural gas, presently costing around $10.00/mmbtu. 

Methanogenesis, also called Biomethanation, is the production of CH4 and CO2 by biological processes that are carried out by methanogens.

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When It Comes to Energy Independence,
Biomethane, Not Coal, is America's "Ace in the Hole"
and One of the Greenest of All Biofuels

It's Time to Start Building Our Country's Biomethane Infrastructure &
Producing Biomethane, the Cleanest/Greenest Biofuel!

By:  Monty Goodell, MBA
Renewable Energy Institute
www.Biomethane.com

Biomethane, NOT Coal, is America's True "Ace in the Hole" when it comes to our energy future, economics, the environment, sustainability and America's “Energy Independence.” And biomethane is also receiving recognition as one of the greenest of all biofuels.   

For years now, the coal industry has been touting "coal is America's 'Ace in the Hole'" when they discuss the abundance of our coal reserves here in the U.S. and the role they hope coal will play in America's energy future.

But coal is far from being the “Ace in the Hole” the coal lobby would have everyone believe.  That’s due to the proverbial “black eye” not to mention the “black lungs” and other problems that are inherent with “dirty coal.”  

While there may be a place for coal in America's energy future, coal must become "clean" for America to value it as a possible energy resource. Plans or building 18 new coal fired power plants were cancelled in Texas last year due to the fact that coal isn't clean, and utilities aren't interested in investing the extra costs for building power plants that use "Clean Coal Technology" or "Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle" power plants that also now need to include "Carbon Capture and Sequestration" technologies to remove the carbon dioxide emissions from the stacks. Plans for many other coal fired power plants are being cancelled. And even now, owners of coal fired power plants (pulverized coal) are switching from coal, to biomass, and biomass gasification technologies, as the writing is on the wall.

Unless our society relishes the thoughts of moving back to the caves, and using candles, and foregoing our modern-day comforts, we need to move forward with renewable energy technologies such as biomethane, as the alternative is power shortages and blackouts.

We believe biomethane represents the best and greenest of all biofuels. There are no supply problems with biomethane, and we have a virtually unlimited supply for using biomethane wherever natural gas is presently used as a fuel.

It should be pointed out that biomethane is chemically no different than natural gas from the "fossil fuel" form of natural gas or CH4.

However, one important distinction between biomethane and the fossil-fuel variety of natural gas, is that the production and use of biomethane is “carbon neutral” in that the greenhouse gas emissions from biomethane use do not add any new net greenhouse gas emissions.

Biomethane starts out as “biogas” but must be cleaned and purified before it can be used as a renewable fuel.  The process of cleaning and purifying the biogas is called “biogas to biomethane.”  The impurities that are found in biogas include hydrogen sulfides, siloxanes, and carbon dioxide. When the impurities are removed from biogas, it is then referred to as biomethane and available for use as a clean fuel, just as the fossil-fuel form of natural gas is used. 

Biomethane reserves and supplies, unlike fossil-fuel natural gas, are virtually unlimited. Biomethane is produced from many sources including anaerobic digesters, wastewater treatment systems, landfills and landfill gas to energy projects and most agricultural and forestry operations. Last year, the first Biomethane NGV refueling station was opened in Eugendorf, Austria.  Like a gas station provides gasoline for cars, the the NGV Biomethane station in Eugendorf provides biomethane for NGVs (Natural Gas Vehicles).  Presently, the station provides a blend of biomethane and natural gas.  Eventually, they hope to provide 100% biomethane for natural gas vehicles.  Companies and researchers in Germany and Austria have determined that “Cellulosic Biomethane” is the greenest of all biofuels, and the least expensive biofuel to produce.  Germany and Austria are now planting vast amounts of a form of Kentucky Bluegrass which will be harvested for use in producing “Cellulosic Biomethane,” through anaerobic digesters and fermentation.

Researchers from around the world, starting in Austria, are finding that grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass are easily converted into biomethane as well as organic fertilizer. Cellulosic Biomethane production doesn’t require the fermentation of sugars or starches - as the first generation of liquid biofuels – requiring grains and oilseeds from food crops. As the Austrian Cellulosic Biomethane project shows, biomethane can be produced from a cellulosic biomass feedstock like grass. Yield estimates from the Austrian Cellulosic Biomethane research indicate that one natural gas vehicle can travel 10,000 to 15,000 miles on just one acre of Kentucky Bluegrass that was processed into biomethane.

At a Jan. 8, 2009 public workshop held by the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, they documented the superior benefits and potential of biomethane as a clean, renewable energy resource.  The California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition stated that biomethane should be classified as a "Super Ultra Low Carbon fuel."  Super Ultra Low Carbon fuel is defined as providing at least an 82 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions - based on the California Air Resource Board’s analysis of biomethane from landfill gas.

Biomethane has a carbon dioxide emissions intensity of only 11 as compared with:

                                                                        67.9 for natural gas
                                                                        95.8 for diesel
                                                                        96.7 for gasoline

Biomethane can displace and substitute the equivalent of 29% percent of all petroleum diesel transportation fuel used - almost immediately.

According to the California Energy Commission and the Biomass Collaborative, landfills, wastewater treatment, and dairy waste sources - which are "developable today" and can start producing biomethane almost immediately, with low investment/high returns, could yield 121 billion cubic feet of biomethane. At $8.00/mmbtu, that's a $1 billion market opportunity in California alone.  The 121 billion cubic feet of Biomethane equals about 860 million gallons of petroleum diesel. California alone uses about 3 billion gallons of diesel annually for transportation. Emerging biomass gasification and Biomethanation technologies could more than double biomethane supplies.

Biomethane - like natural gas from "fossil fuels" - can be transported in the form of either compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas. And using "Compressed Biomethane" is a significantly better choice as a transportation fuel than traditional "natural gas."

Biomethane is the "renewable natural gas" and is far better for the environment and the economy than natural gas. Biomethane, when "vented" to the environment, is 21 times more hazardous to the climate than carbon dioxide emissions which are the only emissions (and water vaport) from compressed natural gas vehicles' engines when used as a fuel.

Again, we are reminded that biomethane is the same chemical compound as natural gas: CH4, and completely replaces and substitutes for natural gas. Engines, turbines, boilers and every other natural gas appliance can use biomethane without any adjustments or modifications - just like natural gas.

Biomethane supplies, as opposed to natural gas supplies from the fossil fuel industry, are available in an unlimited supply.

Moving forward with a “Biomethane Infrastructure” is the direction our country needs to be moving as one of our fuel choices as we become energy-independent.  Every MCF of biomethane that we use displaces about 8 gallons of gasoline and creates jobs that will never be outsourced or downsized.

(Some of the above information from the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition.)

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Please Support H.R. 1158, The Biogas Production Incentive Act of 2009 to Help Create our Nation's Biomethane Infrastructure & Biomethane Reserves

SUMMARY:  The Biogas Production Incentive Act of 2009 if enacted, will amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for the production, sale, or use of biogas. Defines biogas as a gas that is derived by processing qualified energy feedstock (i.e., manure of agricultural livestock and other organic agricultural or food industry byproduct waste material) in an anaerobic digester and that contains at least 52% methane and carbon dioxide and trace gases. Provides an increased credit for biogas produced from qualified cellulosic energy feedstock.


Dear Senator or Representative ________

I am writing to you in support of HR 1158, the Biogas Production Incentive Act of 2009 and recommend that Congress develops and passes this much needed legislation that provides a $4.27 per MMBTU tax credit for the production of Biogas – also known as "Renewable Natural Gas," "Renewable Biogas" or "Biomethane."

            H.R. 1158, the Biogas Production Incentive Act would establish this tax credit that will help jumpstart this vital industry.  Renewable biogas and biomethane have been heralded by many as being the greenest of all biofuels.  Biomethane has a carbon dioxide emissions intensity of only 11 as compared with 67.9 for natural gas, 95.8 for diesel and 96.7 for gasoline.  Biomethane can displace and substitute the equivalent of 29% percent of all petroleum diesel transportation fuel used - almost immediately.  The California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition stated that Biomethane should be classified as a "Super Ultra Low Carbon fuel."  Super Ultra Low Carbon fuel is defined as providing at least an 82 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions - based on the California Air Resource Board’s analysis of biomethane from landfill gas.

The U.S. Congress has wisely supported the expanded use of domestic renewable resources through a variety of tax incentives and other programs.  Up to this point, Congress has focused primarily on measures that support the production of renewable liquid transportation fuels or electricity.  In the U.S., however, natural gas represents 23 percent of the energy consumed.

            Natural gas is the fuel of choice to provide residential and commercial heat for space and hot water in most applications and is used to produce steam in a variety of commercial and industrial applications. Natural gas is also the fuel that provides the energy to manufacture many industrial products including aluminum, steel, glass, chemicals, fertilizer, and ethanol.  

            Incentivizing the production of renewable natural gas or "Biomethane" from sources that include animal manure, landfills, renewable biomass and agricultural wastes will support expanding the role of renewables into this existing energy sector, where little opportunity exists today.   It will also create another business investment prospect for renewable project developers and the potential to expand rural economies while supporting existing industrial jobs and dramatically reducing carbon emissions.     

Please consider the following:

•           Renewable Biomethane is a versatile form of bio-energy. It can be used directly at the site of production, or placed in the pipeline to support a variety of residential commercial or industrial applications.

•           Renewable Biomethane produced from renewable sources including animal manure, landfills, renewable biomass and agricultural wastes can be produced at high efficiencies ranging from 60–70 percent.  Additionally, all of the technology components to produce renewable gas from this variety of sources exist today.

•           Renewable Biomethane can be delivered to customers via the existing U.S. pipeline infrastructure.

•           Renewable Biomethane can provide a renewable option for many heavy industries, which could save existing industrial jobs in a carbon constrained economy - while creating new rural green jobs to produce Renewable Biomethane.

•           Renewable Biomethane production in digesters provides the agricultural sector additional environmental benefits by improving waste management and nutrient control. 

We believe this is a fiscally responsible proposal that will provide the following benefits:              

•           Jump-start new biomethane gas production

•           Begin the creation of the biomethane infrastructure and biomethane industry

•           Increase biomethane “reserves”

•           Creation of green jobs

•           Expand the rural economy and increase revenues for farming and agricultural operations

•           Increase energy independence

•           Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Thank you for your support and consideration of this legislation.

Sincerely,

_______________________
Signature and address

Please write to your Representative and Senators, and ask them to support H.R. 1158 and the $4.27 per MMBTU tax credit for the production of Biomethane/Renewable Natural Gas, using the above letter as a suggested letter you are welcome to use as your own.

Thank you!  

For more information on Biomethane, see www.Biomethane.com

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What is an Assigned Amount (AA)?

The quantity of greenhouse gases that an Annex I country can release in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, during the first commitment period of that protocol (2008-12).


What is an Assigned Amount Unit (AAU)?

An Assigned Amount Unit (AAU) is a tradable unit of 1 tCO2e.

What are Carbon Reduction Tons?

Carbon Reduction Tons, or "CRTs" or simply a CRT (which is pronounced “carrot”) represents one ton of Carbon Dioxide Emissions-equivalent in terms of emission reductions.  Also known as carbon dioxide sequestration. 

What is a Certified Emission Reduction (CER)?

According to the Kyoto Protocol, a Kyoto Protocol unit equal to 1 metric tonne of CO 2 equivalent. A Certified Emission Reduction is issued for emission reductions from Clean Development Mechanism project activities. Two special types of Certified Emission Reductions called temporary Certified Emission Reductions (tCERs) and long-term Certified Emission Reductions (lCERs) are issued for emission removals from forestation and reforestation Clean Development Mechanism projects.


What is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)?

The Clean Development Mechanism is provided by Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, designed to assist developing countries in achieving sustainable development by permitting industrialized countries to finance projects for reducing greenhouse gas emission in developing countries and receive credit for doing so.

What is an Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA)?

An Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement is a binding purchase agreement signed between buyer (of CERs or ERUs) and seller.


What are Emission Reduction Credits? (ERCs)?

An Emission Reduction Credit, also known as an Emission Reduction Unit, is a unit of emission reductions achieved through a Joint Implementation project. This unit is equal to one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, or "tCO2e".


What are Emissions Reductions (ERs)?

Emissions reductions generated by a project that have not undergone a validation/verification process, but are contracted for purchase.

What is Emissions Trading?

Emissions Trading allows for the transfer of Assigned Amount Units across international borders or emission allowances between companies covered by a Cap and Trade program. However, it is a general term often used for the three Kyoto Protocol "mechanisms," which are:

1.  Joint Implementation

2.  Clean Development Mechanism 

3.  Emissions Trading


What is the Emissions Trading Scheme?

The ETS is the largest multi-national, greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world and is a main pillar of EU climate policy.


What is an ERC?

An ERC refers to an Emission Reduction Credit.


What is the EU ETS?

European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.


What is an EUA?

An EUA refers to the European Union Allowance.


What is a European Union Allowance (EUA)?

A European Union Allowance Materialization of the EU ETS quotas, the tradable unit under the EU ETS. One EUA represents the right to emit 1 ton of CO2.


What is the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)

Trading Scheme within the European Union. The first compliance phase is from 2005 to 2007, while the second compliance phase continues from 2008 to 2012.

What is a Renewable Energy Credit?

A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) represents the equivalent of one megawatt hour of electricity generation from an accredited renewable energy source. 

What are Verified Carbon Units?

The Voluntary Carbon Standard defines Voluntary Carbon Units (“VCU”) as being equal to an emission reduction that is equivalent to one metric ton of CO2 that has been implemented and verified according to the criteria set forth by the Voluntary Carbon Standard.

Verified Carbon Units are uniform instruments for use in voluntary offset programs that can be purchased and sold between the market participants such as project developers and intermediaries.

Ultimately, VCUs are purchased and retired by the participants and/or end-use customers.

A Verified Emission Reduction shall be defined as a VCU only if it has been certified as meeting all the criteria contained in The Voluntary Carbon Standard and subsequently registered in an approved VCU Registry.

VCUs are registered and kept in custody in an approved VCU Registry, which has been approved by the Voluntary Carbon Standard Steering Committee.

What is a Verified Emission Reduction (VER)?

A Verified Emission Reduction is a unit of greenhouse gas emission reduction that has been verified by an independent auditor, but has not yet undergone the procedures and may not yet have met the requirements for verification, certification and issuance of Certified Emission Reductions (in the case of the Clean Development Mechanism) or ERUs (in the case of JI) under the Kyoto Protocol. 

Buyers of a Verified Emission Reduction assume all carbon-specific policy and regulatory risks (i.e. the risk that the VERs are not ultimately registered as either a Certified Emission Reduction or a Emission Reduction Credit). Buyers therefore tend to pay a discounted price for VERs, which takes the inherent regulatory risks into account. 

A Verified Emission Reduction is a carbon credit which is not certified under the Kyoto Protocol but which can be used to compensate carbon emissions. 1 Verified Emission Reduction corresponds to one metric tone of CO2 equivalent.


What is the Voluntary Market?

The Voluntary market is precisely that, a "voluntary" market for emissions reductions for buyers and sellers of a Verified Emission Reduction (VER), which seek to manage their emission exposure for non-regulatory purposes.

We develop renewable energy projects, and specialize in solar power and energy project development. Our company provides the total, turnkey solar energy system "in-house" as well as with affiliates and strategic partners.  This means our capabilities and core competencies include solar project:

• project identification

• project analysis

• design/engineering

• finance (through investors and joint venture partners)

• installation or construction

• ownership (with PPA)

• operations

• maintenance and service or our solar energy systems

____________________________________________________________________________________

We help clients with tax credits when they use renewable energy technologies
such as the Synthesis Gas produced from Biomass Gasification plants.
__________________________________________________________________

Section 45 Tax Credits
Renewable Energy Tax Credits

Our renewable energy project development expertise has made us a leading authority of helping our clients with Section 45 Tax Credits.  Our company and our attorneys are skilled in the areas of renewable energy project finance and tax issues relating to renewable energy projects. We are able to assist our clients in connection with Section 45 tax credit project finance.

Our experience in Section 45 tax credits has helped us structure optimal renewable energy project solutions that match our clients unique economic and tax goals and requirements, which include regulatory constraints and regulatory compliance for most any state. 

Section 45 tax credits generate $.021 cents per kwh of electricity produced by the taxpayer and sold to an unrelated person or company. Section 45 tax credits are available for renewable electricity produced from certain renewable energy projects including, closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal power plants, solar energy, small irrigation power, municipal solid waste, and qualified hydro power production, refined coal and wind power generation.

See one of our following sites at: 

www.Section45TaxCredits.com   or  www.RenewableEnergyTaxCredits.com  

Call/email us for more information

_________________________________________________________

Biomethane
www.Biomethane.com
The "Renewable Natural Gas"

The Unlimited Potential for Biomethane and Renewable Natural Gas 

• Sweden is now leading Europe and the rest of the world in the pursuit of cellulosic biomethane.

• According to recent studies by researchers, professors and universities in Sweden, cellulosic biomethane is significantly more economic and less energy intensive to produce today than any biofuel (i.e. E100 Ethanol, B100 Biodiesel, Dimethyl Ether, etc.).
  

• If the U.S. were to similarly emphasize the production of cellulosic biomethane as Sweden is now doing, the U.S. could significantly increase the supply of Biomethane - a renewable, clean fuel with an unlimited supply. 

• Biomethane can be produced from landfill gas, sewage and animal and crop waste. Besides supplementing our existing natural gas supplies, Biomethane would provide huge greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
    

• Based on an analysis conducted for the Department of Energy in the 1990's, it appears that at least 1¼ quadrillion BTUs of methane could reasonably be produced using exiting landfill gas to energy sites, wastewater treatment systems and animal waste sources (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) alone. 

• If the Biomethane produces in the U.S. were used for natural gas vehicles, it would displace approximately 10 billion gallons of gasoline, per year!  This is 10 times the amount (1 billion gallons of gasoline) per year projected for natural gas (the fossil fuel) in the Annual DOE outlook.

Regarding Greenhouse Gas Emissions and 
Biomethane/Renewable Natural Gas vs. Gasoline

• Gasoline produces about 110% more Greenhouse Gas Emissions than Biomethane which would have otherwise been flared or vented to the atmosphere.

• In the U.S., it is now feasible to capture and use about 1.25 quadrillion Btu's of Biomethane from landfills, animal waste and POTWs (wastewater treatment systems) alone.  This is equivalent to about 6% of all of the natural gas presently used in the U.S.

• If this Biomethane were used as a transportation fuel in natural gas vehicles, the Biomethane would displace 10 billion gallons of gasoline per year!
  

Other Benefits and Incentives of Biomethane: 
The Federal Biogas/Biomethane Tax Credit:

Equal to 2.0 cents per KWH (approximately $5.66 per MMBtu) for electricity produced on-site from Biomethane.

All other uses of biogas and Biomethane in vehicles and producing electricity off-site) do not presently qualify for the Federal Biogas/Biomethane Tax Credit.

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Sewage Sludge
www.SewageSludge.com

We Turn Your City or County's Sewage Sludge 
Problems  into Profits and Green Energy

Sewage Sludge problems are a thing of the past!  and other organic waste streams with one or more of the following: Anaerobic Digester, Anaerobic Lagoon, Biogas Recovery, BioMethane, Biomass Gasification, Biosolids to Energy, Landfill Gas To Energy and Sewage Sludge "problems into profits"  project development services.  We provide the following power and energy project development services:

• Project Engineering Feasibility & Economic Analysis Studies  

• Engineering, Procurement and Construction

• Environmental Engineering & Permitting 

• Project Funding & Financing Options; including Equity Investment, Debt Financing, Lease and Municipal Lease

• Shared/Guaranteed Savings Program with No Capital Investment from Qualified Clients 

• Project Commissioning 

• 3rd Party Ownership and Project Development

• Long-term Service Agreements

• Operations & Maintenance 

• Green Tag (Renewable Energy Credit, Carbon Dioxide Credits, Emission Reduction Credits) Brokerage Services; Application and Permitting
  

Biomethane: the Perfect Renewable Fuel!
Biomethane Far Better than B100 Biodiesel or E100 Ethanol

As Biomethane is a near perfect fuel, and since Biomethane represents the best of all biofuels in terms of Recycling Carbon, and has the highest Net Energy Balance, and as Biomethane technologies such as Anaerobic Digesters and Biomass Gasification development increases and becomes even more commonplace, one of the fundamental questions is: what is the size of the potential biomass resource supply in the U.S.?

In April 2005, the DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) co-published a report assessing the potential of the land resources in the U.S. for producing sustainable biomass: Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply. Looking at forestland and agricultural land, the two largest potential biomass sources, this study estimates that the U.S. can sustainably produce up to 1.3 billion tons of biomass feedstock by mid-century. This would be enough feedstock to produce 60 billion gallons of B100 Biodiesel and E100 Ethanol with today's technologies.

This study doesn't address the opportunities for Biomethane production from biomass feedstock or Biomass Gasification technologies. Some recent estimates indicate that Biomethane could replace up to 50% of present natural gas consumption in the U.S. and in some countries, such as Iceland, Biomethane already provides 100% of the natural gas requirements.

There are many assumptions in the Billion Ton Study report that impact these estimates, but we believe the estimates reasonably reflect the potential availability and impact of biomass resources.

Of the total estimated resource, the study suggests that forestlands in the contiguous United States can produce approximately 368 million dry tons annually. This projection includes 52 million dry tons of fuelwood harvested from forests and woodlands, 145 million dry tons of residues from wood processing mills and pulp and paper mills, 47 million dry tons of urban wood residues including construction and demolition debris, 64 million dry tons of residues from logging and site clearing operations, and 60 million dry tons of biomass from fuel treatment operations.

Biomass to Biofuels

By "converting" biomass wastes – such as municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, crop residues, energy crops, and manure – into biofuels, this will resolve the energy, environmental and political problems in an economical and environmentally sound manner - that will produce over one million new jobs.

According to Jeff Seisler, Director of the European Natural Gas Vehicle Association, "Biomethane has an outstanding potential as a multifaceted solution to multifaceted social problems: urban and agricultural waste management, water purification, and clean air. Urban and agricultural waste can be processed into usable methane, as can the sewage during the water purification process. Cleaning and compressing the gas for use in vehicles then provides cleaner air than petroleum-consuming vehicles."

Continuing, Mr. Seisler states about Biomethane; "this environmental 'closed loop waste-to-energy-to-fuel used in vehicles that again truck the next load of waste to the energy processing plants-substitutes fossil fuels with a renewable resource and reduces greenhouse gases 100% as compared to over gasoline vehicles (on a well-to-wheel basis).

According to Peter Boisen Chairman, of ENGVA, "various well respected European research institutes now estimate more than three times better fuel output per hectare of land used than if going for ethanol or biodiesel. Sweden currently has a 51% Biomethane share, and Switzerland 37%. France, Norway, Germany and Austria use smaller amounts for vehicles. Iceland, completely without natural gas, uses 100% biomethane in its NGVs," Boisen says.  Continuing, Boisen adds, "China, India, Korea, the Ukraine, Spain and Italy are other examples of countries now starting up projects where Biomethane will be used as a vehicle fuel." 

"With the energy efficiency of the gas production process at 50% to 70% it's hard to think of a more socially acceptable and economic energy value for the transportation sector," Boisen says.

"Governments need to get out of their liquid fuel paradigm to refocus and balance their policies and communications to support the development of a Biomethane infrastructure. In Europe Biomethane has the potential to replace 20% of the petroleum consumed in the transport sector by 2030."

1.  Biomethane is One of the Most Common and Harmful of All Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

2.  Biomethane is 21 Times More Harmful to the Climate than Carbon Dioxide Emissions. Stated another way, Biomethane Causes Global Warming and Climate Change to Increase 21 Times Faster than Carbon Dioxide Emissions. 

3.  Biomethane Is A "Renewable Natural Gas."

4.  Biomethane is One of the Easiest and Most Profitable of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Recover and Control and is the perfect fuel for heating your home, drying your clothes, cooking your dinner, water heating, and even fueling your car!  Biomethane is also the cleanest of all fuels or biofuels for generating electricity in power plants.

Thursday, 29 June 2006
Sacramento, California USA and Sweden 

In a ceremony held at the Ministry of the Environment in Stockholm, representatives of the Kingdom of Sweden and the State of California signed an agreement pledging the two governments and their related industries to work together to develop bioenergy, with a particular emphasis on Biomethane. 

“Through a strong working relationship between its industry and government, Sweden is showing how bioenergy can be developed in a cost-effective manner that benefits its economy and environment. We are extremely pleased to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide a basis for intensified collaboration between Swedish and California officials to develop a thriving bioenergy industry in California,” said Joe Desmond, Undersecretary for the California Resources Agency.

In particular, Sweden has been a global leader in terms of converting biowaste, largely agricultural material and residues, into usable Biomethane. This gas is then used to either generate electricity, residential heating, or as a transportation fuel.

More than 8,000 vehicles in Sweden are powered by a combination of natural gas and Biomethane. The vehicles include transit buses, refuse trucks, and more than 10 different models of passenger cars. There are more than 25 Biomethane production facilities in Sweden and 65 filling stations. The Swedish Biomethane industry has been growing at an annual rate of about 20 percent over the last five years.

According to the Swedish Gas Association, more than 50 percent of the methane used to power Sweden’s natural gas vehicles now comes from biological sources, up from 45% last year. Natural gas vehicle sales in Sweden are increasing at the rate of 25% per annum. 

Sweden was motivated to develop its Biomethane industry because it has no natural gas reserves, to more efficiently manage its waste, and to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Accord. Since Biomethane is developed from methane sources that would normally release into the atmosphere, it’s considered one of the most climate friendly fuels. Methane (and Biomethane) is 21 times more reactive as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2). Sweden is currently meetings its objectives and schedule as outlined in the Kyoto accord.

Biomethane is developed by heating up and breaking down biomaterials in an (Anaerobic Digesters) digester. Among other raw materials, Swedish operators feed their Anaerobic Digesters with slaughterhouse waste, swine manure, and even grassy crops. After the materials breakdown over a 20 day period, technology is then used to remove the impurities and produce Biomethane. Once cleaned-up, Biomethane is 98 percent methane and easily meets the Swedish and California pipeline standards.

The Memorandum of Understanding can be accessed on the California Resources Agency Web site: http://resources.ca.gov/press_documents/CaliforniaSwedenBiofuelsMOU.pdf

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Anaerobic Digesters recover valuable and toxic Biomethane from organic materials and prevents the Biomethane - which has a Global Warming Potential that is 21 times more harmful to our climate than Carbon Dioxide Emissions - from entering the atmosphere.  

Biomethane, which we also refer to as "Renewable Natural Gas" is used as a renewable fuel for our cogeneration and trigeneration power plants. Alternatively, we may sell the Biomethane to a customer and transport it to them from our Anaerobic Digesters via natural gas pipelines.

We believe Anaerobic Digesters and Biomethane represent exciting opportunities for generating renewable natural gas and profits - for multiple reasons:

1.  Anaerobic Digesters take an existing liability and waste (Biomethane) and convert it into an asset and " profit generator."

2.  Anaerobic Digesters mitigate and reverse climate change and global warming by preventing Biomethane to escape into the atmosphere, which is one of the major causes of climate change and global warming.  

Of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Biomethane is 21 times more harmful to the environment than Carbon Dioxide Emissions.

3.  Anaerobic Digesters are vital for renewable energy production and helping our country's drive for energy independence. 

4.  EVERY wastewater treatment plant as well as ALL Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's) - IN EVERY COUNTRY - will soon be installing Anaerobic Digesters to prevent Biomethane from entering the atmosphere and help reverse climate change as well as for use as a renewable fuel. Or, they will be replacing their existing inefficient and inferior mechanical wastewater treatment plants, with our "Natural Wastewater Treatment" plants! 

5.  The country of Sweden is the global leader in Biomethane production.  Sweden has identified the Biomethane opportunities and is converting biowaste derived from agricultural material and residues into usable Biomethane. The Biomethane is used to generate clean, renewable electricity, residential heating, and also as a transportation fuel. Biomass sources make up 45% of Sweden’s Biomethane.  Sweden's Biomethane industry has been growing at an annual rate of around 20% over the last five years.  Biomethane powers more than 8,000 transit buses, garbage trucks, and 10 different models of passenger cars in Sweden. Sweden now has more than 25 Biomethane production facilities and 65 filling stations. The country believes that since Biomethane is developed from natural, organic sources that would have been released into the atmosphere, that Biomethane is considered one of the most climate-friendly fuels. Biomethane is 98% methane and easily meets the Swedish and California pipeline standards.

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