Newsworthy

Biofuels

Fulcrum BioEnergy selects Abengoa for Nevada biorefinery project

Abengoa, a Spanish technology provider in the energy and environment sectors, has been selected by Fulcrum BioEnergy Inc., based in Pleasanton, California, to build what the companies are calling the first biorefinery using gasification technology to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into syncrude that will be upgraded into jet fuel. The contract is worth approximately $200 million.

Abengoa will be responsible for the turnkey execution of the plant, including engineering, design and construction as well as a participating significantly in the development of the project. The project is expected to generate more than 500 jobs during the construction phase and 100 more jobs during plant operation. The biorefinery is located in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, approximately 20 miles east of Reno, Nevada.

The initiative provides an alternative for the large volumes of municipal solid waste generated in the area every year, which would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill. The process of converting MSW into renewable transportation fuels can significantly reduce the volume of materials heading to landfills, which the companies call problematic because of chemical pollutants released into the air and that seep into groundwater. As the U.S. population grows, the amount of waste generated is increased proportionately. Thanks to the diversion of MSW into sustainable fuel, the dependence on foreign energy and the carbon footprint of the aviation industry can be reduced, say the companies.

Abengoa employs more than 4,000 people in the U.S., which reflects its 17 percent annual growth during the last two years.

Abengoa has been present in the U.S. for more than a decade, including involvement in projects such as: Solana and Mojave, both thermosolar plants with 280 megawatts (MW) each, located in Phoenix and in California; a 200 MW photovoltaic plant located in California; a water supply project in San Antonio, Texas; and Hugoton, what the company calls one of the first plants producing second generation bioethanol from biomass for commercial operation, located in Kansas.

 

Association activities

SWANA names executive director

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Silver Spring, Maryland, has named David Biderman its new executive director and CEO. He assumed his new roles beginning May 1, 2015.

“SWANA is pleased and excited to announce the hiring of David Biderman to lead the association,” says Brian Tippetts, SWANA president. “David’s energy, experience and his long-standing emphasis on safety fit perfectly with the board’s expectations for SWANA and its efforts in coming years.”

Biderman has worked at the National Waste and Recycling Association (NW&RA) and its predecessors for 18 years, most recently as vice president of government affairs and general counsel. Before coming to the waste industry, he worked as an environmental and transportation attorney at Steptoe & Johnson, a Washington-based law firm.

 

Conferences & Events

Renewable Energy from Waste 2015 heads to Orlando, Florida

The Recycling Today Media Group, publisher of Renewable Energy from Waste (REW) magazine has announced that the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference will be in Orlando, Florida, in 2015.

Now in its third year, the REW Conference has established itself as a premier event for the rapidly developing and dynamic waste conversion industry.

This year’s conference is set for Nov. 16-18 at the Caribe Royal Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

Produced in cooperation with Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc.(GBB), Farfax, Virginia, the REW Conference is designed to highlight waste conversion technologies as well as market trends critical to the development of new projects. During the two days of educational sessions, Nov. 17 and 18, attendees will hear from more than 30 presenters sharing case studies and real-world experience. Anaerobic digestion, engineered fuel, mixed-waste processing and biofuels are among the technology areas to be addressed. Outlooks for such areas as biogas and gasification also will be shared.

Kristin Smith, editor of REW magazine, says, “This year’s conference builds on the successful programming of previous years by providing more market-driven information, expanded tour capacity and a preconference workshop dedicated to public-sector planning for waste conversion projects.”

Registration information and additional details can be found at www.REWConference.com.

 

Gasification

Alter NRG to be acquired for CA$147 million

The board of directors of Alter NRG Corp., Calgary, Alberta, has approved a plan under which Harvest International New Energy has offered to acquire, through a wholly owned subsidiary, all issued and outstanding common shares of Alter NRG for CA$5.00 in cash per share by way of a board-approved takeover bid. The total purchase price is around CA$147 million.

Harvest, a Delaware-based corporation, is wholly owned by Sunshine Kaidi New Energy Group Co., a privately held Chinese company focused on investment and development of renewable energy technologies. The deal, if completed, will be the second acquisition of renewable energy technologies in North America for Harvest. In 2014, the company acquired all of Rentech Inc.’s alternative energy technologies.

Alter NRG sells the Westinghouse Plasma gasification technology through a wholly owned subsidiary called Westinghouse Plasma Corp.

Cormark Securities Inc., Alter NRG’s financial advisor, determined the offer is fair to shareholders. Alter NRG’s directors and executive officers, as well as Ervington Investments, holding about 17.9 percent of the common shares, have entered into lock-up agreements with the buyer and have agreed to tender their Alter NRG shares to the offer.

Commenting on behalf of Alter NRG, CEO Walter Howard says, “Given the substantial premium to market, the offer is obviously very attractive from a financial perspective to shareholders of Alter NRG.”

Municipal

Judge throws out suit filed against Indianapolis over recycling deal

A suit filed Sept. 5, 2014, by Graphic Packaging International Inc., RockTenn Converting Co. and Cathy Weinmann against the city of Indianapolis and its Board of Public Works over alleged violations of the city’s Waste Disposal Statute has been thrown out by Marion County Judge Cynthia Ayers.

The suit followed the city of Indianapolis awarding the waste management company Covanta, Morristown, New Jersey, a contract to build what the company describes as a $45 million advanced materials recovery center (ARC) adjacent to its existing waste-to-energy facility.

Following the plaintiffs’ initial filing, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the suit, alleging the plaintiffs lacked standing to contest the government action and a motion for summary judgment.

One critic of the project says, “There is no evidence that this process (mixed waste recovery) works. There should have been competitive bidding on the program.”

Critics also say the mixed waste facility would not boost the city’s recycling rate, and that recyclables recovered through the facility would be highly contaminated.

However, in her ruling, Judge Ayers says the plaintiffs’ fears that paper recovered at Covanta’s ARC likely would be contaminated is not a sufficient basis for a lawsuit.

“There is no evidence that these two plaintiffs are using the resource at issue, i.e., the recycled products from the ARC, because the facility has not been constructed and is not producing any products in the stream of commerce. Such speculative claims are insufficient to establish an actual or immediate injury,” Ayers writes in her ruling.

“A mere unilateral expectation or an abstract environmental need is not an interest entitled to protection absent personal use of the resource at issue,” she adds.

The plaintiffs alleged that the city violated the state’s Waste Disposal Statute by not conducting a public bidding process. However Ayers found the city didn’t violate the statute because the deal was an amendment to an existing contract and lease of city property.

A spokesman for the Indianapolis Board of Public Works says key points of the project include:

• residents will put all waste and recyclables in their regular trash bins;
• Covanta’s ARC will recover up to 90 percent of recyclables, including cardboard, plastic and metals, while glass and organics may be added in the future;
• the ARC will support the new statewide recycling goal of 50 percent;
• the partnership will provide the city with a revenue stream from the sale of recyclables after six years and will end penalties of $500,000 per year from the city to Covanta for not providing enough trash to the company’s existing facility; and
• Indianapolis will operate existing curbside and drop-off recycling programs as well as household hazardous waste and electronics waste disposal programs.

Following the ruling, Scott Holkeboer, Covanta market area vice president, released a statement, saying, “We are very pleased to see the city of Indianapolis has prevailed in the lawsuit regarding its professional services contract with Covanta.”

A city spokesman says a subscription-based curbside recycling service will still be available for residents.

Permitting for the mixed waste processing facility is expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year with the plant operational by 2016, Covanta says.

 

Anaerobic digestion

Renewable Energy from Waste, GBB, partner on anaerobic digestion webinars

The Recycling Today Media Group, publisher of Renewable Energy from Waste (REW) magazine, based in Valley View, Ohio, has partnered with solid waste management consultants, Gershman, Brickner and Bratton Inc. (GBB), Fairfax, Virginia, to offer a series of four webinars focusing on anaerobic digestion.

The REW Summer School Series: Anaerobic Digestion, will provide insights into the process of anaerobic digestion (AD) imperative to municipalities and companies looking into this waste conversion process as a method of organic waste reduction and energy production.

The webinars, to be held in July and August, are designed to provide the tools needed to plan, build and operate a successful plant that meets the desired needs for the targeted feedstock and energy outputs individual operations are looking for.

“It’s that unprecedented level of interest that has driven our decision to partner with GBB to develop a program that will help waste managers make educated decisions for the future of their waste streams,” says REW Editor Kristin Smith.

“Sign up for one or more sessions and listen from the convenience of your desk as speakers share how AD can create value for your operation and how the technology can vary from input to output,” she adds.

Registration is available at www.rewmag.com/REWSummerSchool. Discounted rates are available for government/academic and multiple session registrations.

 

Gasification

Plasco files for credit protection

Ottawa, Ontario-based Plasco Energy Group Inc. announced it has obtained an order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approving the company’s application under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). The CCAA proceedings will, among other things, provide Plasco with time and stability to explore potential strategic alternatives that may be available to it, says the company.

The CCAA is a Canadian statute that allows insolvent corporations owing more than $5 million to restructure their business and financial affairs. The main purpose of the CCAA is to enable financially distressed companies to avoid bankruptcy, foreclosure or seizure of assets while maximizing returns for their creditors and preserving both jobs and the company’s value as a functioning business.

Plasco says it is a pre-revenue, development stage technology company that requires additional time and funding to refine and commercialize its waste conversion technology. To accomplish this, Plasco has engaged Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc., Los Angeles, as its financial advisor to assist the company in identifying potential purchasers of or investors in the business.

Under the initial order, among other things, the company has been granted a stay of proceedings, staying creditor claims against Plasco and its subsidiaries during the CCAA process, and Ernst & Young Inc. has been appointed as the monitor of the company in the proceedings.

In conjunction with the CCAA proceedings, Plasco is implementing cash conservation measures. The company says it has sufficient funds to finance its working capital requirements at the present time and will continue to make post-filing payments to its suppliers and service providers in the normal course.

Plasco management will remain responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. Plasco also has engaged Randall Benson, a partner and national practice co-leader, restructuring and turnaround for KPMG, as its chief restructuring officer to assist the company with its restructuring process.

“Plasco will explore potential strategic alternatives that may provide the company the funding required to pursue commercial development of its technology,” says Benson. “Our key objectives are to preserve the value of the business for the benefit of the company’s stakeholders and to continue work towards demonstrating the performance of the technology.”

Additional information regarding the company’s CCAA proceedings, including court materials, will be made publicly available on the Monitor’s website at http://documentcentre.eycan.com. Plasco says it will provide further updates throughout its restructuring process.

Plasco describes its conversion technology as a sustainable solution that helps communities achieve their landfill diversion and renewable energy goals. Plasco owns a plasma gasification site in Ottawa that has shut down, according to The Ottawa Sun. The article also says the company laid off 80 people while 25 employees remain.
 

 

Biogas

UPS signs deal to purchase renewable natural gas

UPS has signed an agreement to purchase renewable natural gas (RNG) for its delivery vehicle fleet from Newport Beach, California-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. UPS says the deal ties in with its plan to expand its use of RNG for its alternative fuel and advanced technology-driven fleet. The company has a goal of driving 1 billion miles using its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet by the end of 2017.

Clean Energy Fuels provides natural gas fuel for transportation services and is the exclusive producer of the Redeem brand of RNG, one of the first to be made available in commercial quantities.

UPS fueling stations in Sacramento, Fresno and Los Angeles will use Redeem RNG for refueling tractors and delivery vehicles in UPS’ fleet. UPS and Clean Energy Fuels estimate the three stations will provide about 1.5 million gallon equivalents annually of RNG fuel to nearly 400 UPS compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in California.

“Renewable natural gas is critical to our effort to minimize UPS’ environmental impact while meeting the growing demand for our services,” says Mitch Nichols, UPS senior vice president of transportation and engineering. “Our rolling laboratory approach provides a unique opportunity for UPS to test different fuels and technologies.

“Today’s RNG agreement will help mature the market for this promising alternative fuel. This commitment also positions UPS to use RNG in its extensive natural gas fleet which includes more than 2,500 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.”

Harrison Clay, president of Clean Energy Renewable Fuels, comments, “Redeem reduces environmental impact because it captures naturally occurring methane before it is released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas emission, turning that methane into a safe, useable fuel that displaces the diesel fuel, and its carbon emissions, that would otherwise be used.”

 

Landfill gas

Republic publicizes new Los Angeles area landfill gas project

Republic Services Inc., Phoenix, is touting the new landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) project built at the Sunshine Canyon landfill near Los Angeles. The 20-megawatt project is capable of generating enough electricity to power nearly 25,000 area homes, Republic says.

“Landfills play a more consequential role in society now than ever before,” says Ron Krall, area president of Republic Services. “Today’s landfill must be sophisticated, and leverage the power of science and engineering to help regenerate the local ecosystem. Sunshine Canyon Landfill has enabled growth in Los Angeles for decades, and now it will be there to help a great community achieve its sustainability goals.”

Republic Services has partnered with Sunshine Gas Producers, a joint venture between DTE Biomass Energy and Aria Energy, to develop the Sunshine Canyon LFGTE project. (The two technology partners had earlier announced the project in the fall of 2014.)

“This partnership is another example of how technology and simple, hard work can result in a project that’s good for the environment and the local community,” says Mark Cousino, president of DTE Biomass Energy. “It has been a pleasure working with Republic and Aria Energy to deliver California’s newest renewable energy facility.”

“Aria Energy is very pleased to join Republic Services and DTE Biomass in bringing online Sunshine Canyon, our 44th renewable energy project and sixth project with DTE Biomass,” says Richard DiGia, president and CEO of Aria Energy. “This project is directly aligned with our business strategy and will further help fulfill California’s 33 percent renewable energy goal through our investment in this baseload electric production facility.”

Republic Services operates eight LFGTE projects in California, and 73 total LFGTE projects nationwide.

 

Anaerobic digestion

North Carolina anaerobic digester earns 2015 National Recognition Award

The Storms Farm anaerobic digester installation, “Swine Farm Biogas Renewable Energy Project,” earned a National Recognition Award as part of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2015 Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on April 22, in the District of Columbia.

Project engineer Withers & Ravenel, Cary, North Carolina; anaerobic digester designer DVO Inc., Chilton, Wisconsin; project developer AgPower Partners LLC, Broomfield, Colorado; and Storms Farm, Bladenboro, North Carolina, collaborated on the project, constructing what it calls the largest swine biogas renewable facility in North Carolina.

“We are honored to receive the ACEC National Recognition Award,” says Sam Ravenel, Withers & Ravenel Inc. vice president. “The completed project is a waste-to-energy facility that works, benefits the environment and, most importantly, can be replicated.”

DVO’s two-stage mixed plug flow anaerobic digestion technology at Storms Farm allows the farm to be much less reliant on lagoons, provides benefits for both waste handling concerns and energy production and greatly reduces odor and greenhouse gas emissions, according to the company.

“The digester is great for the environment, the swine industry, the state and our farm. We couldn’t be more pleased with our system,” says Billy Storms, owner of Storms Farm.

Withers & Ravenel is a full-service civil and environmental consulting engineering firm offering a broad range of quality professional services. Its staff is dedicated to providing innovative and cost-effective engineering solutions.

Storms Farm, owned by Billy Storms, is North Carolina’s largest renewable energy facility using swine waste. The 600-acre farm has 23 barns, nearly 30,000 hogs and 444,000 chickens.

The Storms Hog Power anaerobic digester and renewable energy generating system, in tandem with an enhanced animal waste extraction and collection system that uses scrapers instead of flush water to remove manure from the houses, is designed to greatly reduce the negative environmental impacts of the current lagoon and spray field manure management systems, while profitably generating renewable energy and other valuable byproducts.

Manure collected daily from nearly 30,000 hogs, formerly treated in open air lagoons, mixed with off-site agricultural wastes which were previously either land applied or destined for a landfill, is biologically decomposed in an oxygen-free, 1.2-million-gallon reinforced concrete vessel. The bacteria in the digester metabolically break down the organic waste streams and generate energy-rich biogas, while destroying pathogens and odor. The biogas is combusted in an engine/generator, sending enough electricity to the local utility to offset the consumption of nearly 300 average size homes.

North Carolina Electric Membership Corp. purchases all of the electricity under a long-term contract. This revenue, combined with tipping fees for processing the off-site agricultural waste, the sale of the carbon credits and Renewable Energy Certificates, and the sale of other byproducts, support the sustained operation and maintenance of the facility.

The anaerobic digester was designed by DVO, and site layout, building and feedstock delivery systems were designed by Withers & Ravenel. AgPower Partners oversaw the project.

 

Corporate sustainability

EPA recognizes Indiana GM plant

The Fort Wayne Assembly Plant operated by General Motors (GM), located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, ranks No. 5 among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) top 30 generators of on-site green power. The plant is 43-percent powered by methane captured from a nearby landfill. The plant’s generation of 53 million kilowatt hours is enough to power more than 5,000 homes annually.

“Renewable energy enables us to reduce risk at our plants and save money on energy costs,” says Rob Threlkeld, GM global manager of renewable energy. “None of our U.S. plants use coal as an energy source.”

GM is one of the largest industrial users of landfill gas in the U.S. Fort Wayne Assembly has used landfill gas for 13 years and brought the generation process on-site last year to quadruple usage.

Clean energy use is one component of the facility’s efforts to leave a smaller carbon footprint. It earned Energy Star certification in 2012, has met the Energy Star Challenge for Industry and hosts a 14.4-kilowatt solar array. The facility also is landfill-free, meaning it reuses, recycles or converts to energy all waste from daily operations.