Research Developments

Gas Technology Institute Releases Report on Landfill Gas
The Gas Technology Institute (GTI), Des Plaines, Ill., is publicizing a report titled “Guidance Document for the Introduction of Landfill-Derived Renewable Gas into Natural Gas Pipelines.”

According to the report, the integration of renewable gas from non-traditional sources can provide significant benefits, including cost-effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing available resources. An initiative launched by GTI is establishing parameters for evaluating the suitability of biomethane products—derived from dairy waste and landfills—for safe and proper introduction into existing natural gas pipelines and to assure compatibility with existing supplies.

Sponsored by the natural gas industry, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and members of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), these projects have been adding to the industry’s understanding of the chemical and biological composition of renewable gas.

The Landfill Guidance Document provides analytical and other key information to pipeline companies and natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs) so that parameters specific to clean biomethane can be identified to support a productive discussion between these parties and the suppliers for contract development. The document includes a list of constituents and methodology for testing, as well as statistical analysis of the acquired data. It provides information about specific instrumentation for identifying and monitoring trace constituents, and cleanup technologies for removing them.

Previously, under the sponsorship of a consortium of gas companies, including Operations Technology Development (OTD)—and working with a number of universities and dairy farms throughout the United States—GTI scientists developed the first national biogas guidance document for introducing methane from dairy waste into existing pipelines, entitled Pipeline Quality Biomethane: North American Guidance Document for Interchangeability of Dairy Waste Derived Biomethane.

Kristine Wiley, project manager says, “GTI is exploring alternative and renewable energy resources that can integrate with the U.S. energy distribution network and support the expansion of the nation’s energy supply. Evaluating and mitigating the effects of new fuels on the delivery infrastructure is a critical aspect to enable the use of this renewable resource.”

The full report is available at http://media.godashboard.com//gti/120007_Landfill_Guidance_Document_FINALREPORT-05-9-2012.pdf.

ACEEE Backs Aggressive Energy-efficiency Goals
According to a new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), America is thinking too small when it comes to energy efficiency, while also making the mistake of “crowding out” economically beneficial investments in energy efficiency by focusing on riskier and more expensive bids to develop new energy sources.

Titled “The Long-Term Energy Efficiency Potential: What the Evidence Suggests,” the new ACEEE report outlines three scenarios under which the U.S. could either continue on its current path or cut energy consumption by the year 2050 almost 60 percent, add nearly two million net jobs in 2050, and save energy consumers as much as $400 billion per year (the equivalent of $2,600 per household annually).

ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel says, “Large-scale energy efficiency advances will require major investments. But the good news is that the investments will generate a significant return in the form of large energy bill savings. After paying for the program costs and making the necessary investments as we pay for them over time, the economy will benefit from a net energy bill savings that ranges from $12 trillion to $16 trillion cumulatively from 2012 through 2050. In other words, the energy efficiency scenarios outlined in our report will spur an annual net energy bill savings that might range up to about $2,600 per household annually in constant 2009 dollars.”

The full text of the ACEEE report can be found at http://aceee.org/research-report/E121.

According to ACEEE, the secret to major economic gains from energy efficiency is a more productive investment pattern of increased investments in energy efficiency, which would allow lower investments in power plants and other supply infrastructure, thereby substantially lowering overall energy expenditures on an economy-wide basis in the residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and electric power sectors.

Covanta Introduces Commercial Gasification System
Covanta Energy Corp., an owner and operator of infrastructure to convert waste to energy, has completed the commercial demonstration testing on what it calls a first-of-its-kind gasification technology. Covanta says the technology has demonstrated the ability to gasify unprocessed post-recycled municipal solid waste (MSW) in a commercial setting, while reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency.

Morristown, N.J.-based Covanta says the commercial demonstration of the project paves the way for Covanta to offer a new 300-ton-per-day modular system, called CLEERGASTM (Covanta Low Emissions Energy Recovery Gasification).

“We are always working to stay on the cutting edge of technology to convert waste into clean energy,” says Anthony Orlando, Covanta’s president and CEO. “This new gasification technology is truly exciting. Communities interested in emerging technologies can now partner with Covanta’s industry-leading team to assure successful project execution.”

Covanta’s gasification unit has been processing 350 tons per day of post-recycled municipal solid waste and has demonstrated superior reliability at greater than 95 percent availability. Municipal solid waste, which does not have to be pretreated, is subjected to high temperatures and reduced air on the gasification platform, where it undergoes a chemical reaction that creates a synthesis gas (syngas). The syngas is then combusted and processed through an established energy recovery system, followed by a state-of-the-art emissions control system.

“Successfully completing this commercial demonstration was a major step in developing new facilities capable of gasifying unprocessed post-recycled municipal waste,” says John Klett, executive vice president and chief technology officer. “Moving forward, our research and development efforts will continue to improve the syngas quality created in the gasification process. One day, we anticipate this syngas will be utilized as a fuel in a combined cycle facility and potentially, in the production of liquid fuel.”