Biogas Archives – The Green Optimistic

UK gears up for huge surge in new biomethane plants through 2020

Matthew Fiala — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 09:12:37 +0000

Thanks to an investment of £400m in the biomethane sector, potentially 48 new UK biomethane plants could all be in operation by January 2020 – increasing the total number of UK plants from 98 today to 146 by end of the decade. Anaerobic digestion, a process that converts organic wastes (food, manure, crop-waste and sewage) […]

The post UK gears up for huge surge in new biomethane plants through 2020 appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Ecotricity’s Biogas from Grass Plan Seems Plausible

Jose Aguilar — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 20:22:42 +0000

When considering biogas as a replacement for fossil-fuel-derived natural gas, or a source of fuel for power or heat, there are the arguments of suitability and efficiency. Some dispute vegetation cover conversion into biofuel deprives the biosphere of its C02 filtering capability, and some others think using biomass from land areas with potential for food […]

The post Ecotricity’s Biogas from Grass Plan Seems Plausible appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

How to Make a DIY Biomass Digester and Save Lots of Money!

Nicholas Say — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 13:54:50 +0000

I threw out a tomato yesterday, and I felt horrible about it! Not that I had much choice, the poor tomato had gone past the point of no return, and the house I am living in doesn’t make compost. While most people associate composting with gardening, it can also create heating gas for your home. […]

The post How to Make a DIY Biomass Digester and Save Lots of Money! appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Bus Powered By Cow Poop Breaks Speed Records

Mila Luleva — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 11:44:07 +0000

British bus, running on cow poop, reached the incredible speed of almost 77 m/h (123.6km/h) during tests, bypassing its oil counterparts. The incredible green vehicle belongs to the company Reading Buses, and has the iconic name “Bus Hound“, which comes from that of the super fast car- Bloodhound). It managed to set a new record during […]

The post Bus Powered By Cow Poop Breaks Speed Records appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Bio-Bus, UK’s First Poo-Powered Transport Service

Mila Luleva — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:54:41 +0000

The first ever bus powered by human poo is about to start transporting passengers on a route to one of the airports in the UK. The revolutionary green vehicle runs on sewage and food waste, emits much less greenhouse gases and brings a whole new type of bathroom relief to the green-loving local community. The miracle […]

The post Bio-Bus, UK’s First Poo-Powered Transport Service appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

UK Supermarket Meets 100% of Its Energy Demands from Food Waste

Mila Luleva — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 09:42:06 +0000

Generating electricity from food waste and leftovers- not a new concept at all. But using the electricity generated from expired produce to fully power an entire supermarket, now this is a revelation. The first ever supermarket to be 100% powered by food waste from its shelves, opened its doors in Cannock, U.K.. Sainsbury’s store, together with a […]

The post UK Supermarket Meets 100% of Its Energy Demands from Food Waste appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

EcoVolt Turns Californian Brewery Into Biogas Generation Facility

Mila Luleva — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:16:12 +0000

Some time ago, we told you about EcoVolt, the system that contains bacteria that eats organic waste and generates methane. It is owned by the start-up Cambrian Innovation, and it serves as an example to what wastewater-to-energy is all about. But the guys behind Cambrian did not stop there. When EcoVolt was introduced, the owners […]

The post EcoVolt Turns Californian Brewery Into Biogas Generation Facility appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

NY’s Biggest Wastewater Treatment Plant Accepts Food Waste, Produces Biogas For Grid

Mila Luleva — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:18:34 +0000

New York City is about to become the proud owner of the biggest wastewater biogas plant, which will supply sustainable energy to the national grid, thanks to the Newtown Creek project. The new technology is a real breakthrough, which has the potential to convert 100% of the food waste and wastewater into gas, which is […]

The post NY’s Biggest Wastewater Treatment Plant Accepts Food Waste, Produces Biogas For Grid appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Fuel Made of Methane From Landfills for Sale In California

Mila Luleva — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 17:29:13 +0000

It is finally here. Fuel made of methane extracted from landfills goes on sale in 40 stations across California. Clean Energy Fuels, the company that started this, has the aim to expand the network nationwide and sell around 15 million gallons in California, only this year. The increasing popularity in vehicles that run on clean […]

The post Fuel Made of Methane From Landfills for Sale In California appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

NYC Considers Food Recycling to Generate Electricity

Leigh Hutchens — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:07:06 +0000

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has already made many drastic changes in the city, from banning smoking in parks and restaurants, trying to curb soda consumption, and encouraging bike riding as a mainstream mode of transportation, and he’s at it again. This time, Bloomberg has dreams of requiring New Yorkers to gather and separated […]

The post NYC Considers Food Recycling to Generate Electricity appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

University of Texas Doubles Electricity Output of Landfill

Benji Jerew — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:12:50 +0000

Landfills are not just an eyesore, but also produce methane as their contents decompose. Methane [CH4] is a greenhouse gas, and if not recovered, could accelerate climate change. On the other hand, recovered methane makes a great fuel, which can be used to generate electricity for the very residents and businesses contributing to the landfill. […]

The post University of Texas Doubles Electricity Output of Landfill appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Apple’s Data Center and the Clean Energy Paradox

Leigh Hutchens — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 07:32:57 +0000

According to the North Carolina Utility Commission, Apple intends to double the amount of fuel cells it will use at its data center in Maiden, North Carolina. In November, Apple filed to increase its fuel cell size but kept the endeavor completely confidential. Bloom Energy is installing 50 Bloom boxes for Apple to produce 10 […]

The post Apple’s Data Center and the Clean Energy Paradox appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Iowa Engineers Convert Cellulosic Biomass to SynGas Using Pyrolysis-Gasification

Janina Lazo-Cruz — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:10:11 +0000

A huge renewable energy project is currently conducted and making its way in Iowa State University that utilizes cellulosic biomass as sources of synthesis gas or SynGas, which can be processed further to desired type of fuel. In a previous article, Iowa engineers are using pyrolysis-microbial bioconversion tandem in converting biomass to bio-oil to biofuels. […]

The post Iowa Engineers Convert Cellulosic Biomass to SynGas Using Pyrolysis-Gasification appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Biofuels Emit More CO2 Than Thought Because of Their Production Process

Guest Contributor — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:09:56 +0000

The production of biofuel is considered a bandwagon today due to its many benefits to machines as well as to the environment. However, two scientists are challenging the popular belief that biofuels are clean sources of energy. A recent commentary found in GCB Bioenergy, pulls the conclusion that the benefits of using them are overrated […]

The post Biofuels Emit More CO2 Than Thought Because of Their Production Process appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Apple to Build 4.8MW Fuel Cell System Powered by Biogas at Its NC Data Center

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:02:26 +0000

If you remember, we’ve been talking about Apple’s new and bold green statement recently. At that time we’ve been telling you about the plans to power their new North Carolina data center with solar panels and biogas. Now, the company that Steve Jobs saved from peril in 1997 is building world’s largest private owned fuel […]

The post Apple to Build 4.8MW Fuel Cell System Powered by Biogas at Its NC Data Center appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

New Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Provides Cheap Grid Energy From CNG and Biogas

Mike Sandru — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:46:59 +0000

VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland began testing a large-scale prototype of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that, according to the organization, will provide cheap and efficient grid power from biogas and natural gas. Using a single 10 kW planar SOFC stack, the system is capable of generating clean energy for a typical apartment block throughout an entire year.

The post New Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Provides Cheap Grid Energy From CNG and Biogas appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Chinese Huishan Dairy Factory Implementing Huge 5.6 MW Biogas-Powered Generator

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 11:28:05 +0000

A dairy farm in China is about to implement the world's largest system for converting methane from fermenting cow manure into electricity. The Huishan Diary has imported a GE Jenbacher engine and adapted it for use with biogas, expecting to generate as much as 5.6 megawatts of power.

The post Chinese Huishan Dairy Factory Implementing Huge 5.6 MW Biogas-Powered Generator appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Toronto's New Garbage Truck Fleet Running on Waste-Derived Biogas

Mike Sandru — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:24:13 +0000

The City of Toronto brought into the spotlight the latest addition to its green fleet of waste and recycling collecting service. The new garbage truck can run on converted biogas obtained from the picked up organic material waste.

The post Toronto's New Garbage Truck Fleet Running on Waste-Derived Biogas appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Permafrost Bacteria Could Make Biogas Production Available In Colder Regions

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 07:59:26 +0000

People living in warm climates have been used to using biogas since ages, with even the Assyrians using it to heat their baths 3,000 years ago. But in the colder regions such as Alaska, biogas is harder to produce, since temperatures do not allow for bacteria to ferment the organic waste.

The post Permafrost Bacteria Could Make Biogas Production Available In Colder Regions appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Siloxane Blocking Development of Biogas Industry: Graphite Filters Solve The Problem

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:25:52 +0000

Siloxane is a carbon-silicon compound found inside various chemical products on the market and then released into the air when methane is produced. Its existence threatens the biogas machinery, being able to cause serious damage.

The post Siloxane Blocking Development of Biogas Industry: Graphite Filters Solve The Problem appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Guinea Pigs Producing Biogas for Peruvian Family

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:09:57 +0000

More than 400 pounds of guinea pig poo is processed into methane and a liquid product that then farmers can feed the plants with. They use the classic anaerobic digestion.

The post Guinea Pigs Producing Biogas for Peruvian Family appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Bio-Bug Becomes Britain's First Car to Run on Methane Gas Produced from Human Waste

Mike Sandru — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:10:30 +0000

The team modified a 2 litre VW Beetle convertible to run on both compressed methane gas and conventional fuel. It can also travel 10,000 miles by the power produced from sewage collected from just 70 homes.

The post Bio-Bug Becomes Britain's First Car to Run on Methane Gas Produced from Human Waste appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Milk Company From Ukraine Producing 1.3 MW of Power With 4,000 Cows And a CHP System

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:05:14 +0000

From the former block of communist countries, Ukraine stands up and produces energy from the cow farms they own. The Ukrainian Milk Company Ltd, near Kiev, the country's capital, has just implemented a CHP (combined heat and power) generator powered by 4,000 cows.

The post Milk Company From Ukraine Producing 1.3 MW of Power With 4,000 Cows And a CHP System appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Bacteria Could Make Sewage Treatment Plants Turn From High Energy Consumers to Producers

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:42:17 +0000

Sewage treatment plants always consume energy to filter water (around 44 watt-hours per day per person). They use three types of bacteria and energy to pump oxygen for the first type of bacteria and methanol for the second. Adding the fact that methanol is also produced through an energy-intensive process... you can pull the conclusions.

The post Bacteria Could Make Sewage Treatment Plants Turn From High Energy Consumers to Producers appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Colorado Company Uses Concentrated Solar Power to Transform Biomass into Gasoline

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:09:20 +0000

Sundrop Fuels, a Louisville, CO, -based company has developed a method of using concentrated solar power to heat the biomass to 1200 or 1300 ºC, and even produce syngas more efficiently than the standard technology, which uses only 30 to 35 percent of the biomass.

The post Colorado Company Uses Concentrated Solar Power to Transform Biomass into Gasoline appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Hell's Gate in Turkmenistan: Burning Precious Energy for Nothing Since 1971

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:57:18 +0000

This hole (initially a gas-filled cave) has been named "Hell's Gate", for obvious reasons. It was discovered when some geologists have been searching for natural gas, in Turkmenistan's Karakum desert, in Darvasa. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of about 50-100 meters.

The post Hell's Gate in Turkmenistan: Burning Precious Energy for Nothing Since 1971 appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Innovative Powder Catalyst Used to Transform Methane into Methanol

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:43:36 +0000

Max Planck Institute for Coal Research and at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces have invented a material in the form of a powder than can transform methane into methanol, which is easier to transport and handle.

The post Innovative Powder Catalyst Used to Transform Methane into Methanol appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Innovative Biogas-Powered CHP Network to be Installed in German Town

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:28:40 +0000

LÃƒÆ’¼nen, a North Western German town is about to give an example of distributed recycled energy network, by installing a biogas plant to supply 30 to 40% of its energy needs (including heat).

The post Innovative Biogas-Powered CHP Network to be Installed in German Town appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

First Biogas Plant That Runs on Waste Biomass Feedstocks

Cristi — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:26:51 +0000

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS in Dresden have recently developed a biogas plant that utilizes waste materials such as corn stalks and other agricultural waste.

The post First Biogas Plant That Runs on Waste Biomass Feedstocks appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

DEKA Revolt: First Hybrid Stirling Engine Car – Powered by Anything!

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:03:45 +0000

Dean Kamen, a UK inventor, has just released to the public a modified electric Ford Th!nk, hacked in his DEKA labs. DEKA is his company located in Manchester Millyard. Kamen's modified electric car has a Stirling engine onboard, into the trunk. He uses the stirling engine mainly to defrost and heat the car, because the systems doing that are huge power consumers.

The post DEKA Revolt: First Hybrid Stirling Engine Car – Powered by Anything! appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

65% More Biofuel From Chinese Rice Straw

Ovidiu Sandru — Sat, 31 May 2008 05:32:48 +0000

A team of chinese researchers discovered a way to a new biofuel. Their new study, scheduled for the July 16 issue of ACS' bimonthly journal Energy & Fuels, describes a way to boost production of biofuel from rice straw by almost 65 percent.

The post 65% More Biofuel From Chinese Rice Straw appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

Pure Green Energy From Cow Farms

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:37:56 +0000

Some Washington University engineers using an advanced imaging technology found out that vigorous mixing helps microorganisms turn farm waste into a source of alternative energy. Hog and cow manure is a persistent pollutant from very large, industrial-sized barns and feed lots, but can become a very useful resource of methane when broken down by bacteria. […]

The post Pure Green Energy From Cow Farms appeared first on The Green Optimistic.

How to Build a Backyard Biogas Plant

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:33:33 +0000

Introduction The success or failure of any biogas plant mainly depends upon the quality of how it is constructed. To construct a good biogas plant, you should not only respect the dimensions as indicated on the drawing but also follow the correct construction method. Hereunder, in a step-by-step fashion, the right construction method of the […]

The post How to Build a Backyard Biogas Plant appeared first on The Green Optimistic.