PDM Group to further develop anaerobic digestion (AD) plants

The PDM group has announced plans to invest a further UK£40 million (US$62.314 million), in its network of ReFood anaerobic digestion (AD), plants this year. This investment will result in two new plants located in Widnes and East London.

The announcement follows the completion of the company’s first AD plant at its headquarters in Doncaster. The two new plants will each double the recycling capacity of Doncaster, each handling around 90,000 tonnes of food waste each year and producing 4MWhs of renewable energy. Read more ...

Anaerobic Digestion study looks at reliability

A recent study report from the Soil Association on Anaerobic Digestion (AD) has said that the value of the energy generated from Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is the most important revenue stream for the viability of the technology. The comparative data regarding energy output makes it clear that the energy value of manure-only systems, and therefore the commercial value, is very limited. Manure tends to have a biogas potential which is only 1/10th of an energy crop. Read more ...

Canada $15 million towards a waste to biofuels facility

Enerkem Inc a Canadian waste to biofuels and chemicals company have announced that Waste Management and EB Investments have invested Can$15 million (€11,139,916.9) in Enerkem Alberta Biofuels LP which is currently building a full-scale commercial facility in Edmonton, using Enerkem’s proprietary technology.

“We are glad to see our business model and exclusive technology being increasingly backed by equity investors. We are even more encouraged when these investors tell us they want to take part directly in our projects”, said Vincent Chornet, President and CEO of Enerkem. “To us, this is further validation of Enerkem’s sound strategy and strong position in the cellulosic ethanol sector.” Read more ...

Biomass energy working group to discuss anaerobic digestion

On November 1, 2011 the Biomass energy working group are hosting a free meeting for anyone interested in anaerobic digestion. "Anaerobic digestion has been utilised primarily as a waste management technology for large confined animal feeding operations," said Chad Martin. "One of the side benefits happens to be the creation of renewable energy in the form of biogas that can be utilised for electricity generation. Now we're also looking into compressed natural gas opportunities where that gas can be pipe-lined." Read more ...

Coskata marks 15,000 run hours of operation

Coskata a biology based renewable energy company has completed a 15,000 hour run of operations using wood biomass and municipal solid waste, at their cellulosic ethanol semi commercial facility in Madison, Pennsylvania. “The data and operating experience cultivated at this pre-commercial scale facility has conclusively demonstrated that the Coskata technology is ready for commercial production today,” said Coskata President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Roe. Read more ...