[sustran] Netherlands,
Viet Nam and USA support biogas/waste methane / Shell
Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory
edelman at greenidea.eu
Wed Dec 26 21:51:50 JST 2007
Hi,
The news below from Vietnam is focused on using waste methane
(biogas/biomethane) for domestic cooking and heating but the US
international programme could be about any use of waste methane (and
from sources like old coal mines, etc).
For transport, the most effective use of waste methane (if you have
enough) is in generating electricity for electrically-powered guided
vehicles, but of course that is difficult or not justifiable in many
places and certainly rural areas. So, my favourite idea for biogas/waste
methane for transport is a combination sewage treatment/biogas reactor
facility. (Though I think this requires fair amounts of water). The gas
could then be cleaned and concentrated and used in all vehicles which
use CNG. So using this a community could possibly provide energy for all
local transport, trash vehicles, etc.
However, last year Manfred Breithaupt from GTZ asked me the following
questions related to that (specifically about biogas trains):
"Being in general quite sceptical on biofuels in transport, I’m also in
this case inclined to pose my usual set of questions:
* Who is interested in using bio-mass (in this case biogas)? – The
agricultural sector (because of income), the energy sector (in order to
enhance energy security), or the transport sector (why)?
* What is the price of bio-mass per unit compared to conventional fuels
(for various crude-oil price levels and under which tax schemes?)
* Are there any favourable policy frameworks for bio-mass use in place?
(eg. tax incentives)
* What are overall indicators related to the mentioned trains (e.g.,
usage, mode share, energy consumption per seat-km, cost coverage)?
* How do they compare to similar systems as well as to other public
modes in the area?
* Are there other policy options available in order to achieve the
intended objectives?
* Are there competing options for bio-mass use in local energy production?"
Maybe some of these questions have answered themselves since then...
***
[In the first article there is mentioned towards the end an interesting
benefit for sustainable transport... really, decreasing unnecessary
mobility]
Biogas tanks benefit farmers, environment
<http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02ECO251207>
(25-12-2007)
*by To Nhu*
HA NOI — The environment has benefited a lot from a joint programme
between Viet Nam and the Netherlands on building biogas tanks in rural
areas throughout the country, said the deputy director of the
Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry’s Livestock Breeding
Department, Nguyen Thanh Son.
The 2006 Global Energy Prize-winning programme, began in 2003, aims at
developing a stable biogas industry in the country while reducing
reliance on fossil fuels.
Son, who is also the project’s director, said the programme had helped
people build more than 36,000 family biogas tanks in 25 cities and
provinces nationwide. More than 100,000 people had benefited from the
programme.
Biogas has helped reduce air pollution, improve sewage treatment, lessen
odours and deforestation and improve public health, said Son.
Statistics from the department indicate that a family with a biogas tank
used 2.3 tonnes of firewood less than those without a tank, equal to
0.03 ha of forest per year, while producing 30 tonnes of high-quality
waste for farming.
It is estimated that 90 per cent of rural households had used waste from
biogas tanks to improve impoverished soil.
Nguyen Thi Van, a beneficiary of the programme from Nghe An Province,
said her family had escaped from poverty thanks to the project.
"We farmers who earn a living from livestock breeding and agriculture
have benefited a lot from biogas tanks," said Van.
"It has not only helped my family reduce costs for fuel including coal,
wood, oil and electricity to between VND70,000-80,000 (US$5) per month,
but also helped supply waste for farming so I don’t have to use chemical
fertilisers."
Le Van Ngoc, from northern Thai Nguyen Province, said he built a biogas
tank three years ago at a cost of VND3 million ($188). He received VND1
million ($63) from the project.
Ngoc said it was now rare to see smoke rising in the village from
burning wood and straw, as many local households had built biogas tanks.
People had used gas from biogas tanks to cook dishes, even mash for
pigs, and many of them had installed water heaters thanks to the tanks.
"My family has a herd of 15 pigs, three times more than we had in 2003,"
said Ngoc.
"Cooking mash for pigs is easier than before."
He said that biogas tanks helped his family earn more than VND100
million ($6,250) per year and build a modern house.
Son said biogas tanks could improve human health by reducing bad smells
and air pollution.
"Women and children are now free to do other things in stead of fetching
firewood. Destruction of local forests has also decreased."
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said
livestock breeding had flourished in the country’s agricultural sector
following industrialisation, but the impact to the environment was a
concern.
He said the programme had opened a new development way for livestock
breeding as it addressed environment protection concerns.
Phat said the Netherlands had committed to support an additional amount
of 3.7 euro to help with another 140,000 biogas tanks by 2010.
The Government expected the plan to help reduce CO2 emissions by 420,000
tonnes, save 300,000 tonnes of wood per year and create at least 2,500
biogas-related jobs.
***
EPA Issues RFPs to Support Biogas Production
_http://green.onevillage.tv/?p=189
_
U.S. EPA issued a major request for proposals (RFP) to support the
Methane to Markets Partnership by funding projects and activities that
advance methane recovery and use as a clean energy source.
The total estimated amount for this competitive funding opportunity is
up to $7 million. EPA expects to award up to 40 cooperative agreements
through this announcement, ranging in value from approximately $100,000
to $700,000.
EPA seeks proposals from organizations including international
governments, not-for-profit organizations, states, local governments,
and universities. Successful proposals will promote project development
internationally. The estimated project period for awards is September
2008 through September 2011.
Proposals are due by February 22, 2008, 4:00 p.m. EST.
All proposals, however transmitted, must be received by EPA or through
grants.gov (RFP number EPA-OAR-CCD-08-01) by the closing date and time
to receive consideration. See EPA’s Methane to Markets Grants page
<http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/grants.htm> for additional
information on how to apply. [Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia,
Ecuador, India, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
EPA will also consider Regional proposals as long as at least one of the
countries listed above is included in the proposed work.]
***
OK, that was the positive part... and while we are still on the subject
of energy:
HERE is Shell (and Ferrari) utterly mocking all our efforts in cities of
the world:
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clULLm-4yfc
HERE is am amusing (and long) TV advert Shell made (I think in 2006):
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzJDDjA3AM4&feature=related>
PLEASE think about how much Shell probably spent on these adverts vs.
how much they give to BRT projects etc...
Finally, I think it is only fair to end this on Shell's (and BP's)
sustainable energy business:
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/11/oil.bp>
- T
--
--------------------------------------------
Todd Edelman
Director
Green Idea Factory
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edelman at greenidea.eu
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