[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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Czech Republic

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edelman at greenidea.eu
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