Introduction to the Virginia Bioenergy Market Focus on Biogas
John Ignosh Area Specialist Agricultural Byproduct Utilization Biological Systems Engineering Virginia Tech & Virginia Cooperative Extension Harrisonburg, VA
Dr. Jactone Arogo Ogejo, PE Extension Specialist & Associate Professor Biological Systems Engineering Virginia Tech & Virginia Cooperative Extension Blacksburg, VA
Exploring Bioenergy Projects and New Project Opportunities in the Commonwealth of Virginia
a brief overview
John Ignosh Area Specialist
Ag Byproduct Utilization Biological Systems Engineering Virginia Cooperative Extension
Harrisonburg, VA
John Ignosh
Area Specialist
Agricultural Byproduct Utilization
Biological Systems Engineering
Virginia Tech & Extension
Harrisonburg, VA
About Virginia Cooperative Extension…
Virginia Cooperative Extension brings the resources of Virginia's land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, to the people of the commonwealth.
3 Goals of U. S. Land Grant Universities:
• Teaching
• Research
• Extension Service
Goals:
• Raise awareness and understanding among clientele of new approaches to increase the efficiency of production systems and opportunities to minimize environmental impact
• Relay emerging issues expressed by clientele to research community
Focus Areas:
1. Nutrient management
2. Project assessment tools
3. On-farm energy efficiency
4. Renewable energy conversion technologies
Promote the efficient utilization of agricultural byproducts. This role includes:
• Collaborating on regional efforts to assess opportunities to integrate nutrient management technologies with renewable energy generation
• Providing unbiased technical information on bioenergy conversion technologies including anaerobic digestion, biodiesel and thermal conversion processes
• Assisting farmers and rural small businesses in conducting energy assessments and audits of greenhouses, dairies, poultry farms, and other operation
Clientele:
• community leaders
• entrepreneurs
• farmers
• K-12 students
• policy makers
• And more!
Objectives
• BEEP provides tailored informational sessions for community leaders, entrepreneurs, farmers, K-12 students, and the general public on renewable energy technologies.
• Started in 2006 by Dr. Arogo, BEEP is delivered via webinars, presentations, meetings, field tours and hands-on workshops
• Aimed at providing basic information to Virginian’s interested in bioenergy: farmers, students, organizations, anyone interested in learning more.
• Growing to include solar energy conversion technologies in early 2013 & new mobile learning lab!
Bioenergy
Engineering
Education
Program
Introduce new tools and datasets to facilitate renewable energy & energy efficiency project analysis
Project Assessment Work
Collaborative Role Includes:
• Introducing new analysis tools, data resources, and programs to clientele
• Conducting preliminary biomass resource assessments
• Hosting hands-on workshops, see upcoming RETScreen workshops
• Posting web enabled GIS datasets
• A quick look at some examples later….
Series of Workshops throughout VA
In Collaboration with NASA’s Langley - VA
On-Farm Energy Efficiency Program
• In 2007, farmers spent:
– $156M in fuel , $52M in electricity and other
utilities, $208M in total
• A 10% increase in energy efficiency would have
produced nearly $21 million additional income to
Virginia farms in 2007
How can we find those opportunities? • Provides research based information related to best
management practices concerning energy via
Virginia Cooperative Extension workshops,
factsheets, webinars, etc.
• Energy audit program started in 2010, program
covers Southern VA, with efforts underway to expand
model statewide
• Train energy assessors, energy use BMPs,
thermography tools, fuel purchasing, etc.
• Supported by a grant from the Virginia Tobacco
Indemnification and Community Revitalization
Commission (2010-2012)
• Collaboration with BSE and VCE - Community
Viability
A Pilot Program for Southside and Southwest Virginia
Based on most recent program tally… • 47 energy audits completed • 16 counties throughout SS & SW
Virginia • Completed energy audit reports have
identified farm specific energy conservation measures to save:
• 969,448 kWh in electrical usage; • 493,854 gallons propane fuel; • 19,336 gallons fuel oil; • $951,247 in annual energy
related expenditures • 71% of these measures have a
payback period shorter than five years.
• Potential to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 3,536 MTCO2e.
Regional collaborations to identify technologies and practices to better manage nutrients in response to Bay TMDL & State WIP
Collaborative Role Includes:
• Assess system performance, ease of adoption and farm integration
• Conduct preliminary biomass feedstock analysis and emission testing
• Organize farm tours and educational workshops
• Convey results good/bad to clientele and extension network
• One effort focuses on poultry litter and another on smaller dairies
Nutrient Management – Pilot Project Development
A Look at Existing Bioenergy Facilities in Virginia
Bioenergy Facilities in Virginia: Ethanol Refineries
Source: Renewable Fuels Association
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/bio-refinery-locations/
Bioenergy Facilities in Virginia: Biodiesel Refineries
Four listed as currently “Existing” in Virginia Source: Biodiesel Magazine
http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/plants/map/
VA
Virginia
• 30 Active Projects
• 15 Prospects
• US EPA LMOP Data
Bioenergy Facilities in Virginia: Landfill Biogas
Virginia
• 1 Active Project
On-farm Anaerobic Digester Project in Virginia
Source: EPA/MOP/DOE/USDA
AgStar, 2013
Woody Bioenergy Projects in Virginia
Source: Southern Environment
Law Center, Date July 2012 http://www.southernenvironment.org/uploads/fck/file
/biomass/biomass_facilities_map_table_071012.pdf
PLUS:
• Approx 250 various biomass boilers
• Smaller developmental/pilot efforts with TCP
and cellulosic conversion technologies
Herbaceous Bioenergy Project
Development in Virginia
• Piedmont Geriatric Hospital
• Combustion NWSG • Piedmont Biofuels
• Pyrolysis Oils • Others
Exploring/Developing Project Opportunities
New Tools for Exploring Bioenergy Project Opportunities in the Commonwealth of Virginia:
1. GIS Assessments of Residual Biomass 2. Potential Energy Crops 3. Unique Policy Drivers for Different Types of
Facilities 4. Geocoding & Analysis of Registered Boilers
Acknowledgement This project was made possible, and sponsored by,
the Energy Program Office of the Virginia
Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy under
contract C11-6024.
GIS Based Multi Feedstock Bioresidue Assessment • In addition to dedicated energy
crops, what biomass feedstocks do we have to work with? Where and when are they generated? Is there competition for this material? What’s its highest/best use?
• Are there other mgmt constraints or opportunities due to location? (SOM, federal land, TMDL, tipping fees, etc.)
• Sought after as initial project screening tool by bioenergy project developers
• Component to Virginia Energy Plan
Virginia Residual Biomass Inventory
5 Categories, 23 Feedstocks
With more work underway
Preliminary Scan for Potential Energy Crops
Preliminary Scan for Potential Energy Crops
Identifying Unique Corporate & Agency Policy Drivers Virginia area businesses with corporate social responsibility goals, as identified via the
Carbon Disclosure Project
Identifying Unique Corporate & Agency Policy Drivers Virginia area businesses with corporate social responsibility goals, as identified via the
Carbon Disclosure Project
Identifying Unique Corporate & Agency Policy Drivers Public administration facilities with energy policies (e.g., EPAct 2005, etc.) or access to
governmental energy performance-based contract vehicles.
Where might it be worthwhile to explore options with biomass?
Geocoding & Analysis of Active Boilers
25,612 Active Boilers in VA
Active Boilers within One Mile of Conference Center
TRIVIA: How many active boilers in VA are older than this lunar footprint from Neil Armstrong’s “Moon Walk”?
1,967 boilers of 25,612 boilers, approximately 8%
In addition to trivia… These datasets should be useful tools in project screening and outreach, including identifying: • Certain types of boilers within a distance of a
biomass processing facility • Locations with unique policy drivers relative to
renewables • Tailoring educational outreach sessions to suit
particular regions, facility types, etc. • And much more!
John Ignosh
Area Specialist
Agricultural Byproduct Utilization
Harrisonburg, VA
540-432-6029 *108 office
Status of biogas production and use in Virginia
• Electricity for on-farm use (avoided cost)
• Electricity to grid
• REC & Carbon Credits
• Nutrient trading
• Tipping Fees
• Sale of separated liquid and solids
Revenues
Animal Bedding • Locally generated
Fertilizer • 90% less odor
• Reduce P & K (separation)
• N – form bioavailable to plants
• On-farm use and/or sold
• Water Quality (e.g. reduction in pathogens, leaching of N)
Products and Use
Environmental benefits
• Reduced odor
• Capture of potent GHG
Manure (dairy, swine)
Food waste
Feedstock
(organic matter)
Horticultural and pet food
DIGESTER
GENERATOR
Technology
The status and some challenges of AD in
Virginia
• Only ONE in operation on a dairy farm
• Dairy Size: 700 Dairies in VA, average herd size of ~90
• Capital Cost: On-farm systems are not cost effective for the size of farms in VA
• Green Energy and Carbon Credits: Policies not well established
Opportunities for biogas production on Virginia Dairies
SOURCES: AgSTAR Anaerobic Digestion Capital Costs for Dairy Farms - Feb. 2009 An Analysis of Energy Production Costs from Anaerobic Digestion Systems on U.S. Livestock Production Facilities NRCS, 2007
Very little being done for
dairies with < 500 cows
A good opportunity for
farmers e.g. Mennonite
community, who use diesel
generators for farm’s
electricity needs
Need to think about nutrient
management
Capital Cost of Anaerobic Digestion Systems
Fuel Cost Comparison
?
On-farm anaerobic digester in Virginia
Location: Chatham, VA
1st AD installed on dairy farm in VA
Herd size: 1,200 milking
Performance was evaluated according to the Association of State
Energy Research Technology Transfer Institutes (ASERTTI) protocol
Objectives
1. Evaluate performance of the digester
a. Criteria I: Waste stabilization
• Total and soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD)
• Volatile fatty acids (VFAs)
• Total (TS) and volatile (VS) solids
b. Quantity and quality of biogas
• Volume
• Composition
• Utilization
2. Document operation and maintenance requirements
Evaluation period: May 2011 – August 2012. Samples
collected:
• bi-weekly May 2011 to September 2011
• monthly October 2011 – August 2012
The Digester
Manure scraped from barn floors Every 30 min.
Digester fed every 90 min.
Solids
Material Flow & Equipment
Waste Stabilization – COD reduction
Influent
Eff Sep Liq
45%
32%
Influent
Effl Sep Liq
51% 55%
91.4% 91.2%
Effluent Separated Liquids
Influent
TS: 7.5%
VS: 6.8% VS:
3.9% VS: 2.9%
TS: 5.3%
TS: 4.2%
Waste Stabilization- Solids (TS, VS) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs)
Monthly biogas production
Biogas utilization and quality
Electricity generation and use
• Genset: 450 KW Guascor
Generator Model No. MGG-
712 (Martin Machinery) with a
35% electricity production
efficiency
• Engine heat recovered to heat
the digester
• On average 360 KWH
electricity is produced
• Biogas is cleaned of hydrogen
sulfide gas before used in
engine (< 200 ppm)
• Electric energy consumed to
run digester components is
10% of electric energy
produced
The Boiler
• Used when engine is not running
• Type: Columbia boiler, model MPH 60
• Gas input: 2,520,000 Btu per hour
• Efficiency – 83%
• Water capacity (flooded): 321 gallons
• Water Capacity (steam): 238 gallons
• Steam output: 2,070 lbs. per hour
The Flare
• Burns gas not used by the
generator or boiler. Flaring
prevents the escape of unburned
biogas into the atmosphere,
providing an environmentally
sound way to destroy methane
to reduce the greenhouse effect.
• Turns on automatically if the
engine or boiler shuts down
Nutrient content of manure fed to digester
• Consistent solids content, pH,
and nutrients
• Average pH of the raw manure is
about 7.7
• Total nitrogen to phosphorus
(P2O5) is 2.6 (wet wt)
• Ammonia nitrogen is about 42%
of total nitrogen
The Digestate (digester effluent)
• The digestate is sent to the solids separator
• The N, P, and K concentration consistent values following digestion.
• The ratio of total nitrogen to total phosphorus is about 2.7 (wet
weight) basis, similar to raw manure N:P
• No change in total N and P concentrations between raw and
digested manure.
• Ammonium-N is 51% of the total nitrogen in digested manure –
increase of 10% compared to raw manure
• Average solids reduction: volatile ~ 40% and total solids ~ 30%.
Solids Separator
• Mechanical screw press separator
with 0.5 mm slot openings
• Separated solids have 25-30% dry
matter and used as animal bedding
or fertilizer (contains some nutrients)
• For every 1000 gal (approx. 8,300
lbs.) of digestate processed, 760 lbs. (wet basis) of solids are
produced.
• The separated liquid is used as
liquid fertilizer.
Separated solids recycled for use as
animal bedding
Separated liquid and solids
nutrient content
Liquids
Solids
Nutrients Partitioning
• Solids: 18, 23, & 9% of N, P,
and K, respectively.
• Liquid: 82, 77, and 91% of
N, P, and K, respectively
Service & Maintenance
• Oil Change every 550 hours of engine run time
( 45 minutes)
• Routine daily monitoring 20 minutes
450 KW
Capacity
350 KW
Produced
10% Consumed
by Digester
Operations
Making AD work for small farms in Virginia.
We have set goals
• To determine the optimum mix of selected
organic residuals to produce maximum quality
and quantity of gas
• Assess the best digester configuration for
maximum gas production
• Figure out what will make the economics work
for anaerobic digesters in small farming
communities
Identify and map sources of organic residues
who, what, and where?
develop map that shows relative distances of sources
Determine the quantities of organic residues
how many pounds?
AD in VA – What is the Answer?
• Co-Digestion or Comingling
• Centralized AD System
• Improved process efficiency
• New technology
We perform lab studies to determine the optimum mix of organic materials to produce maximum quality and quantity of gas
The idea is ….
Individually
Combined
Laboratory test results
Biogas yield increased as poultry processing
wastewater ratio increased (A-100% manure; B-67% manure;
C-50% manure; D-33% manure; E-100% poultry processing wastewater)
Quality of gas for different feedstock mixtures
Feed Methane Content (%)
A (100% DM) 55
B (67% DM) 66
C (50% DM) 66
D (33% DM) 68
E (100% PPW) 70
Unique opportunities in Rockingham County farming
community
First, they have traditionally generated their own electricity – diesel
Second, a common question – how much electricity can we produce with the manure we have – given the success we read about anaerobic digesters in other parts of the world (most intriguing …with animal numbers smaller than what they have?)
Thirdly, economics: If the system can breakeven we will take it!!
Summary
With the right mechanisms and enabling policies
in Virginia there is potential to grow biogas
production on local farms as a source of energy
Thank You
Contact:
Jactone Arogo Ogejo
Biological Systems Engineering
Virginia Tech
Tel: (540) 231 6815
Email: [email protected]