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

jignosh@vt.edu

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: arogo@vt.edu