REA Biogas News

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07/11/11--05:00: Clearfleau opens new plant at BV Dairy at Shaftesbury, Dorset (chan 1550968)

BV Dairy offically opened its innovative and effective new hig-rate liquid AD system which is treating feedstocks from dairy products at the adjacent factory. David Collins attended the event and is pictured with Richard Gueterbock, a leading member of REA Biogas...




08/01/11--05:00: REA Biogas - FITs Fast-Track Review - tariffs for AD delayed (chan 1550968)

The increased FIT rates for AD which should have come into force for sub-500kW installations commissioned with Ofgem from today (1st August 2011) have unexpectedly been delayed. We understand that this is because the government has not yet received sign off from the European Commission confirming that the increased rates are compatible with State Aid rules. Therefore any plant which accredits with Ofgem before the approval is received will receive the lower rate of FITs. DECC officials are not able to say when the approval is expected...




08/17/11--05:00: REA Biogas & Masstock launch Report on Crop Feedstocks for on-farm AD (chan 1550968)

The use of crop feedstocks in on-farm anaerobic digestion (AD) systems, and their potential to displace crops grown for food, is currently the subject of intense debate. This new report offers an analysis of the use of crop feedstocks and seeks to demonstrate that a significant expansion in on-farm AD, including the use of crop feedstocks, can be both sustainable and profitable. This report is an expansion of an original presentation given by  Masstock Farm Consultancy which has working relationships with over 60% of the UK farming industry...




08/25/11--05:00: WRAP Tender - Anaerobic digestion and its impacts on common pests & diseases (chan 1550968)

WRAP has issued a tender for "Anaerobic digestion and its impacts on common pests & diseases" Closing date: 31/8/2011 WRAP would like to verify recent risk assessments which have confirmed that anaerobic digestion offers a robust mechanism for the production of safe, sanitised digestate. The project will investigate the impact of pasteurisation before or after digestion on a range of common agricultural pests and diseases such as Black Grass, Fusarium and Clubroot...




09/22/11--05:00: OFT Market Study into organic waste published (chan 1550968)

This Market Study was prompted by Ofwat, to assess competition in the current market for sewage sludge treatment, and the extent of water company involvement in the wider organic waste market.   OFT also asked made recommendations to increase competition and create markets in the organic waste market 27 October 2011 - is the deadline for comments...




09/30/11--05:00: RHI delayed until November over State Aid for large biomass (chan 1550968)

The EU Commission’s objection to tariff levels is only to the large biomass tariff. All the other tariffs/technologies are OK.   DECC was planning to launch the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for non-domestic generators on 30 September 2011.   However, changing the large biomass tariff will require the RHI regulations to be amended and submitted to Parliament for approval. Government are therefore unable to launch the scheme as a whole until this process has been completed. So the scheme will not be open for applications on 30 September 2011 as originally planned...




09/30/11--05:00: Ofgem Consultation on RO Sustainability Criteria announced (chan 1550968)

The objective of the document is to provide practical guidance to operators of solid and gaseous biomass and other interested persons on the recent changes to the Renewables Obligation Orders for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland which require them to provide information on the sustainability of the fuels used with regard to greenhouse reductions and prior land use...




09/30/11--05:00: Biomass and Biogas Carbon Calculator now available (chan 1550968)

The UK Biomass and Biogas Carbon Calculator has been developed for calculating carbon intensity and greenhouse gas (GHG) saving of solid biomass and biogas used for electricity and heat generation. The UK Biomass & Biogas Carbon Calculator incorporates the calculation methodology set out in the Renewable Energy Directive1, taking account of the recommendations set out by the European Commission in their report on sustainability requirements for solid and gaseous biomass2. The tool is designed to assist in calculating the final GHG emission saving that should be reported to Ofgem...




10/13/11--05:00: FITs increases for AD up to 500kWe get State Approval (chan 1550968)

As the industry is aware, the increase in tariffs for farm scale AD projects (up to 500kW) made as part of the recent fast-track review were conditional on state aid approval. The European Commission has now made its decision not to raise objection to the proposal; and the notification can be viewed online The changes to the tariffs takes effect automatically. Therefore the new tariffs for AD will apply to installations with an eligibility date from 30 September 2011 which is the date on which the Commission made the decision...




10/20/11--05:00: RO Banding Review includes degression (chan 1550968)

Announced this morning, the RO Banding Review has introduced degression for the first time into the RO banding rates for renewable energy.  For AD the rate is confirmed as 2 x ROCs for 2013/14 and 2014/15.   Then degressing to 1.9 in 2015/16 and 1.8 in 2016/17.  Thereafter RO will move into the EMR scheme.   Granfdathering is of course maintained for AD...




10/26/11--05:00: RHI goes ahead - DECC estimates a late November start (chan 1550968)

The Renewable Heat Incentive (which includes biomethane injection to grid) was prevented from going ahead at the end of September due to objections from the European Commission on the large (1MW+) biomass tariff. DECC has now laid revised regulations before Parliament, reflecting the reduced tariff they have agreed with the Commission The regulations require Parliamentary approval – and DECC hope to have the scheme in place by the end of November. The large-scale biomass tariff has been drastically reduced, however – from 2...




11/01/11--05:00: UK Solid & Gaseous Biomass Carbon Calculator launched (chan 1550968)

Download the calculator on this link The manual can also be found on the same link or accessed in the file below ...




11/08/11--04:00: BIOMASTER Project - Biomethane production and use for transport (chan 1550968)

BIOMASTER is a project, co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe-Programme and is comprised of 17 partners, coming from Austria, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Their ambition is to exploit the potential of biomethane production and use for transport to overcome the current impasse and bring the key components of the biomethane chain into a joint initiative, stimulating investments, removing non-technological barriers and mobilising action for uptake...




11/15/11--04:00: WRAP launches "Driving Innovation in AD Challenge" (chan 1550968)

Programme Overview The ‘Driving Innovation in AD’ challenge is a two phase programme of work. Once applicants have detailed their idea/solution to one or both of the projects they will be selected to undertake a feasibility study, indicating the viability of their projects. Those projects which show the most significant benefits and potential will progress to phase two demonstrations. If you wish to tender for either or both of the projects please register your details and download the relevant application pack(s) for further information and guidance...




11/24/11--04:00: Ofgem - Applications for RHI open from Monday 28th November (chan 1550968)

Ofgem is accepting applications for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)  from Monday 28 November 2011.  Ofgem Guidance for applications: Volume One of the Guidance describes the eligibility requirements of the RHI and how prospective participants can become accredited or registered as applicable.  Volume Two of the Guidance describes the ongoing requirements for RHI participants, information on how periodic support payments are calculated and paid, and our compliance and enforcement powers...




11/29/11--04:00: Defra Rural Community Renewable Energy Fund launched (chan 1550968)

Targeting £100m of Rural Development Programme for England funding to help rural businesses  Launching a £15m Rural Community Renewable Energy Fund to help communities meet the upfront cost of developing Renewables projects Reducing Regulation on farms - e.g. easing the burden of the Nitrates Directive Launching a £15m Rural Community Renewable Energy Fund to help communities meet the upfront cost of developing renewable energy projects...




11/30/11--04:00: New Government investment for low emission goods vehicles announced (chan 1550968)

Capital funding of £8 million will be made available by the government in 2012 to encourage the UK’s road freight industry to buy and use low emission medium and heavy goods vehicles. The planned investment, announced today by the government in its Autumn Statement, will be managed by the Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org). The funding includes £6.5 million for a low emission goods vehicle demonstration trial, plus the supporting infrastructure for trial vehicles, with a further £1.5 million targeted funding for public gas refuelling hubs...




12/01/11--04:00: CIWM produces new Training and Skills Matrix (chan 1550968)

As part of the DEFRA Anaerobic Digestion Action Plan (skills sub group), the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has drafted a matrix which seeks to highlight different skills and training needs of a variety of people and roles either directly or indirectly related to Anaerobic Digestion. The current version of the Training and Skills Matrix is just a basic starting point and will hopefully, through further input from others capture the mix of needs within AD...




01/11/12--04:00: BCS Consults AD Industry on End of Waste Proposals (chan 1550968)

The Biofertiliser Certification Scheme will eventually be aligned with any new criteria and the Joint Research Centre's Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (JRC-ITPS) has produced a document called Technical Report for End of Waste Criteria on Biodegradable Waste – 2nd Technical Working Document 11th October 2011 which you can download and which includes the new proposals. We have been at a series of WRAP workshops in December in Edinburgh, Bristol and London to discuss the implications both of revising the PAS110 and ADQP and of aligning it with the new EU scheme...




01/16/12--04:00: Malaby Biogas is first to benefit from WRAP AD Loan Fund (chan 1550968)

Wiltshire-based company Malaby Biogas has become the first recipient of a loan from a £10m anaerobic digestion fund launched in July last year by Defra and administered by WRAP. The one-off £800,000 loan will be added to other funding secured by Malaby Biogas, including support from Clydesdale Bank, to construct and commission a new anaerobic digestion plant on the site of a redundant 12-acre smallholding...