B a r r i e r s t o B i o g a s U s e f o r R e n e w a b l e E n e r g y Operations Optimization Water Environment Research Foundation 635 Slaters Lane, Suite G-110 n Alexandria, VA 2231 4-11 77 Phone: 571-384-2100 n Fax: 703-299-0742 n Email: [email protected] www.werf.org WERF Stock No. OWSO11C10 Co-published by IWA Publishing Barriers to Biogas Use Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QS United Kingdom for Renewable Energy Phone: +44 (0)20 7654 5500 Fax: +44 (0)20 7654 5555 Email: [email protected] Web: www.iwapublishing.co IWAP ISBN: 978-1-78040-101-0/1-78040-101-9 Co-published by June 2012 OWSO11C10 BARRIERS TO BIOGAS USE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY by: John Willis, P.E. Brown and Caldwell Lori Stone, P.E. Black & Veatch Karen Durden, P.E. Brown and Caldwell Ned Beecher North East Biosolids and Residuals Association (NEBRA) Caroline Hemenway Hemenway Inc. Rob Greenwood Ross & Associates Environmental Consulting, Ltd. 2012 The Water Environment Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, funds and manages water quality research for its subscribers through a diverse public-private partnership between municipal utilities, corporations, academia, industry, and the federal government. WERF subscribers include municipal and regional water and wastewater utilities, industrial corporations, environmental engineering firms, and others that share a commitment to cost-effective water quality solutions. WERF is dedicated to advancing science and technology addressing water quality issues as they impact water resources, the atmosphere, the lands, and quality of life. For more information, contact: Water Environment Research Foundation 635 Slaters Lane, Suite G-110 Alexandria, VA 22314-1177 Tel: (571) 384-2100 Fax: (703) 299-0742 www.werf.org [email protected] This report was co-published by the following organization. IWA Publishing Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QS, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7654 5500 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7654 5555 www.iwapublishing.com [email protected] © Copyright 2012 by the Water Environment Research Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission to copy must be obtained from the Water Environment Research Foundation. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2011943815 Printed in the United States of America IWAP ISBN: 978-1-78040-101-0/1-78040-101-9 This report was prepared by the organization(s) named below as an account of work sponsored by the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). Neither WERF, members of WERF, the organization(s) named below, nor any person acting on their behalf: (a) makes any warranty, express or implied, with respect to the use of any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report or that such use may not infringe on privately owned rights; or (b) assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of, any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report. Brown and Caldwell, Black & Veatch, Northeast Biosolids and Residuals Association, Hemenway, Inc. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute WERF nor New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) endorsement or recommendations for use. Similarly, omission of products or trade names indicates nothing concerning WERF's nor NYSERDA's positions regarding product effectiveness or applicability. The research on which this report is based was funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in partnership with the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge the funding support provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), and the helpful guidance of Kathleen O’Connor, P.E. and Lauren Fillmore, Project Officers for NYSERDA and WERF, respectively. The project team gratefully acknowledges the hundreds of utility personnel who voluntarily participated in this project. The success of the project is directly attributed to the dedication and enthusiasm of these utilities to share their experiences regarding creating biogas for renewable energy. The authors also wish to express their appreciation to the project advisory committee for its guidance in the design and conduct of the project as well as to Jennifer Aurandt, Ph.D. of Kettering University and Joseph Cantwell, P.E. of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Report Preparation Principal Investigators: John Willis, P.E. Brown and Caldwell Lori Stone, P.E. Black & Veatch Project Team: Karen Durden, P.E. Brown and Caldwell Ned Beecher North East Biosolids and Residuals Association (NEBRA) Rob Greenwood Ross & Associates Environmental Consulting, Ltd. Caroline Hemenway Hemenway Inc. Bill Toffey Mid Atlantic Biosolids Association (MABA) Nora Goldstein JG Press/BioCycle Technical Review Committee Robert Bastian U.S. Environmental Protection Agency David Cooley Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) Arthur J. Meyers, Jr., Ph.D. University of Tennessee Barriers to Biogas Use for Renewable Energy iii David Tucker City of San Jose WERF Optimization Challenge Issue Area Team John Barber, Ph.D. Eastman Chemical Shahid Chaudhry California Energy Commissions Steve Constable, P.E. DuPont Engineering Technology David Cooley Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) Robert F. Kelly, Ph.D. Suez Environnement Arthur J. Meyers, Jr., Ph.D. University of Tennessee Ali Oskouie, Ph.D. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) David Tucker City of San Jose James Wheeler, P.E., BCEE U.S. Environmental Protection Agency John Willis, P.E., BCEE Brown and Caldwell Water Environment Research Foundation Staff Director of Research: Daniel M. Woltering, Ph.D. Program Director: Lauren Fillmore, M.S. iv ABSTRACT AND BENEFITS Abstract: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) reports that few wastewater treatment plants with anaerobic digestion beneficially use their biogas beyond process heating. Thus, there must be actual or perceived barriers to broader use of biogas to produce combined heat and power (CHP). In 2011, the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) conducted a study to determine what barriers wastewater utilities face in implementing combined heat and power projects. The project team developed an online survey to determine the most significant barriers facing utilities. This survey was distributed nationally and completed by more than 200 respondents. The survey findings were presented and discussed with dozens of utility representatives at four focus groups timed with industry conferences. Many of the findings of the project were not surprising. Of the 10 barrier categories introduced as potential barriers at the beginning of the project, nine were deemed significant, according the broad input and testing conducted. However, it became clear that economic barriers – inadequate payback/economics and lack of available capital – were dominant. Other barriers fell into two categories: policy factors such as regulatory permitting, and human factors, such as decision making. Benefits: Identifies barriers that public utilities face in implementing beneficial use of biogas. Consolidates responses received on barriers to biogas for renewable energy recovery from more than 200 utility participants across the United States. Provides specific strategies to help utilities overcome barriers to biogas use for renewable energy. Provides recommendations to expand the production of renewable energy from biogas. Keywords: Biogas, renewable energy, green power, cogeneration, combined heat and power. Barriers to Biogas Use for Renewable Energy v TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iii Abstract and Benefits .......................................................................................................................v List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. ix List of Figures ..................................................................................................................................x List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................ xii Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................ES-1 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Research Context ................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Project Overview ................................................................................................. 1-2 1.3 Report Organization ............................................................................................. 1-2 2.0 Biogas Uses for Renewable Energy .............................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 CHP Uses for Biogas ........................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.1 Internal