Feasibility of Small Scale

Biogas-to-CNG Vehicle Fuel

Projects
Chris Voell, Eastern Sales Manager,
BioCNG, LLC

Todays Presentation
CNG overview
Small scale biogas/vehicle fuel feasibility
project Dane County WI
Lessons learned
Technology
Economics
Benefits/advantages
Biogas/vehicle fuel opportunities

Cornerstone Environmental Group

and BioCNG, LLC
Cornerstone Environmental Group, LLC is an engineering
consulting and field service firm dedicated to providing
services to the solid waste industry.
Founded by industry leaders who have helped to develop and
shape solid waste, energy, and environmental technologies
over the past 30 years.
In the past two seasons, Cornerstone has provided CQA
Services in 13 states on 18 landfill cell construction projects
totaling more than 120 acres and on 29 LFG construction
projects including nearly 500 gas wells and 50 miles of piping.
Growing Organics Practice.
BioCNG a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cornerstone.

Great to be back!

My Background
Forestry/Natural Resources Management
Dad NYS Health Dept, Chautauqua County,
Erie County
GRCDA/SWANA 1986-1999
EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program 20022007
EPA AgSTAR Program 2007-2012
BioCNG, LLC since June
Working to advance solid waste management and
the capture and use of biogas for 25 years.

The CNG Revolution

Gasoline and diesel costs continue to rise
Fleets (especially refuse) are converting to CNG for
cost savings and environmental sustainability
Our nations energy security and independence
Vehicle emissions contribute to air pollution, climate
change, and health concerns

What is CNG?
Compressed natural gas (3,000-5,000 psi)
CNG is used worldwide as a vehicle fuel
15,000,000 vehicles worldwide (<200K in US)
Powers small and large vehicles (scooters to semis)

Biogas CNG fuel is from renewable biogas sources

Landfills
Wastewater treatment plants
Agriculture (manure, food wastes, organics)

Biogas/Vehicle Fuel Benefits

Significant savings over gasoline and diesel
25-50% of current gas/diesel cost

Control your future cost!

NG-based CNG cost will rise in the future
Biogas-based CNG locked in

Local, green, renewable fuel source

Up to 90% GHG reductions v. gas and diesel
Significant VOC, PM, and air toxics reductions
Realize the full potential of renewable fuel and GHG credits

Environmentally Superior Fuel

RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS (RNG): The Solution to a Major Transportation Challenge,

Energy Vision, New York, September 2012

Small Scale Biogas Vehicle Fuel

Feasibility Project
Dane County WI Rodefeld Landfill

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Project Information
Dane County, WI Rodefeld Landfill
Developed with private, municipal, and educational
entities
Purpose is to use biogas as a vehicle fuel on a small
scale (20 scfm biogas, 100 gge/d)
System installation December 23, 2010
Being upgraded to 50 SCFM/ 250 gge/day in 2012
19 county light duty vehicles more planned
6.4 MW LFGTE plant operational on site excess gas

Biogas Treatment
Requirements/Considerations
BioCNG system designed with commerciallyproven components for small scale

Hydrogen sulfide
VOC/Siloxanes
Particulates and Moisture
CO2 separation

Fuel Requirements
Engine manufacturers specifications
SAE J1616
13

Biogas Inlet and Outlet

Biogas Clean-Up and Upgrade

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CNG Compression and Storage

16

CNG Fueling

17

Lessons Learned
Biogas vehicle fuel is cost competitive with other
vehicle fuels (gasoline, diesel, and conventional CNG)
Biogas/fuel modules (50, 100, 200 scfm) allow for
flexible growth
CNG fuel storage is expensive use a combination of
time fill and fast fill station
BioCNG vehicle fuel complies with CNG fuel specs
and engine warranties
BioCNG vehicle performance is similar to gasoline

Lessons Learned, contd

Operated at -10 F to 95 F, need to consider
ambient temperature extremes
Chiller replacement was required
Need for heat tracing and heating
Consider natural gas as a backup or
supplemental fuel
Blended BioCNG/natural gas fuel
Backup fuel if Biogas source is interrupted

Lessons Learned, contd

System operating efficiency 65% to 80%
depending on inlet biogas quality
Biogas quality makes a difference
High methane, low O2 and low N2 (5% max)
VOCs, H2S, Siloxanes impact on operating
costs, not fuel quality

Project Structures
Produce CNG on site for:
Biogas owner vehicles (heavy duty, medium,
passenger)
Landfill site users (trash trucks, soon - transfer trailers,
off road equipment)
Public

Produce upgraded biogas

Fuel off site station (mother-daughter station)
Sell upgraded biogas to end user

Biogas/Vehicle Fuel System

Information
System Size

Biogas Inlet
Flow (scfm)

Fuel
Fleet Size Per Unit
Production
(GGE/day)
Light
Heavy
duty
duty

BioCNG 50

50

200-275

20-27

2-4

BioCNG 100

100

375-550

38-55

5-8

BioCNG 200

200

775-1110

77-110

11-17

Biogas/Vehicle Fuel System

Economics

Biogas Availability
Current biogas sources
Operating LFG energy projects (excess
biogas)
Candidate landfills (unused biogas)
WWTP digesters (unused biogas)
Manure/organics-based digesters

Current Biogas-to-Vehicle Fuel

RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS (RNG): The Solution to a Major Transportation Challenge, Energy Vision, New York, September 2012

25

St. Landry Parish, LA Background

MSW landfill permitted 1986 (400 TPD)

3 million tons waste in place (300 cfm LFG)
Installed GCCS in 2009 in anticipation of NSPS
Sell carbon credits to help offset GCCS cost
Initial LFG development proposals not feasible

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St. Landry Parish BioCNG Fleet

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Janesville, WI BioCNG System

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City of Janesville, WI WWTP

Blue Line Biogenic Facility Process

Flow

Closed-Loop energy production and recovery system

Summary

Proven technology
Lowest cost fuel
Long term fixed fuel cost
Meets CNG fuel specs and complies with
engine manufacturers warrantees
Lowest carbon footprint (greenest fuel)
Small biogas quantity required

Thank You

www.biocng.us
Chris Voell, Eastern Sales Manager
Chris.Voell@biocng.us
845-695-0240

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