Biogas on the Penninsula

[James Kempf]

So based on a figure of 22,000 US tons (about 19,000 metric tons) of compostable waste per year from the City of Palo Alto report, and assuming that Palo Alto, Mt. View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, maybe Los Altos, Los Alto Hills, Redwood City, and Menlo Park all generate the same amount, the mid-Pennisula could sustain a biogas generation plant twice the size of the one in the first link below that E.On just opened in Germany (E.On is kind of like PG&E). This plant takes in 80,000 metric tons of compostable farm waste per year and generates 10 MW of 100% renewable methane which is injected directly into E.On's gas system in Germanyw for use in home heating and industrial processes. There is some additional energy recovery available mentioned in the article from heat, possibly using low temperature Rankine cycle generators such as the one in the second link below (they might also use the heat in Germany for process heat and home heating, but in mild California that probably wouldn't be necessary). The article doesn't mention anything about the residual postdigested waste, but from my limited understanding of how biogas digestion works, if the incoming compostable waste stream is clean (i.e. no sewage waste with heavy metals and toxic organic chemicals) the outgoing stream is of sufficient quality for the same level of soil amendment as composted waste.

 

On the other hand, my mind boggles at the task of getting political consensus and funding for such a project, given that the Palo Alto City Council was unwilling to do more than change out its traffic lights and start buying renewable toner cartridges to help fight climate change.

 

            jak

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53154

http://www.electratherm.com/

----- Original Message ----
From: Beth Mezias <eme...@gmail.com>
To: mv-sust-task...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 12:15:28 PM
Subject: Re: Compostable Figure?

The city of Palo Alto Palo Alto did a Waste Composition Study in 2006.  Their numbers will be similar to ours.  Have a look here, starting on page 79 of 196:
http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/environment/news/details.asp?NewsID=897&TargetID=63
Alternatively, the file I point to is also found in the files section of this Google group.
There is information about the SmartStation in this study which applies to all 3 cities, Palo Alto, Mountain View and Sunnyvale.

Good luck!

On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 9:49 AM, James Kempf <kem...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi,
I know you guys are burnt out from doing your report, but I've been wondering how much compostable material the city collects on a regular, say yearly, basis? Is there someone I could contact to find out?
The compost fire at the Palo Alto dump was kind of a reminder about the energy content of such waste material.
            jak

[Les]

Sound minds should boggle when assessing potential energy directions.
The un-boggled have yet to fathom the enormity of the goal, it's
critical nature or it's potential value to them and their offspring.

On Jul 25, 1:09 pm, James Kempf <kemp...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> So based on a figure of 22,000 US tons (about 19,000 metric tons) of compostable waste per year from the City of Palo Alto report, and assuming that Palo Alto, Mt. View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, maybe Los Altos, Los Alto Hills, Redwood City, and Menlo Park all generate the same amount, the mid-Pennisula could sustain a biogas generation plant twice the size of the one in the first link below that E.On just opened in Germany (E.On is kind of like PG&E). This plant takes in 80,000 metric tons of compostable farm waste per year and generates 10 MW of 100% renewable methane which is injected directly into E.On's gas system in Germanyw for use in home heating and industrial processes. There is some additional energy recovery available mentioned in the article from heat, possibly using low temperature Rankine cycle generators such as the one in the second link below (they might also use the heat in Germany for process heat and home heating, but in mild
>  California that probably wouldn't be necessary). The article doesn't mention anything about the residual postdigested waste, but from my limited understanding of how biogas digestion works, if the incoming compostable waste stream is clean (i.e. no sewage waste with heavy metals and toxic organic chemicals) the outgoing stream is of sufficient quality for the same level of soil amendment as composted waste.
>  
> On the other hand, my mind boggles at the task of getting political consensus and funding for such a project, given that the Palo Alto City Council was unwilling to do more than change out its traffic lights and start buying renewable toner cartridges to help fight climate change.
>  
>             jak
>

> http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53154http://www.electratherm.com/

>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Beth Mezias <emez...@gmail.com>
> To: mv-sust-task...@googlegroups.com
> Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 12:15:28 PM
> Subject: Re: Compostable Figure?
>

> The city of Palo Alto Palo Alto did a Waste Composition Study in 2006.  Their numbers will be similar to ours.  Have a look here, starting on page 79 of 196:http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/environment/news/details.asp?NewsID=8...

> Alternatively, the file I point to is also found in the files section of this Google group.
> There is information about the SmartStation in this study which applies to all 3 cities, Palo Alto, Mountain View and Sunnyvale.
>
> Good luck!
>