Green Options » biomethane

First Dual-Fuel Diesel-Biomethane Bus Tested In Britain

Nick Chambers — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:44:18 +0000

Here’s one for the “surprising” list: a consortium of researchers and business partners at the University of East Anglia in Britain has found that they can convert diesel buses to run on either diesel or methane for a “small fraction of the cost” of purchasing a natural gas-only bus. The implications for Britain’s (and the world’s) fleets of already-existing diesel buses are huge.

The buses will run on biomethane — which is methane captured from landfill decomposition or other sources of surface biological decomposition and not derived from buried fossil sources. Methane is a large part of what makes up natural gas. According to the consortium, the converted bus will reduce emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases by about half when compared to a standard diesel-only bus.

The converted vehicle was originally part of the local bus fleet run by the Anglian Bus & Coach company. After conversion of the standard Mercedes diesel engine, the bus now runs from 60-80% of the time on biomethane and the rest on diesel. Having the option to switch back and forth provides flexibility to the bus operator in the case of a shortage of either fuel.

California Dairy Trucks Swap Diesel Fuel for Cow Manure

Adam Williams — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:41:38 +0000

Hilarides Dairy, in California, has converted a pair of big rigs (18-wheelers) to run on biomethane produced from cow manure. The effort is thought to be the nation’s first trucks powered by chow chips.

Hilarides plans to use manure produced by 10,000 cows, generating 226,000 cubic feet of biomethane daily — enough to reduce the company’s daily diesel fuel consumption by 650 gallons.

Source: Wired

Photo: 10-4 Magazine

Human Sewage to Power Buses in Norway

The Guardian Environment Network — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:45:43 +0000

Free, friendly and non-fossil – biomethane from human waste will soon power public transport in Oslo, the capital city of Norway.

It is available for free in huge quantities, is not owned by Saudi Arabia and it contributes minimally towards climate change. The latest green fuel might seem like the dream answer to climate crisis, but until recently raw sewage has been seen as a waste disposal problem rather than a power source. Now Norway’s capital city is proving that its citizens can contribute to the city’s green credentials without even realising it.

In Oslo, air pollution from public and private transport has increased by approximately 10% since 2000, contributing to more than 50% of total CO2 emissions in the city. With Norway’s ambitious target of being carbon neutral by 2050 Oslo City Council began investigating alternatives to fossil fuel-powered public transport and decided on biomethane.

Biomethane is a by-product of treated sewage. Microbes break down the raw material and release the gas, which can then be used in slightly modified engines. Previously at one of the sewage plants in the city half of the gas was flared off, emitting 17,00 tonnes of CO2. From September 2009, this gas will be trapped and converted into biomethane to run 200 of the city’s public buses.