Winners of the 2019 American Biogas Council Industry Awards Revealed

November 05, 2019

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(Bioenergy Insight) Eight biogas projects received awards from the American Biogas Council (ABC) for their ‘outstanding performance and contribution’ to the industry. The winners were announced at the Biogas Industry Awards and Dinner during the BioCycle REFOR19 event in Wisconsin, US on 29 October.

Five projects received a 2019 Project of the Year award in the following categories: dairy, agriculture, merchant, municipal and landfill. One project received the 2019 Longevity Award for over five years of continuous operation and one project won the 2019 Innovation of the Year award.

This year, a brand new category was introduced by ABC – the 2019 Up-and-Coming Biogas Project award. A collaborative project between Vanguard Renewables and Vermont Gas, which also brings together a local New England college and a dairy farm, scooped up the award. Patrick Serfass, American Biogas Council executive director, said: “Even though this project just began construction, it is already groundbreaking in many ways.

“Incredible things can be done when a university, utility and industry come together with a common commitment to protect our environment with a biogas system that recycles organic material and produces renewable energy. We want to celebrate this cooperation and vision and hope others will replicate it.”

Vanguard Renewables also received the 2019 Longevity Award for its Farm Powered anaerobic digester facility at Jordan Dairy Farms in Rutland, Massachusetts. Jordan Dairy Farms was the first dairy in the state to use anaerobic digestion technology to blend farm manure and food waste to produce renewable power.

“We are so honoured to work with farms across the United States from the early days of biogas production, through the industry’s rapid growth, to this exemplary partnership with VGS,” said John Hanselman, Vanguard Renewables chairman and CEO. “It’s amazing to be recognised for our latest project at Goodrich Family Farm in Salisbury, Vermont and to receive the 2019 Longevity Award for our legacy digester facility at Jordan Dairy Farms on the same night.”

According to ABC, there are more than 2,200 operational biogas systems in the US today with the potential for at least 13,500 new systems to be built. Here are the winners of ABC’s 2019 awards:

2019 Project of the Year

Agriculture, Dairy – Calumet Renewable Energy, Newton, Wisconsin

ABC Members: DTE Biomass Energy, Roeslein Alternative Energy, DVO, Inc.

The Calumet Renewable Energy project uses an innovative business model to manage fairy RNG through a virtual pipeline.

Agriculture, Other – Valley View, Greencastle, Missouri

ABC Members: Roeslein Alternative Energy

The Valley View project was recognised for the ‘continued commitment’ of Roeslein and Smithfield to generate clean, green, renewable RNG from pig waste.

Merchant - Kompogas San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California

ABC Members: Hitachi Zosen Inova

The Kompogas San Luis Obispo project was recognised for the development of advanced organic waste processing technology and a unique project financing strategy.

Municipal - Honouliuli WWTP Biogas Upgrading w/ Hawaii Gas & DMT Clear Gas Solutions | Ewa Beach, Hawaii

ABC Members: DMT Clear Gas Solutions

This project was chosen for its deployment of DMT Clear Gas Solutions' advanced gas cleaning technology on municipal biogas to reduce the carbon footprint of the Honoliuli natural gas system and make it more renewable.

Landfill - Dane County RNG Facility | Madison, Wisconsin

ABC Members: Dane County Department of Public Works, Highway and Transportation

The Dane County RNG Facility was recognised for the deployment of ‘innovative, state-of-the-art’ cleaning technology to meet strict RNG pipeline gas requirements.

2019 Innovation of the Year

Renovar Arlington LTD - Landfill and Waste-Water Digester (WWTP) Gas Upgrading | Landenberg, PA

ABC Members: Air Liquide Advanced Business & Technologies

This project was award Innovation of the Year for its innovative business model and ‘leading-edge technology’.

2019 Longevity Award - 5+ Years of Continuous Operation

Jordan Dairy Farm | Rutland, Massachusetts

ABC Members: Vanguard Renewables

The Jordan Dairy Farm anaerobic digester has been continuously operational since April 2011.

2019 Up-And-Coming Biogas Project

Vanguard/Vermont Gas Project | Salisbury, Vermont

ABC Members: Vanguard Renewables

This unique partnership between a local gas utility, investment firm, academic institution and a local farm is hoped to set an example for other projects in the US. READ MORE