The clean tech firm 2G-Cenergy has received an order for a biogas-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) plant to be installed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to supply the town’s university campus with electricity and thermal energy.
Earlier this year the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) decided to build the first dry fermentation anaerobic bio-digester in the nation, which will convert yard and food waste into biogas. The renewable energy facility is designed by BIOFerm Energy Systems, a leading expert that delivers a wide array of turnkey energy solutions using biomass and organic waste as the primary feed stock.
Over 7,000 MW of power
The biogas will be used to fuel a 370 kWh biogas CHP cogeneration system to be supplied by 2G-Cenergy. The plant is expected to produce 4,183 MW of thermal energy and 3,071 MW of electricity per year, to be utilized by the university campus, with any excess power sold to the grid.
The CHP plant uses the 2G® optimus® 370BG, an optimized MAN® cogeneration gas engine fully integrated into the unique 2G® biogas cogeneration technology package, especially developed for biogas operations. The plant is fully containerized and will be supplied as an “all-in-one” and “connection-ready” module. Benefits over conventional gas engines include much higher efficiency, reliability, durability, extended life, and less maintenance cost.
2G®’s output-optimized cogeneration CHP (combined heat and power) modules have been installed at more than 1,500 biogas plants around the world. “This is the first dry anaerobic bio-digester plant in the United States, and the management of BIOFerm, as well as the University Executives at UWO, searched the market for the most reliable and proven biogas CHP cogeneration technology available. They selected the 2G product, and we are pleased with this decision, explains Michael Turwitt, President and CEO of 2G-Cenergy Power Systems Technologies Inc.
“When you invest millions of dollars in a biogas production facility, you don’t want to take chances when it comes to converting valuable biogas into electrical and thermal energy. For a project like this there is no room for trial & error, and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, with their partner BIOFerm, concluded that our technology is the most proven, reliable, and cost-effective solution,” Turwitt adds.
The increased degree of reliability and electrical efficiency is crucial for successful biogas plant operations. “At the end of the day, every additional percent of increased efficiency makes a huge contribution to the overall project bottom line, resulting in more profitability and a much better economy for the system operator”,... says Christian Grotholt, President and CEO of the 2G Group of Companies.
Extremely successful in Europe for many years, dry fermentation biogas facilities are becoming increasingly popular in the USA. Utilizing high solids organic waste (25% solids or higher) this technology produces biogas through a specialized process. Biogas production from low cost organic waste streams enables operators to generate on-demand, carbon-neutral energy while controlling rising energy costs and reducing their carbon footprint.
The 2G biogas CHP plant – the first genuine biogas cogeneration plant of this kind to be operated by UWO – has enough capacity to power a large portion of the University Campus, while an extension is planned for 2012.
Creating jobs for America
“2G biogas CHP systems have proven their value and reliability to more than 1,500 operators. , As the US market for biogas power continues to develop even further, 2G-Cenergy will continue to create clean energy jobs in America. We are planning to establish our fourth 2G production plant right here in the US. as soon as the market volume will increase to a sustainable level,” says Turwitt.
2G-Cenergy Power Systems Technologies Inc. is headquartered in Orange Park, Florida, and is owned by 2G Bio-Energy Technology Corporation (2G Bio-Energietechnik AG) Germany, and its US senior management team.
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