Biogas Plant Development @ Electrigaz

Here is the Electrigaz guide that outlines all necessary steps in the development of a biogas plant.

1-     Feedstock characterization & preliminary evaluation

In order to properly evaluate the biogas potential, we need the following information about the intended feedstock for the biogas plant:

·       Annual quantity (tonnes/yr)

·       Frequency (e.g. every day, 5 days a week, 3 weeks a year)

·       Dry matter content (or % moisture content)

·       Volatile solid content (or % of ash)

·       Average temperature of substrate entering the biogas plant

·       pH and alkalinity

·       Nitrogen content

·       Current waste management practices

·       etc.

Site visits, waste sampling and lab tests, at client’s expenses, may be necessary to ensure the full characterization of the resource we are working with.

All the aforementioned information is plugged into an automated proprietary software (a public automated biogas web calculator is also available at: www.electrigaz.com ) to produce « rule of thumb » calculations of project energy potential, project footprint, potential revenue and general budgetary cost.

This preliminary evaluation is provided to you FREE of CHARGE and will help you assess the rationality of your project.

If you decide to proceed, we suggest that you perform preliminary engineering.

 

2-     Preliminary engineering

In order for you to secure project funding and/or permits, you will need tangible engineering documentation. Banks and money lenders will require professional analysis before participating in your project.

In this phase, we work on your project to perform project specific calculations such as:

• Energy balances
• Mass balances
• Preliminary plant layout
• Project flowcharts
• General equipment list
• Budgetary cost (+/-25%)[1]

Additional lab tests, geotechnical surveys and other ancillary services may be needed to further the project. Moreover, money lenders and/or regulatory agencies may also need additional information that we will gladly produce on a retainer compensation basis.

The line is fine between preliminary engineering and detailed engineering, but money spent on preliminary engineering will not have to be spent in detailed engineering phase.

At this point you make the decision GO or NO-GO.

3-     Detailed engineering

In detailed engineering, we finalize the design and produce all necessary drawings and tender documentation for construction. In this phase of the project development, all civil and mechanical engineering is sub-contracted out.

We work with local suppliers (for tanks, pumps, etc.) to find applicable equipment and embed it in the design. This approach is important to make sure that equipment warranties are honored and equipment maintenance services are locally available.

Upon a client’s request, we may also manage a call for proposal process for major equipment and contractors to find the most competitive suppliers.

At the end of this phase, a general contractor is selected and construction may begin.

4- Construction

In the construction phase, we provide project management services (e.g. site supervision) to our clients to ensure that the biogas plant is built according to specifications.

The civil work engineering supervision (excavation, soil, foundations, building erection, tanks, etc.) is performed by a sub-contracted civil engineering firms.

To ensure the project progress, we may also act as a third party to recommend client’s payments to contractor for work performed.

5- Startup

Taking into account that the commissioning of the plant and startup is a critical time for the project, Electrigaz offers on site supervision and training to the operators during this phase.

6- Troubleshooting, optimization & training

Once the plant has started, we may need to tackle some problems or optimization issues.

Moreover, on-going training of operators is essential to ensure optimal plant efficiency.

REMEMBER!

THE BEST BIOGAS PLANT DESIGN CANNOT PERFORM

IF FEEDSTOCK AND/OR OPERATION ARE INAPPROPRIATE

For more information : http://electrigaz.com/ 

---

[1] More precise project pricing (+/-10%), charged additionally, will let you have real equipment vendor quotes on major equipments.