Member press release: AB Energy announces its first BIOCH4NGE membrane biogas-to-RNG upgrading system in North America

Aylmer, ON (Canada) – With four generations of farming under their belt, the Walker family farm continues to expand and take on new and exciting ventures. In 2021, they completed the addition of an on-farm dairy processing facility and are now producing, processing, and packaging their own milk – all within 150 meters of each other. A local and fresh approach to providing healthy dairy options for Ontarians, as well as a sustainable commitment to the environment is a cornerstone in the farm’s commitment to the future. The Walker Farm has readily adopted new technologies and worked hard to reduce their carbon footprint, creating their newest venture in Walker RNG.

Their decision to also partner with the experienced and talented team at DLS Biogas to ensure nothing goes to waste will soon see two digesters producing over 1,000 Nm3/h of carbon neutral biogas from animal waste. AB Energy’s BIOCH4NGE® Upgrading system was chosen to condition and upgrade the biogas to RNG; feeding the local gas grid with clean, renewable natural gas; in turn helping local businesses and residents achieve a lower carbon footprint with biomethane.

In support of the facility, an ECOMAX® cogeneration unit will produce the power and heat required for the digesters, material handling and RNG-Upgrading – even further offsetting carbon emissions from traditional boilers, as well as energy transmission losses.

A unique, powerful combination in clean energy technologies, BIOCH4NGE® and ECOMAX® each provide RNG-Upgrading projects with compelling capabilities in achieving optimal carbon intensities. This project marks AB Energy’s first North American BIOCH4NGE® installation, while adding to more than 30 worldwide RNG or RLNG sites in different stages of planning, construction, or operation. AB has also provided or installed over 1,500 ECOMAX® on-site energy systems globally.

“The ability to integrate and control an efficient and compact biogas-to-RNG upgrading system with local plant power and heat generation, along with their strong and local service presence was a decisive advantage AB Energy offered our project. Their experience in manufacturing and installing high quality on-site energy systems with low operational costs will ensure the success of our site. We’re confident BIOCH4NGE® will provide a sustainable source of clean fuel and income not only for this project, but for many more to come.” says John van Logtenstein, DLS Biogas/Walker RNG.

“AB’s versatility in supporting and integrating RNG projects with multiple, beneficial technologies in BIOCH4NGE® and ECOMAX®, along with our local and dedicated service teams, enables us to help in achieving climate goals. We’re also exuberant to be working alongside the incredible teams at DLS Biogas and Michael Brown, MD of MBI Consulting in helping more projects see their RNG goals come to life” says Jan Buijk, CEO at AB Energy Canada.

About BIOCH4NGE®
BIOCH4NGE® is the culmination of nearly four decades of advancements from the experience AB has acquired in the global biogas and cogeneration sectors. BIOCH4NGE® is compact, modular, easily scalable, versatile in application, and exceptional in its ability to upgrade and purify raw biogas into RNG at a low cost of operation. At its core, BIOCH4NGE®employs advanced membrane technology to separate methane from the water, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other impurities found in biogas. Raw “wet” biogas flowing from anaerobic digesters enters the first stage of the BIOCH4NGE®process, where primary filtration followed by a chilled water exchanger condenses water vapor to dehumidify the biogas. This gas is compressed, cooled by a second heat exchanger, and delivered under strict temperature and pressure conditions to the secondary pre-treatment stage. Here, the gas is “stripped” of residual hydrogen sulfide and VOCs, proceeding to the next step in purification. In this final stage, the purified biogas is compressed and passed through AB’s proprietary multi-stage membrane system to separate the carbon dioxide and methane components. A sophisticated energy management system controls the process, ensuring a substantially lower operational expense than comparable membrane system, and with no additional consumables. The purified methane, or RNG, is now ready for beneficial re-use, while heat generated in the process can also be captured and sent to the digesters. AB pre-assembles and tests each BIOCH4NGE®system in the company’s production facility as part of its rigorous quality control regimen. This step dramatically reduces onsite installation and commissioning efforts, saving clients substantial costs and avoidable start-up challenges.

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For more information and to get the full story on how BIOCH4NGE® and RNG can improve carbon intensities and operational performance, while saving you money for your existing or planned AD facility, please contact:

Mark Ahrendt –Key Account Manager North America
mark.ahrendt@gruppoab.com
rng.na.sales@gruppoab.com

Notes to editors:

• About AB – ABetter Way to Clean Energy and Sustainability
  Since 1981, AB has tackled the challenges posed by energy sustainability, working alongside our customers to improve their competitiveness while saving energy and reducing emissions. From our earliest days, we have focused on innovation to develop world-class technologies and processes dedicated to transforming the world of energy. Our objective? To ensure our customers benefit from the best energy sustainability solutions available anywhere. How? By dedicating our expertise, production capacity and excellent service capabilities to the problems at hand. In the cogeneration sector, AB’s leadership team has expanded our company’s reach to encompass biofuels. We have developed advanced purification and liquefaction processes for biomethane, coupled with highly effective emissions treatment. We take pride in the “Made in Italy” level of excellence we offer. The AB Group now boasts over 1,000 employees in 21 countries throughout Europe, Russia and North and South America, with primary production and engineering centralized in a state-of-the-art industrial complex located in Orzinuovi, Province of Brescia, Italy. Our customers rely on us to develop the “better way” to support them with the skills, technologies, and processes, so they perform at their best. Together, we are helping build a better world. www.gruppoab.com