Biogas Conversion Project Video Copyrighted
July 2, 2018
City of Dubuque Action Items # 8.
ITEM TITLE: Biogas Conversion ProjectVideo
SUMMARY: The Cable TV Division will show a video on the Biogas
Conversion Project.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Video
Presentation
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Biogas Handout Supporting Documentation
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B/ackHillsEnergy
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Dubuque Adds BioGas to Revenue Stream
The City of Dubuque's wastewater treatment facility, the Water& Resource Recovery Center(WRRC), became
operational in 2013 and began producing biogas through the anaerobic digestion of waste. A new collaboration between
the City of Dubuque and private sector partners involves converting biogas from waste to create economic and
environmental benefits for the community.
Building on Existing Efficiencies
The WRRC has been converting waste into electricity and heat since the facility upgrade in 2013. The
anaerobic digestion process produces methane gas which is captured, cleaned, and burned to power turbines
that generate electricity. The heat produced through this process is used to heat the WRRC complex and the
electricity produced is used to power the facility. Currently, the facility produces enough electricity to meet 70
percent of the facility's needs. Thanks to this capability and other operational efficiencies, the facility's demand
for utility-supplied electricity has dropped by 70-75 percent since the facility upgrade for an annual savings of
$237,000. Before the facility upgrade, the biosolids produced at the plant were incinerated at an annual cost of
approximately $300,000 for fuel oil. Not only does this new anaerobic digestion process produce savings, it
also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality. With the implementation of anaerobic
digestion and elimination of incineration, the City was able to turn an energy loss into an energy gain.
More Methane Means More Savings
The WRRC produces more methane than can be used at the facility. The City and Greater Dubuque
Development Corporation researched options for the beneficial use of this excess methane to: create
additional positive environmental outcomes, generate revenue or reduce costs, create opportunity for
additional economic development and growth, and not require additional direct investment or risk from the City.
David Lyons, sustainable innovation consultant with the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation,
coordinated discussions with project partners which identified biofuel utilization as a potential opportunity.
Discussions among a group led by Omaha-based BioResource Development LLC, with local partner including
Black Hills Energy (Dubuque's local natural gas utility) and Unison Solutions (a Iocal manufacturer of biogas
processing equipment), led to plans for a collaborative and unique biofuels project.
Plan Implementation
BioResource Development co-located equipment at the WRRC and further processes all biogas produced and
delivers that gas to the Black Hills Energy pipeline. The gas qualifies for gas revenues and for RIN
(Renewable Inventory Number) payments due to its use as an advanced biofuel.
City Benefits
• BioResource Development is replacing the WRRC's biogas with an equal amount of natural gas, which
the WRRC uses to off-set the majority of its electricity and natural gas needs and creating additional
revenue through the use or sale of excess electricity generated.
• The City will receive an annual operating fee of$10,000 and five percent of gross revenues that
BioResource Development generates from the sale of any products related to the biogas. While the
project is still in a start-up phase, these revenues are estimated to be approximately $80,000 per year.
• This project continues Dubuque on the path towards greater use of alternative energy sources and
advances the efforts to meet the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal of 50 percent by 2030.
For additional information on the City of Dubuque Water& Resource Recovery Center, call 563-589-4176 or
visit www.citvofdubupue.orq/wrrc.
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