Biogas and Environment
Markets
Peter Weisberg
Biocycle West 2013San Diego, CAApril 10th, 2013
Environmental Markets and Biogas
1. Carbon Markets2. Renewable Identification Numbers
(RINs)3. Low Carbon Fuel Standard Credits
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 $1,000,000
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
$2,500,000
$3,000,000
$3,500,000
$4,000,000
$4,500,000
$5,000,000 A
nn
ual N
et
Reven
ue
Environmental Markets - High Price (IRR = 34.36%)
Environmental Markets - Low Price (IRR = 15.30%)
Baseline - No Environmental Markets (IRR = 7.83%)
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Credits
Renewable Identification Numbers
Carbon Credits
California Carbon Market Key Insights• Buyers = large greenhouse gas
emitters in California• Project Types:
– Livestock manure– (Post-consumer food waste = voluntary,
not yet accepted by California)• Sunset: 2020
Offsets generated and owned by the digester
$5
$6
$7
$8
$9
$10
$11
$12
$13
$14
$15
California Carbon Offset Livestock CRT Prices
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 $1,000,000
$1,200,000
$1,400,000
$1,600,000
$1,800,000
$2,000,000
$2,200,000
$2,400,000
$2,600,000 A
nn
ual N
et
Reven
ue
Carbon - Point Carbon Modeling (IRR = 12.48%)
Baseline - No Environmental Markets (IRR = 7.83%)
Carbon - Price Floor (IRR = 9.50%)
Carbon - ARB Modeling (IRR = 11.23%)
California Carbon Market Uncertainty
• February auction results– 2013 – 100% allowances sold, $13.62
clearing– 2016 – 46% allowances sold, $10.71
floor
Renewable Identification Numbers Key Insights• Buyer: Transportation fuel refiners
and importers• Project types: Biogas from
– Dairies– Waste water treatment plants– Landfills– (EPA currently considering food waste
pathway)• Sunset: 2022
RINs generated and owned by the fueling
station
RIN Prices• 77,000 BTUs = 1 Advanced Biofuel
RIN• Prices (May 2012 – March 2013):$/RIN $/MMBTU
Low $0.29 $3.77Average
$0.52 $6.75
High $1.07 $13.90
Current $0.955 $12.40
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 $1,000,000
$1,200,000
$1,400,000
$1,600,000
$1,800,000
$2,000,000
$2,200,000
$2,400,000
$2,600,000
Baseline - No Environmental Markets (IRR = 7.83%)
RIN Low (IRR = 10.58%)
RIN Medium (IRR = 14.54%)
RIN High (IRR = 17.54%)
RIN Market Uncertainty
• Fraud – 5-10% of issued RINs found to be
fraudulent• Volatility• Annual adjustment of required RIN
retirement
No long term buyers
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Key Insights
• Buyer = Transportation fuel refiners and importers
• Project types:– Dairy biogas to CNG – High solids digestion food yard waste – Landfill gas to CNG
• Sunset: 2020 – (2020 target applies until legislation is
modified)
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Credits
LCFS credits generated and owned by the
digester.
*Must report data from fueling station
LCFS Credit Prices - 2012
Graph taken from Argus Media. “California’s LCFS: Economics and trade prospects.” Webinar given on Jan. 10th, 2013. Available online at http://info.argusmedia.com/uslib/ArgusWebinar_CaliforniasLCFS_Economicsandtradeprospects.pdf
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 $1,000,000
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
$2,500,000
$3,000,000
$3,500,000
Baseline - No Environmental Markets (IRR = 7.83%)
LCFS - Current Price (IRR = 11.30%)
LCFS - Cieling (IRR = 23.66%)
LCFS - CEC Projection (IRR = 17.11%)
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Uncertainty
• Commerce clause violation– US District Court – Unconstitutional– Ninth Circuit – Stay of preliminary
injunction
• Cost of commercializing advanced biofuel unknown price of LCFS credits unknown
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 $1,000,000
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
$2,500,000
$3,000,000
$3,500,000
$4,000,000
$4,500,000
$5,000,000 A
nn
ual N
et
Reven
ue
Environmental Markets - High Price (IRR = 34.36%)
Environmental Markets - Low Price (IRR = 15.30%)
Baseline - No Environmental Markets (IRR = 7.83%)
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Credits
Renewable Identification Numbers
Carbon Credits
Climate Trust
• Carbon market buyer– Existing funds to purchase
• California carbon credits from dairy digesters
• Voluntary carbon credits from food waste digesters
– Project manager • Data and verification management• Commercialization
• Environmental market advisory services
www.americanbiogascouncil.org
Promoting the Use of Biogas
O 167 Members from the U.S., Germany, Italy, Canada and the UK
O All Industry Sectors Represented
Key Industry Goals:
O Promote biogas markets, technologies and infrastructure
O Achieve policy parity
O Promote as a best practice for environmental stewardship and greenhouse gas reduction
Changing the Biogas Industry through:o Legislative and Regulatory Affairs:
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o States: California, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, more
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o 4 Specialized Working Groups
o Marketing and Education:
o Briefings, presentations, and webinars for customers, policy makers, and the general public
o Member Exposure
o Speaking opportunities in ABC workshops, webinars
o Large Industry Network – 6,000+ member company contacts
o Entire supply chain of production, processing and use
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Contact Josh Lieberman at [email protected] or 202-640-6595 x 322
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