15 February 2013
Dubai Flare Gas Slated for Motor Fuel
Posted by John Freeland
In the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a partnership between the city and the national oil company that will create a project to capture flare gas (see previous post), compress it, and use it for motor fuel. An excerpt from the press release:
Emirates Gas LLC (EMGAS), a subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Municipality to treat land and sewage waste to generate Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). EMGAS is now setting up an advanced facility to convert waste to biomethane, from what is currently being flared, and then compress it into CNG that will be used as an automotive green fuel. It is anticipated that up to 15,000 vehicles per day can be refuelled.
The plan makes sense from an energy and environmental standpoint. The neighbors will certainly breathe easier.
The project will use new technology from America and Europe.
John Freeland is an environmental scientist working in the private sector. Most of his work centers on wetland and soil investigations, permitting, and NEPA documentation. He is interested in the ecological services of soils, wetlands and woodlands; the land-water-energy nexus, and sustainability. John lives in Michigan with his wife and three children.
Steve Black said on 15 February 2013
That is a lot of vehicles and there must be a profit to be made as well. Very forwrs thinking from the UAE not to waste this fuel.
John Freeland said on 17 February 2013
Hi Steve: Thanks for the note. I have to think there’s a business opportunity in flare gas.