BUSINESS OF BIOGAS
St. Louis, MO | October 22-24, 2024
ABOUT BUSINESS OF BIOGAS
BUSINESS OF BIOGAS is the Fall conference from the American Biogas Council for biogas project developers and investors who want to network and learn how to design projects to maximize biogas production and profitability. Through multiple education sessions, receptions, and dedicated networking time at the Four Seasons St. Louis, you’ll be with the people who get things done in the biogas industry and position your company to build better performing biogas systems.
CONFERENCE
October 22-24, 2024 | The second annual BUSINESS OF BIOGAS is back in St. Louis by popular demand. This conference is for biogas project developers and investors who want to network and learn how to design projects to maximize biogas production and profitability.
VENUE
Four Seasons Hotel | St. Louis, MO
999 North Second Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
FOUR SEASONS – SOLD OUT
HOTELUMIERE AT THE ARCH – BOOK NOW
SPONSOR
Sponsorships are now available for purchase. Click HERE to see available opportunities.
Questions? Email bailey@americanbiogascouncil.org
NETWORKING EVENTS
On Wednesday afternoon, after a morning of educational sessions, attend one of our Wednesday afternoon breakout networking options, or set individual meetings of your own. In addition to our Hospitality Suites (included in your conference ticket), choose from connecting under the iconic Gateway Arch which places you in the heart of history, chatting over a beer on an Anheuser-Busch brewery tour, or taking a swing at the Top Golf Suite which blends relationship building and interactive entertainment. Book Now.
GET THE APP
Download the Event App here.
Housing
Headquarter Hotels
Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis – SOLD OUT
999 North Second Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
HoteLumière at The Arch
*Connected to the Four Seasons via enclosed, climate controlled walkway. Limited space available.
999 North Second Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
Program Schedule
Sessions
Tuesday, October 22
Speakers:
Craig Frear, Regenis
Bryan Sievers, Roeslein
Scott Martin, Burns & Mac
Bill Caesar, Generate Upcycle
Anna Koch, CRB Water
Bernie Sheff, USRED Capital Inc.
Andrew Wedel, Settje Agri-Services
Alina Cole, Montrose Environmental
Unit 1: How to Talk Wellfield for Developers
This will be a highly informative session to assist developers in understanding the landfill gas collection system. Discussions of wellfield tuning and what to expect when a system starts up. The speakers are highly experienced and will relate the real-world expectations of a wellfield start-up.
Unit 2: Feed System Start-Up for Agricultural Applications
A highly experienced engineer and technology provider will provide a view of system start-ups from A to Z. Pump systems, separation startups and typical troubleshooting with significant real-world examples will be discussed.
Unit 3: A Startup in Detail from the Digester Through the Upgrading System
Learn from a engineer who has started-up many digestion systems what to expect from the digester to putting first gas on the pipeline. Significant discussions on what to expect from the digester as far as time frames and reality-based results.
Unit 4: Digester Health for Developers
You have started the system and mechanical processes are operating; now let’s focus on the digester’s health. Learn from highly experienced technology providers about what to look for and what the digester is trying to tell you. This is not focused on operators but the Developer understanding what the operators are dealing with in the biological process
Wednesday, October 23
Policy Crystal Ball - Election Strategy and Emerging Markets
Speakers:
Heather Dziedzic, American Biogas Council
Chris Hessler, AJW
Martina Simpkins, ANEW
Anthony Reed, FGS Global
As the U.S. gears up for the next presidential election, the possible shift in administration could have profound impacts on the biogas industry, particularly in the regulatory arena. This panel, “Policy Crystal Ball: Election Impacts and Emerging Markets,” will delve into the possible outcomes of the upcoming election and their implications for the biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) markets. Experts will analyze how changes in leadership might reshape the regulatory landscape, discussing scenarios where the current administration remains in power versus a new administration taking office.
The discussion will cover key topics such as shifts in regulatory priorities, potential changes in incentives, and the overall impact on the growth and investment in the biogas sector. Panelists will also explore how various regulatory agencies overseeing the industry might adapt to these changes, and what this means for stakeholders looking to navigate the evolving market conditions. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the strategic considerations, regardless of the election outcome.
Navigating Project Pains: Construction Challenges & Controlling Costs
Speakers:
Ashley Duplechien, US Energy
Bill Melick, REV LNG
Nash Stapelton, X-Caliber Rural Capital
Project development is thriving, but challenges related to permitting, weather, contractors and labor, and other variables abound. Effectively managing these challenges is crucial to keeping projects on schedule, keeping financiers and stakeholders happy and starting the flow of revenue as quickly as possible. In this session, you’ll learn where the most common delays happen, discover new tools for anticipating potential issues, and gain strategies to manage them effectively.
Driving Forward: RNG Demand for Vehicles & Beyond
Speakers:
Brad Douville, Greenlane Renewables
Jeff Clarke, The Transport Project
Mark Jamieson, Cummins
The demand for using RNG to fuel natural gas vehicles in California has notably declined in the past 2 years. However, the appetite for RNG as a fuel for other vehicles, including EVs and NGVs outside of California continues. Explore the future of national NGV demand, the potential for RNG to power EVs, and other demand centers for RNG.
Thursday, October 24
Managing Risk and Current Financial Strategies
Speakers:
Todd Taylor, Avisen Legal
Jon Ellis, Pathward
Mike Land, Virentis Advisors, LLC
Payson Davis, Marsh McLennan
Alfred Johnson, Crux Climate
As biogas and RNG projects become bigger and more sophisticated, strategies for financing and risk management have evolved. First, hear from experts on how work relationships with insurance companies are changing as financiers search for assurance about technology and tax credit financing risks. Then, dive into current trends in debt, equity and tax financing, including the strategic and impact investors, infrastructure funds, tax credit investors and debt providers including traditional banks, non-traditional lenders and impact focused lenders.
Symbiotic Solutions: Harmonizing Biogas Systems and Farm Operations
Speakers:
Andrew Wedel, Settje Industrial
Lynn Boadwine, Boadwine Farms
Abram Babcock, Adams Land and Cattle
Tom Oesch, Swisslane Farms
The success of a dairy-RNG project involves far more than the distinct parts of a system like digester tanks, gas clean-up, interconnect, and other components. The finesse of integration between the dairy operations and manure management with the biogas production and digestate management is key. In this session, we’ll dive into where integration is needed most and mitigating risks to maximize the operations of both the farm and biogas system.
Monetizing Biogenic CO2: Market Dynamics, Opportunities and Producer Prerequisites
Speakers:
Bob Yeoman, Spectrum Carbonics
Brad Petersen, NLC Energy
Rome Brenneman, Archea Energy
Bruce Woerner, Consultant
Many anticipated that the upcoming changes to the 45Q carbon oxide sequestration tax credit in the Inflation reduction Act could soon provide a financial benefit for biogas systems. But few saw that the arrival of those benefits might accelerate because of the way 45Q is used today by other CO2 producers. The result threatens to dry up today’s current sources of CO2 in a way that could create new market opportunities for biogas systems to sell their CO2 to buyers who are scared of supply disruption and price spikes. Ethanol facilities that have supplied CO2 for decades to make pharmaceuticals, beverages, keep food fresh, clean, and more, are moving towards sequestering their CO2, using 45Q, which is already disrupting the CO2 market in North America. This crisis for CO2 buyers, who not only need gas supply certainty, but also want biogenic CO2 to keep their carbon footprint as small as possible, is an opportunity for the biogas industry. This session will explore the current market dynamics, new opportunities for biogas producers, and the pre-requisites for producers to meet important quality and certification targets.