Biogas Project Profile
Central Ohio BioEnergy (COBE)
Columbus, Ohio
Owner: Central Ohio BioEnergy
Developer: quasar energy group
Contact: Caroline Henry, 216 409-6713, [email protected]
Date Construction Started: 5/3/2010
Date Tank Started Being Filled: 12/15/2010
Date Project was Fully Operational: 2/15/2011
Project Summary:
Recognizing the need to promote environmentally conscious disposal methods and diversify their existing
biosolids handling program, the City of Columbus partnered with quasar and Kurtz Bros. to divert 25,000
wet tons of biosolids from incineration. The initiative is also diverting on additional 35,000 wet tons of
organic waste from landfills each year from regional biomass sources. Electricity generated is sold to the
City of Columbus. quasar has also installed a public CNG fueling station that is approved to generate
RINs under US EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard.
What makes this project special?
The Central Ohio BioEnergy (COBE) project embodies the “merchant” model for anaerobic digesters.
Located in urban Columbus, Ohio, the project accepts a base-load of biosolids from the City while
working with regional processors to also accept commercial and industrial food waste. Performing
consistently since completed in 2010, the COBE plant has a uniquely flexible energy production model. It
has both a public CNG fueling station and on-site electricity generation so the COBE plant has the ability
to produce electricity and/or CNG based on demand and the market value of the energy and related
attributes (RINs and RECs). When the plant has reached its CNG storage capacity, biogas can be used
to produce electricity. This model uniquely maximizes the plant’s energy revenue potential. Notable
Awards and Points of Interest for COBE: 2012 Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio “Emerald Award”
Winner (video) 2012 SWANA Solid Waste Innovator of the Year Award (article) 2014 COBE Was Used by
General Motors as the Backdrop for Rolling-Out the New Bi-Fuel Impala (video).
Organizations involved: quasar energy group*, Kurtz Bros. Central Ohio, Solid Waste Authority of
Central Ohio (SWACO)
*ABC Member
Inputs and Outputs
Feedstocks:
Biosolids: 22,695 tons per year
FOG: 9,733 tons per year
Food Waste: 13,851 tons per year
Glycerin: 5,894 tons per year
Specialty: 5,469 tons per year
2016 Annual Projected Tonnage (based on Q2): 57,642
Products
created:
Digestate
management:
Biogas
generation:
Electricity, CNG for vehicles, heat, digestate
Land application (liquids and solids), usually to local farms.
Average of 2014/2015 data:
MMBtu: 88,916
SCF: 142,710,568
MWh: 3,141
GGE: 6,973
Finances, Beneficiaries, and Expansion
Project
financing:
The project was financed with a combination of debt, equity and
grants. Debt and grants are outlined below.
Year: 2010
Agency: Ohio Air Quality Development Authority
Loan Amount: $3,045,000 (2% interest for 7 years)
Use: Initial digester construction
Year: 2011
Agency: Ohio Department of Development
Program: Advancing Biofuels Beyond the Basics Grant (State Energy
Program ARRA Funds)
Award: $1,000,000
Use: CNG Fueling Station and Vehicle Fleet
Customer(s):
Long
term/Expansio
n plans?
Photos
Year: 2011
Agency: US Department of Treasury
Program: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 1603
Award: $2,618,371
Electricity is purchased by the City of Columbus
CNG is sold to regional vehicle fleets or passenger vehicles via the
plant’s public fueling station and used by quasar’s fleet of vehicles.
Local farmers apply digestate to farm fields for its nutrient value.
The region requires additional organics processing capacity. In 2017,
quasar may expand the feedstock capacity of the system and increase
biogas production. We are evaluating injecting biomethane into the
natural gas pipeline for broader CNG transportation fuel distribution
and also upgrading the digestate system to produce a EPA Class A
material to be sold more widely.