Woody Biomass
California has set ambitious goals for the reduction of methane emissions within the state. To help achieve these goals, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has allocated $19.7 million in cap-and-trade funding to SoCalGas to support connecting at least one woody biomass to biomethane pilot project to the SoCalGas pipeline.
Key Elements and Requirements:
- Must utilize forest, agricultural, and/or urban wood waste as a feedstock.
- Must be located in the SoCalGas service territory.
- Must result in permanent, annual, and quantifiable Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reductions and criteria air pollutant emission reductions.
- must use gasification or pyrolysis technology to convert woody biomass to Bio-Syngas. The Bio-Syngas can is to be methanated and conditioned to convert to biomethane. The biomethane produced must meet SoCalGas pipeline standards (SoCalGas Tariff Rules 30 and 45).
Solicitation Project Estimated Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions:
No. CPUC Decision (D.) 22-02-025 specifically requires pyrolysis/gasification technology to be used.
Yes. There is nothing that prohibits received funds from other state and federal incentives.
No. D.22-02-025 does not provide minimum or maximum volumes of biomethane that a pilot will need to produce.
No. D.22-02-025 does not require the biomethane to be sold to SoCalGas. It does provide SoCalGas with the option to procure the biomethane.
For a project that is selected and approved by the CPUC, the funding is available until the end of 2032.
SoCalGas’ estimated timeline is approximately 1 year from the filing date of the application, but is subject to the schedule adopted by the CPUC to process the application.
To learn more about this opportunity or be added to the solicitation list please contact us at sb1440pilot@socalgas.com.