There has been a lot of resistance to waste to energy (WTE) systems from environmental groups because of the older technologies which fundamentally burned the trash and used to heat to boil water, the steam then generated electricity. New technology no longer burns the waste, but gasifies it. Heat in the absence of oxygen gasifies what is inside. The gases are used as a fuel for the production of electricity. The technology is simple and available. Emissions are within standards of federal and local regulations, but there is still a reluctance to implement. So the opportunities are going overseas.
Ceres Associates is promoting the concept of WTE as best we can. We have generated some interest in the US, but permitting moves very slowly here, and any such projects will be quite a while in coming. However, in other countries the demand for WTE systems is starting to crescendo.
It is a green-house gas eliminating process. Methane is generated from landfills, and methane is one of the most dangerous of green house gases. Methane is consumed in most gasification systems. Landfill space is saved, groundwater is saved, air quality is enhanced - a lot of good happens when WTE systems are employed - not the least of which is energy generated reducing the impact of petroleum products on the environment.
One more thing, most WTE systems are very effective at destroying most hazardous wastes. This is one other small benefit.
What a nice solution. I guess my only question is why hasn't this idea been implemented or tried out on a smaller scale somewhere? Either way, I like this idea.
ReplyDeletepmenv.com
There are a lot of factors as to why this technology is slow in getting commercialized. The cost/benefit ratio is one of the most important. There has been so much available landfill space in the US that had already been paid for, that the waste companies want to fill it up, because that does not require any further capital. With the price of energy now high, and a significant push toward reducing the inputs toward global warming this technology will burst on the scene in a big way. We are getting informational requests from all over the world now - and the one encouraging thing is that there is significant interest from investment groups - mostly from outside the US.
ReplyDeleteI just realized I did not fully answer your question. Basically, a pilot scale is something investors look at as "does it work or not?". The cost between setting something up on a pilot scale and something at a useable commercial scale is not that significantly different, and investors have not reached the point yet where they feel there is no risk. That point will be here though within 4 months.
ReplyDelete