Ener-Core Inc., Irvine, California, has announced that it has successfully achieved all of the sub scale acceptance test (SSAT) criteria required by Houston-based Dresser-Rand with regard to scaling up Ener-Core’s Power Oxidizer technology to the 1.75 to megawatt (MW) size and power capacity.

Since January 2015, Ener-Core and Dresser-Rand engineers have been working together to scale up Ener-Core’s Power Oxidizer and integrate it with Dresser-Rand’s KG2-3G gas turbine. The first two integrated systems are intended for delivery to Pacific Ethanol in 2016, as part of a cogeneration plant that will utilize the plant’s waste gases as fuel. This SSAT is the first critical milestone of this project, says the companies.

The test was conducted at Ener-Core’s Multi-Fuel Test Facility (MFTF). Ener-Core and Dresser-Rand management teams will organize and host a “Technology Day” for prospective customers at Ener-Core’s headquarters in Irvine to demonstrate this new technology for generating power from waste gases.

Ener-Core’s CEO, Alain Castro, says, “I’m proud and humbled to be working with this team of talented engineers. A lot of long hours were put into this effort, and the achievement of this critical milestone serves to validate that we are on the right path. Many alternative power technologies have struggled to make the leap from the smaller, kilowatt-level systems, to the larger megawatt systems. It’s an important step for us, as the economics and the financial payback that can be achieved with the larger systems are far better than the economics on the smaller systems, and hence it’s no surprise that we see many prospective customers interested in this larger system. What we are achieving here is a true breakthrough for the power industry as well as for the environment, and after achieving this rigorous milestone, I’m pleased to say that we are on our way to scaling our system up to 1.75 megawatts.”

Pierre Dumas, Dresser-Rand’s vice president strategic business development and commercialization, says, “All of us on the Dresser-Rand team have been thoroughly impressed with the efforts of the engineering team at Ener-Core. The Sub-Scale Acceptance Test criteria were very rigorous, and their system successfully met all of the test requirements and we are encouraged by the results. Our initial intention is to integrate this technology in our rugged, high-efficiency new generation KG2-3G gas turbine. We are looking forward to our ongoing efforts with Ener-Core to commercialize more of these groundbreaking systems. In addition to Dresser-Rand’s innovative spirit which enables us to deliver unparalleled value through leading-edge technology and creative solutions, we have excellent project management capabilities and the ability to deliver turnkey power solutions to our clients.”

Ener-Core designs, develops, manufactures and has commercially deployed unique systems that generate base-load, clean power from polluting waste gases, including methane. Ener-Core’s patented Power Oxidizer is the turns one of the most potent pollution sources into a profitable source of base-load clean energy. Ener-Core’s technology offers an alternative to the flaring (burning) of gaseous pollution while generating operating efficiencies and reducing the costs of compliance with environmental regulations.