Anaerobic Digestion
Cleveland-based Companies Invest in AD System
Real estate development company Forest City, Cleveland, has partnered with Quasar Energy Group, also of Cleveland, to launch the Collinwood BioEnergy Anaerobic Digestion (AD) System.
The plant, located at a former General Motors plant on the east side of Cleveland, is a 1.3 megawatt AD waste-to-energy system. The system uses the process of AD to break down organic waste residuals from local businesses to produce electricity that will be sold to local utility company Cleveland Public Power (CPP).
The system, which was introduced to the public during a ceremony July 9, 2012, will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 582 homes, natural gas for 113 homes, or compressed natural gas to fuel 838 cars per year, according to Quasar. Forest City made a $5.5 million investment in the Collinwood AD system. Forest City owns the property and has been trying to develop it for commercial use.
John Ratner, Forest City vice president of sustainability solutions, says the company entered into this venture “as a way to capitalize on our existing skill set, as way to revitalize existing land within our portfolio and in an effort to hedge our exposure to volatile and dirty fuel sources.”
Quasar also has built and operates AD systems in the Ohio communities of North Ridgeville, Zanesville, Wooster and Columbus. Mel Kurtz, president of Quasar, said the Collinwood location houses the eighth digester in Ohio and estimates there are 176 AD systems in the U.S. currently.
“This is an example of how we take something out of the waste stream, create a good product—which is electricity in this case—and we do that in a way that reduces our carbon footprint and is friendly to the environment in regard to our landfills,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.
Cleveland-based Pierre’s Ice Cream is one of the companies providing organic waste material for the AD system.
The digester tank at Collinwood has a capacity of 980,000 gallons. Biosolids; fats, oils and greases (FOG); and food waste are all acceptable inputs for the system. In addition to the electricity produced, a CNG fuel station is expected to soon be operational to provide alternative fuel for trucks.
To watch a video from the Collinwood BioEnergy open house that took place in early July 2012, visit www.REWmag.com/collinwood-bioenergy-ad-2012-video.aspx
Landfill Gas
Landfill-Gas-to-Electricity Expansion Complete in Georgia
Energy Development Limited, the parent company of Nashville-based Energy Developments Inc. (EDI), along with Green Power EMC and Veolia ES Solid Waste Inc. have completed the expansion of EDI’s Landfill-Gas-to-Electricity plant located on Veolia’s Taylor County Landfill in Mauk, Ga. Renewable power generated from this facility will be sold to Green Power EMC under a 15 year Power Purchase Agreement.
The original landfill-gas-to-electricity facility was expanded from 4 megawatts (MW) to 8 MW of renewable electricity, making it the largest landfill-gas-to-electricity facility in Georgia, say the companies.
“EDI is proud to be a partner with Green Power EMC and Veolia ES Solid Waste on this project,” Steve Cowman, EDI president and CEO, says. “The Taylor County expansion fits in with our strategic growth plan to capitalize on existing renewable assets while expanding our U.S. renewable portfolio through the development of new greenfield sites.”
EDI currently has over 90 megawatts of installed renewable generation in the U.S. utilizing only landfill gas as the fuel source.
Jeff Pratt, president of Green Power EMC, says. “Our first energy purchase began in 2003 at the Taylor County Landfill resulting in the entry of Georgia’s cooperatives into the renewable energy market.”
Company News
Waste Management Restructures Operations
Waste Management Inc. (WM), headquartered in Houston, has announced plans to reorganize its operations, eliminating 700 positions. The company says the goal of the restructuring is to flatten the its management structure, which will allow it to sharpen its focus on its three major initiatives: yield management, improving efficiency in operations and meeting customers’ needs.
The principal organizational changes that WM has outlined include:
- removal of the management layer consisting of four geographic groups (Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Western);
- consolidation and reduction of the number of areas managing the core collection, disposal and recycling businesses from 22 to 17;
- reduction of corporate support staff to better align their support with the needs of the operating units while reducing costs; and
- elimination of about 700 employees.
Additionally, WM has announced the following appointments:
- James Trevathan Jr., previously executive vice president – growth, innovation and field support, has been appointed executive vice president and COO.
- Jeff Harris and John Morris have each been appointed senior vice president, field operations. Harris was most recently senior vice president – Midwest Group, and Morris was most recently chief strategy officer.
In their new roles, Trevathan and Harris will be responsible for overseeing the 17 operating areas.
David Steiner, president and CEO of WM, says, “The steps we are taking to restructure our organization are expected to provide two very important results for us.”
Steiner says first, the restructuring is expected to reduce the company’s cost structure by about 100 basis points in 2013. “This is a good step toward our longer-term goal to reduce costs by 200 to 400 basis points.” he says. “Second, we believe that eliminating a layer of management and restructuring our support staff around our three major initiatives will intensify our focus on achieving those initiatives.”
Steiner continues, “Jim Trevathan has been in a role where he had all of the operations staff that supports the field reporting to him. In order to improve the connection between that staff and field operations, it makes sense to have the persons responsible for field operations also reporting to Jim. In addition, we have two excellent executives to fill those field operations roles in Jeff Harris and John Morris. The 17 area vice presidents will report directly to one of these two senior vice presidents.”
James Fish Jr., who was recently named CFO of the company, states, “We will continue to focus on taking costs out of the business through procurement programs and other business improvement initiatives. Reducing our administrative overhead is the next logical step, which we are now taking.”
Municipal WTE
Covanta Signs 10-Year Extension with Oklahoma City
Covanta WBH LLC of Tulsa, Okla., a subsidiary of Covanta Energy Corp., based in Morristown, N.J., has signed an agreement with the city of Tulsa which extends the company’s current waste disposal services for the city by another ten years. The revamped agreement runs through June 30, 2022, with options for further extensions.
“Tulsa is committed to recycling and the recovery of energy from our residential solid waste,” says Eric Lee, Tulsa’s solid waste services manager. “This long-term agreement with Covanta shows a shared commitment to the Tulsa community. We are excited to continue our partnership and look forward to making Tulsa a more sustainable city.”
Covanta says its WBH energy-from-waste (EFW) facility in Tulsa was the first EFW project built by the company. Today, the facility processes more than 300,000 tons of municipal solid waste per year and generates up to 240,000 pounds-per-hour of steam.
Steam generated from the facility is used to generate electricity and is delivered to an adjacent refinery. With this agreement, Tulsa’s waste comprises about one-third of the facility’s capacity, solidifying Tulsa as Covanta WBH’s largest municipal client.
“Covanta has a long history in the City of Tulsa so we are extremely pleased to have reached an agreement to continue providing sustainable waste disposal and clean, renewable energy to the city,” says Paul Stauder, Covanta senior vice president of business management.
“The city was on the leading edge when the facility was built and that appetite for innovation continues to prevail today. The city should be applauded for its foresight in choosing to utilize energy from waste for sustainable municipal solid waste disposal,” adds Sauder.
Landfill Gas
Coca-Cola Makes the EPA List of Largest On-Site Green Power Generators
Coca-Cola Refreshments, Atlanta, earned the ranked number three on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of the largest on-site green power generators. EPA’s Green Power Partnership includes more than 1,300 organizations recognized for their support of alternative energy to reduce their environmental impacts.
A key factor in Coca-Cola Refreshments’ high ranking, according to the company, is the recent installation of a landfill-gas-to-energy system at one of its Atlanta facilities. The system supplies most of the facility’s energy needs, including electricity, steam and chilled water. It is one of the largest biogas projects of its kind in the U.S., says the company. The use of bio-fuels, fuel cells and solar panels to provide alternative energy at other facilities also contributed to the recognition.
“The EPA applauds Coca-Cola Refreshments as a leader in using green power,” said Blaine Collison, director of EPA’s Green Power Partnership. “Coca-Cola was named a Top Partner due to the company’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through on-site renewable energy generation.”
The system at the Atlanta plant generates at least 48 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of on-site biomass energy annually.
“Investing in energy efficiency projects like the landfill-gas-to-energy system creates multiple benefits. It helps The Coca-Cola Co. meet our environmental sustainability goals while reducing costs in our manufacturing process,” said Brian Kelley, Coca-Cola Refreshments chief product supply officer. “Being named a Green Power Partner by the Environmental Protection Agency is validation for our ongoing work in creating energy and carbon efficiencies in our supply chain.”
The landfill-gas-to-energy project was part of the facility’s effort to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Walmart’s California and Texas facilities achieved the top ranking on the list of the largest on-site green power generators, followed by BMW Manufacturing Co.’s Greer, S.C. facilities. The full list is available at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top20onsite.htm.
Biofuels
INEOS Bio Facility Receives Registrations from U.S. EPA for Production and Sale
INEOS Bio, Lisle, Ill., has announced that its joint-venture project, INEOS New Planet BioEnergy (INPB) has been granted Parts 79 and 80 registration from the U.S. EPA for the production and sale of advanced bioethanol from non-food waste materials in Vero Beach, Fla. The notice of registration came after the successful completion of the construction of the Indian River BioEnergy Center and as the facility nears production.
The center is the first large-scale project in the United States to receive registrations for a facility using non-food vegetative waste materials (vegetative and yard waste) to produce cellulosic ethanol, says the company.
Construction on the center was completed in June and the facility is currently undergoing commissioning. The center is scheduled to begin production of advanced bioethanol in the third quarter.
When the center is at full production, it is expected to produce eight million gallons of advanced bioethanol and six megawatts (gross) of renewable power annually from renewable biomass including local yard, vegetative and agricultural wastes. INEOS Bio has plans to run municipal solid waste at the center after the initial start-up.
Renewable Energy Sources
The Energy Information Agency (EIA) reports renewable energy sources provided about 13% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation in 2011.*
Gasification
Tennessee City to Implement Waste-to-Energy System
PHG Energy, a Tennessee-based alternative energy company, has signed an agreement with the city of Covington, Tenn., to convert waste to energy using PHG’s downdraft biomass gasification equipment and technology. The system converts a wide range of waste materials or renewable biomass to a low-emission substitute for natural gas or other fossil fuels.
According to Covington Mayor David Gordon, using PHG’s system reduced the landfill and transportation fees for about 360 tons of material each month. Through the process, PHG integrates established commercial technologies into one system that simultaneously eliminates waste and produces heat that will be used for feedstock drying and the production of electricity.
“Covington may be a small city, but we’re constantly looking toward the future in our thinking and planning,” says Mayor Gordon. “We want to embrace technology that fits our situation, and this system lets us turn waste into an opportunity. Working with PHG is a win-win for Covington. It helps our environment and it helps our city financially. Simply put, we’re doing the right thing, in the right way, for the right reason.”
PHG’s biomass gasification waste-to-energy system will be built adjacent to a wastewater treatment plant. The waste processed will be primarily composed of woody biomass from the city’s collections. The use of biosolids from the treatment plant is also being investigated as a possible fuel for the gasifiers.
Personnel Notes
Agilyx Expands Organizational Structure
Plastics-to-oil company Agilyx Corp., Beaverton, Ore., has appointed Ross M. Patten to the position of chairman and CEO. Patten, who has been a member of the Agilyx board of directors since January 2012, brings more than thirty-five years of executive leadership experience in the waste and alternative energy sectors.
“The strategic partnerships that Agilyx has developed place it in a unique position to be a catalyst in driving next generation waste solutions focused on higher and better use of waste plastics,” says Patten.
The company also announced the appointment of Roger Rowe as Chief Financial Officer. Rowe joins Agilyx with more than twenty-five years of private and public company finance and accounting experience.
Municipal WTE
Republic Services Opens “World’s Largest MRF”
Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc. held a grand opening of its Newby Island Resource Recovery Park, which the company claims houses the world’s largest material recovery facility (MRF).
The 110 ton-per-hour multi-stream system was designed, manufactured and installed by Eugene, Ore.-based Bulk Handling Systems (BHS). The facility processes all commercial waste generated in San José, Calif., recovering more than 80 percent for recycling.
In addition to serving more than 8,000 San José businesses, the system also processes recyclables from 85,000 households and has the capacity to process 420,000 tons of material per year. Clearly defining and targeting each stream is key to meeting lofty recovery goals, according to BHS.
“In San José we are dealing with four distinct streams: organics, commercial dry waste, commercial single-stream and residential single-stream,” says Rich Reardon, BHS’ director of sales and marketing. “Reaching a level of 80 percent meant recovering commodities that have traditionally been discarded. Breaking down the material stream and supplying processes to address each fraction ensures recovery optimization.”
During the grand opening, San José Mayor Chuck Reed addressed the MRF’s impact on the city’s goals. “Our businesses and community will benefit from this new approach to commercial waste recycling,” Reed said.
“The new service will include the recycling of organic waste, which will help businesses and the city alike achieve their sustainability goals,” added Reed. “The investment in advanced waste processing facilities generates new green jobs, turns waste into energy and demonstrates San José’s innovative leadership toward a sustainable future.”
Installations and Startups
Scrap Tires-to-Energy Company Eyes Site Near Dallas
Dynamic Energy Alliance Corp., Memphis, says its chairman, Charles Cronin Jr., “has arranged for and completed the purchase, through one of his affiliates, of a 10-acre property in Ennis, Texas.”
In a news release announcing the transaction, the company says it intends to use the Ennis property as a site for its first fully-operational pyrolysis-based scrap tires-to-energy “green energy campus.”
The site, located near Dallas, contains two existing buildings “to house the company’s pyrolysis-based equipment and operations, and is located in an area with abundant tire feedstock and strategic infrastructure and logistics resources.”
Also acquired is C.C. Crawford Retreading Co. Inc., a collector and recycler of about 2,000 tons of scrap tires per year. Because of the Crawford operation, the Ennis property is permitted as a scrap tire collection and processing operation. Dynamic Energy Alliance’s management says it is optimistic it will be able to negotiate a new option with Charles Cronin’s affiliate for the purchase of the property, pending its ability to secure the required capital.
Landfill Gas
Ohio Landfill Signs Energy Agreement
The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO ) has signed an agreement with Renewco-FCS LLC that “outlines terms of a waste-to-energy program that will convert naturally-occurring gases from the Franklin County (Ohio) Sanitary Landfill into pipeline-quality natural gas,” according to SWACO Executive Director Ronald Mills.
In a SWACO announcement, Mills says, “This project will reduce pollution at the landfill, create a revenue stream to help defray costs for the ratepayers in Franklin County and produce a renewable ‘green’ gas available to the marketplace.” Currently, notes Mills, the landfill gas at the Grove City, Ohio, site (near Columbus) is eliminated via two flares at the landfill.
Mills says SWACO and Renewco have agreed to a 20-year contract “where Renewco agrees to build, fund and manage a waste-to-energy facility on landfill land that is leased from SWACO.”
Mills also notes that completion of the two-decade project “is contingent on other facets of the agreement being executed, including: regulatory approval, a signed land lease agreement and Renewco securing signed contracts for the purchase of the gas.”
According to Mills, Renewco could begin installing equipment at the 283-acre landfill as early as February 2013, with a goal of beginning operations in the fall of 2014.
Renewco is a joint venture between natural gas distribution company AGL Resources, Atlanta, and landfill gas-to-energy systems maker Keystone Renewable Energy LLC, Greensburg, Pa.
“The signed agreement is a major step forward in converting landfill gas into a commodity that can generate thousands of dollars daily once in operation,” says Mills.
Plastics to Fuel
JBI Receives Permit Modification for NY Facility
JBI Inc., headquartered in Thorold, Ontario, has received a modification to its Solid Waste Management Permit by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) for its Plastic2Oil (P2O) technology.
According to JBI, the amendment effectively allows the P2O processors at the company’s Niagara Falls, N.Y., facility to operate at a rate of up to 4,000 pounds of plastic feedstock per machine per hour, which is an increase from the previously permitted level of 2,000 pounds.
“I’m grateful to the NYSDEC for their continued support of the P2O technology,” says John Bordynuik, JBI’s founder and chief of technology. “This is a significant step in the evolution of the P2O technology and can support future permitting processes with our commercial deployment.”
“We are excited to receive this permit modification as it represents a key component in achieving the company’s growth plan,” says JBI CEO Kevin Rauber.
The amendment to the company’s solid waste permit was preceded by an upgraded air permit issued by the NYSDEC earlier this year.
JBI’s project involves recycling unsorted, unwashed, waste plastic into ultra-clean, ultra-low sulphur fuel without the need for refinement.