Gasification
Lockheed Martin, Concord Blue Partner on Waste Gasification Systems
The aerospace firm Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and the gasification company Concord Blue USA Inc., based in Los Angeles, have reached an agreement through which Lockheed Martin will use its global reach to try to help grow Concord Blue’s business.
Through its waste conversion systems Concord Blue, headquartered in Los Angeles, converts waste products into electricity, heat and synthetic fuels.
Lockheed Martin will provide its engineering, program management, procurement, manufacturing and integration experience to Concord Blue’s technology globally in the waste-to-energy sector.
“This agreement enables Lockheed Martin to combine our proven ability to meet complex project requirements and access to a broader, global market with Concord Blue’s demonstrated technology, experience and global facilities,” says Paul Klammer, director of bioenergy programs at Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business.
Klammer continues, “With more than 7 billion people on the planet, sustainable waste disposal and a need for energy that is both secure and clean are quality-of-life issues. Leveraging Concord Blue’s feedstock flexibility, combined with its ability to scale for smaller applications, uniquely positions us to solve waste disposal challenges, including those challenges industrial customers face.”
Concord Blue says it has developed a process that recycles waste into energy at virtually any scale. By working with customers, Concord Blue says it creates solutions that dispose of waste while producing clean energy through advanced waste conversion.
“This alliance with Lockheed Martin will allow Concord Blue’s innovative waste recycling technology to positively impact more communities around the world,” says Charlie Thannhaeuser, chairman and CEO of Concord Blue. “This collaboration will enable us to deploy a compelling solution to a significant environmental, social and safety issue that affects every region of the world.”
In addition to its Los Angeles location, Concord Blue has offices in Germany, India and Dubai.
Plastics to fuel
JBI and Crayola Launch Colorcycle Program
JBI Inc., Niagara Falls, N.Y., a company that recycles plastic scrap into liquid fuels, has announced its participation with Crayola LLC, Easton, Pa., in its Colorcycle program, which converts markers into energy.
The Colorcycle program will be conducted throughout the United States in participating K-12 schools and encourages students to dispose of used Crayola markers through an in-school collection process. Markers will be sent to JBI, where they will be used as feedstock to produce diesel and other liquid fuels using JBI’s Plastic2Oil® (P2O) process.
JBI CEO, Tony Bogolin states, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Crayola. By introducing this program, Crayola continues to prove to be a leader, not only in its industry, but also in worldwide waste reduction ethics and social responsibility.”
As part of the agreement with Crayola, JBI will provide services to repurpose markers and Crayola materials collected through the program. In addition, JBI is receiving waste and overruns from Crayola that are being used as additional feedstock.
“At JBI, we are committed to environmental sustainability by diverting plastic waste from landfills and potential incineration,” says John Bordynuik, chief of technology and founder of JBI. “Partnering with Crayola is a unique opportunity for our company, and we look forward to a relationship that reduces the amount of plastic entering landfills, while also creating cleaner, lower-sulfur fuels.”
JBI has what it calls a proprietary green process for converting plastic scrap into “ultra-clean, ultra-low sulfur in-spec fuels.”
The emissions from its P2O process are less than what a natural gas furnace of the same size would produce, says JBI, citing a stack test conducted in December 2012 showing that P2O emissions “far exceed the standards and criteria established by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.”
Schools can visit www.crayola.com/colorcycle to find more information and to register for the program.
Anaerobic digestion
AD Unit Goes Online in Wisconsin
The Forest County Potawatomi Community (FCPC), a federally recognized Native American tribe located in northeastern Wisconsin, has announced the opening of its approximately $20 million facility that uses food and beverage processing waste as a fuel source to produce up to 2 megawatts (MW) of electricity. That’s enough energy to power about 1,500 homes while also providing waste heat for beneficial reuse, the tribe says.
The plant, known as FCPC Renewable Generation Digester, uses a proprietary anaerobic digestion (AD) process to convert liquid organic waste into biogas. It is located one block west of the tribe’s Menomonee Valley casino in Milwaukee. The feedstock is broken down into microorganisms in one of two 1.3 million gallon digester tanks. This process creates a methane gas that’s burned in an engine that produces renewable electricity. The power will then be sold to Wisconsin-based We Energies. The facility also includes a combined heat power (CHP) plant that can recover heat from the biogas production process to provide hot water and heating.
“Our tribe’s culture and traditions establish a duty to help protect and enhance environmental resources,” says Potawatomi Chairman Gus Frank. “This project not only helps us meet our energy and sustainability goals, but is also important to the region as it removes a waste stream while providing clean and renewable power.”
“The FCPC Renewable Generation Digester helps Wisconsin food and beverage manufacturers dispose of feedstock in an environmentally friendly manner that enhances and achieves their sustainability goals,” adds Jeff Crawford, the tribe’s attorney general and leader of FCPC Renewable Generation. “The facility will allow all involved to be both environmentally and fiscally responsible, which makes our community a better place to live and work.”
The FCPC Renewable Generation Digester received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and Focus on Energy. The Tribe also partnered with several Wisconsin-based companies on the development of this project including:
- Miron Construction Co.–overall project management and general contracting services
- Symbiont, Inc. – balance of plant engineering
- Titus Energy – significant pre-development work and other consulting services
- Greenfire Management Services LLC., a subsidiary of Potawatomi Business Development Corp. – owner’s representative consulting services
- Rockwell Automation–Allen-Bradley motor controls
Additionally, General Electric’s Waukesha plant manufactured the facility’s two internal combustion biogas engines. This is first U.S. deployment of this engine model for use in continuous generation, according to an FCPC news release.
Mass burn
Florida WTE Facility Produces Carbon Offset Credits for Purchase
Carbon offset credits generated by Hillsborough County’s Resource Recovery Facility, Tampa, operated by Covanta Energy, Morristown, N.J., have been verified and are now available for purchase on the voluntary market.
The credits represent verified reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions achieved by generating renewable energy from waste at the resource recovery facility. The facility processes up to 1,800 tons of solid waste a day, generating up to 46.5 megawatts of electricity—enough to power approximately 30,000 homes.
Hillsborough County’s offset credits were approved through the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). The VCS is a highly regarded global standard for the approval of credible voluntary offset credits.
In order for carbon offset credits to be approved under the standard, they must represent new reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, meet strict program requirements and be independently verified by a qualified third party. The credits must be verified annually.
“Energy-from-waste is a key component of sustainable waste management, a model the European Union has used with tremendous success to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the impact of waste,” says Dr. Paul Gilman, Covanta’s chief sustainability officer. “These carbon offset credits are a tangible recognition of the greenhouse gas benefits of the Hillsborough County facility.”
The resource recovery facility was expanded in 2009 with the construction of a new 600-ton-per-day combustion unit. Because Unit No. 4 was installed after 2002, it is eligible to be evaluated for carbon emissions offsets.
The facility produced more than 33,000 carbon units in 2010.
Mass burn
Two Hershey Plants Achieve Zero-Waste-to-Landfill
The Hershey Co., Hershey, Pa., has announced that two of its plants have achieved zero-waste-to-landfill (ZWL) status. The company now has six U.S. plants that no longer dispose routine waste into landfills. With the addition of the Y&S Plant in Lancaster, Pa., and the Robinson Plant in Robinson, Ill., Hershey says it has exceeded its goal to convert five plants to ZWL by 2015, well ahead of schedule.
“This achievement reflects Hershey’s unwavering commitment to reduce our environmental impact while continuing to manufacture the highest quality confections,” says Terence O’Day, senior vice president and chief supply chain officer, The Hershey Co. “Converting plants to ZWL is challenging, but our plant employees [have] worked extremely hard to reach this important milestone.”
To achieve ZWL status, Hershey’s manufacturing facilities have both reduced their overall waste streams and increased recycling rates to approximately 90 percent. Remaining waste is sent to nearby waste-to-energy incinerators.
Hershey now has eight facilities that have achieved ZWL status:
- Hazleton Plant (Hazleton, Pa.)
- Reese Plant (Hershey, Pa.)
- West Hershey Plant (Hershey, Pa.)
- Y&S Plant (Lancaster, Pa.)
- Robinson Plant (Robinson, Ill.)
- Stuarts Draft (Stuarts Draft, Va.)
- Hershey’s Chocolate World (Hershey, Pa.)
- Eastern Distribution Center III (Palmyra, Pa.)
Hershey says it has been a sustainability leader for decades. Founder Milton Hershey started the company’s first recycling center in Hershey, Pa., in 1937. The company also has added biogas-capturing equipment at four U.S. facilities.
Two sets of solar arrays at facilities in Hershey, Pa., also contribute to reducing Hershey’s environmental footprint. The solar arrays eliminate more than 200 metric tons of greenhouse gases each year, according to the company.
Anaerobic digestion
Covanta Energy Partners on Organics Recycling Project in Connecticut
Waste-to-energy company Covanta Energy Corp., Morristown, N.J., and Turning Earth LLC, King of Prussia, Pa., an integrated organics recycling company, have announced a new partnership to provide organics recycling to Connecticut municipalities and businesses.
The 10-year agreement calls for Turning Earth to build, own and operate an integrated organics recycling facility in central Connecticut to which Covanta will divert organic waste in partnership with municipalities and commercial customers. Covanta and Turning Earth will explore future opportunities in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
The facility will be powered by the Aikan Technology, a patented, high-solids anaerobic digestion (HSAD) and in-vessel composting system which converts organic waste streams into several products including renewable base load energy and compost. Organic waste residuals provided by Covanta will come from Connecticut communities and businesses and will be comprised of yard waste, food waste and other organic waste streams.
“We couldn’t be more excited about our partnership with Turning Earth,” says Stephen Diaz, Covanta Energy vice president. “Organics recycling is important to our customers and an important part of CT DEEP’s (Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection’s) goals.”
Covanta’s energy-from-waste (EFW) facilities will continue to provide disposal for postrecycled waste. Covanta’s Connecticut facilities generate energy for more than 34,000 homes in the state and recycle enough metal to build more than 12,000 automobiles annually, according to the company.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Covanta,” says Andrew Kessler, president of Turning Earth.” Our partnership with Covanta, local communities, and other important stakeholders, sets a new standard for organic waste management, renewable energy production and the replenishment of our soils.”
“I am proud that the Bristol region will be among the first to benefit from this unique partnership,” comments Bristol, Conn., Mayor Art Ward. “It continues a long-established collaborative effort between Covanta and Connecticut communities,” he adds.
Installations and startups
Canadian Government Awards $39.8 Million to Enerkem and GreenField
Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver has confirmed Sustainable Development Technology Canada’s (SDTC’s) investment in Vanerco, a joint venture partnership formed by Enerkem and GreenField to build and operate a cellulosic ethanol facility integrated with GreenField’s existing ethanol plant in Varennes, Quebec.
Through SDTC’s NextGen Biofuels Fund, CA$734,500 ($708,162) will support the initial development of the facility as a repayable contribution, an amount that could go up to CA$39.8 million.
“Our government is investing in advanced clean energy technologies that create well-paying jobs and generate economic opportunities,” says Oliver. “By supporting innovative projects like Vanerco’s, we are helping Canadian companies develop an idea into a marketable reality.”
“This project truly puts industrial waste to work, creating jobs in the community while producing as much as 38 million liters of ethanol a year. SDTC is proud to be a partner in this pioneering project,” says Vicky Sharpe, SDTC president and CEO. “Getting technologies such as this to a commercial scale will be crucial in helping Canada play a key role in the dynamic global cleantech marketplace, currently valued at (CA)$1 trillion.”
The Vanerco cellulosic ethanol plant will contribute to the ongoing development of the next-generation biofuels industry in Canada, say those involved with the project.
“Clean technologies emerge when industry pioneers, governments, venture capitalists and academics work together to ensure a successful transition to the commercial stage, “ says Vincent Chornet, chairman of Vanerco. “SDTC played a pivotal role by becoming the catalyst that helped all these players join forces.”
The nonrecyclable waste to be used at the Vanerco plant will come from the institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, including construction and demolition debris. Construction of the facility, which will use Enerkem’s proprietary waste-to-biofuels technology, is planned to begin in 2014.
Personnel
Plasco Makes Senior Management Changes
Ottawa, Canada-based Plasco Energy Group Inc. has announced the appointment of Raymond Floyd as president and CEO of the company. Floyd has more than 40 years of industrial experience in several industries, including executive roles with General Motors, Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy, where he was most recently senior vice president. In addition, Roderick Bryden, the company’s chairman and CEO since 2005, has been appointed executive chairman.
“Plasco has made significant strides in the past several years in terms of developing the technology to a state of commercial readiness and creating a strong pipeline of projects,” says Floyd. “I am excited to lead the company as we accelerate the commercial development of projects around the world. Rod’s service as CEO led this company to where we are today, and we are looking forward to his continued involvement in the company as executive chairman.”
According to Plasco, Floyd is the only person in the energy industry to be inducted into the U.S. Manufacturing Hall of Fame and the only person in any industry to earn the America’s Best designation in both discrete and process manufacturing.
“Today, Plasco is well positioned to benefit from a rapidly growing worldwide market for waste-to-energy conversion,” says Bryden. “I am looking forward to being a member of its board of directors to help ensure Plasco achieves its growth targets and becomes a leading player in this growing sector. I also want to express my appreciation to the dedicated and talented team that has built a strong platform.
Landfill Gas
Waste Management to Build Renewable Natural Gas Facility at Illinois Landfill
Waste Management Inc. (WM), Houston, has announced plans to build a facility that will create pipeline-ready natural gas from its Milam Landfill in Fairmont City, Ill. A ceremony at the landfill, Oct. 17, 2013, brought together state, county and local officials to celebrate the groundbreaking.
The processed natural gas will be injected into the pipelines of Ameren Illinois for withdrawal at other locations, including some WM facilities. Once there, it will be used to fuel truck fleets and other equipment that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG). WM is calling the plant the Renewable Natural Gas Facility and expects it to begin delivering gas to the pipelines in late summer 2014.
“Ameren Illinois applauds Waste Management for deploying an innovative technology to fuel its fleet,” says Richard Mark, president and CEO of Ameren Illinois. “This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration for Ameren Illinois to facilitate the transportation of clean, renewable natural gas through our pipelines to the U.S. gas distribution grid.”
Landfill gas is produced as waste decomposes inside a landfill. Once captured, the gas is filtered and compressed and can be used to fuel an engine or a turbine to generate electricity. At the new Renewable Natural Gas Facility, the landfill gas will be further processed to produce pipeline-quality natural gas.
“This type of project represents an important alternative source of renewable energy that we provide straight from our landfills,” says Paul Pabor, vice president of renewable energy for WM. “While we are well known as a waste and recycling company, we’re also an energy company.”
Since the gas will be treated, rather than burned on-site, WM anticipates about a 60 percent reduction in emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.
“This project is not only the first of its kind in Illinois, but will be a model for environmental sustainability by reducing vehicle emissions, greenhouse gases and creating a renewable source of fuel,” says Lisa Bonnett, director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. “As a major Illinois employer and service provider, Waste Management is demonstrating that good environmental practices are also good business.”
The facility will be designed to process about 3,500 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) of incoming landfill gas, which represents more than 10 percent of the natural gas that is used in the company’s existing CNG fleet, says WM. Waste Management of Illinois currently has more than 100 CNG trucks in its fleet displacing about 1 million gallons per year of diesel fuel.
The Milam Renewable Natural Gas Facility will be the company’s third plant to convert landfill gas to natural gas. Pabor says there are now 134 projects on WM landfills that use landfill gas to generate electricity, produce renewable gas or displace fossil fuels in an energy or fuel function and adds, “We also have partnered with four cities and counties to install landfill-gas-to-energy plants on public landfills.”
Municipal WTE
Arizona County Enters Agreement with Republic Services, Secures First Rail Contract
The La Paz County (Arizona) Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in a meeting in mid-September 2013 to enter into an agreement with Phoenix-based Republic Services to operate its county-owned landfill under a 10-year agreement, it says provides a strong marketing role for the municipality and its rail partners. Signaling its intent to aggressively enter the waste by rail market, La Paz County board also signed an agreement with the Commerce Refuse to Energy Authority, a Los Angeles County-based renewable energy generator, making this customer its first rail contract.
Both agreements signal “a new partnership approach that combines the strengths of a municipally owned landfill with a proven rail operator and a strong environmental company,” according to the supervisors. With more than 100 million tons of available airspace and a nearby rail siding with permitted right-of-way to the site, these new agreements are intended to boost economic development opportunities in the region. Greenfield Logistics will provide rail and truck transportation equipment and interface with the nation’s Class 1 railroads to provide transportation options for La Paz County’s waste customers.
Chairman of the Board of La Paz County Supervisors D.L. Wilson states, “Our intent is to create a legal mechanism to provide more marketing control with the tools necessary to realize the landfill’s potential as a major rail player while at the same time, not create any risks to the county’s environment or financial stability.”
La Paz County Supervisors say they plan to secure municipal, commercial and industrial waste customers throughout the Western United States. In addition to the Los Angeles transload site near downtown Los Angeles, La Paz County has access through Greenfield Logistics to a rail transload facility to service the San Francisco region. Greenfield Logistics will provide all transload operations including managing containers, dray activities and logistical support for the movement of various waste streams being targeted.
The La Paz County Landfill, located on Highway 95, is considered a valuable asset due to its ample disposal capacity, proximity to urban centers and geographic characteristics. According to the supervisors, quantifiable costs savings and environmental advantages of transitioning what traditionally has been a special waste, long-haul trucking disposal destination to a rail-based system can be realized.
The deal is worth more than $8 million to La Paz County and includes both cash payments and services related to operating eight local transfer facilities, recycling programs, constructing new septage-receiving facilities at the landfill and other programs designed to benefit the community.
Conferences & events
New York City Considers Waste Conversion Technologies
During the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) 2013 WasteCon conference in September, a technical session titled “New York City’s Waste Conversion Technology Pilot—is the Technology Ripe Enough for the Big Apple?” addressed the city’s progress toward evaluation of technologies to handle the estimated 50,000 tons of waste and recyclables the city generates each day.
Sarah Dolinar, director of environmental review for New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), along with Susan Raila, project manager with the consulting firm HDR Inc., Omaha, Neb., provided an update on the city’s past, present and future waste management strategies.
By 2001, only the Fresh Kills landfill remained and it was scheduled to close, meaning new disposal methods had to be researched.
“It has taken us some time, but we are going through the final throes of implementation now,” said Raila.
Proposed technologies needed to meet certain criteria, including that it could not be mass-burn WTE or refuse-derived fuel combustion.
HDR is assisting the evaluation committee and DSNY is currently in negotiations with two different vendors, said Dolinar. She said one of the proposals is for anaerobic digestion and the other is for gasification.
WasteCon 2013 was Sept. 17-19 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif.
Landfill gas
Landfill-Gas-to-Energy Project Dedicated in Nebraska
Lincoln, Neb., Mayor Chris Beutler and administrator and CEO of Lincoln Electric System (LES), Kevin Wailes have dedicated a landfill-gas-to-energy project, a 4.8 megawatt LES power generating facility fueled with methane gas produced at the city of Lincoln’s Bluff Road Landfill. The ceremony took place in early October 2013.
“Together, we are taking a major step forward in providing renewable energy that will benefit residents for decades to come, through a cleaner environment, a local source of energy, continued low utility rates, and the unlocking of new economic development,” says Beutler. “Lincoln is becoming known more and more for its high quality of life and its related commitment to sustainability, evidenced by this project as well as the new Innovation Campus Central Renewable Energy System announced last week. These initiatives truly are making a difference in our ability to attract research and technology-led businesses and industries that, in turn, bring high-quality jobs and increased investment across the city.”
The city has been working on the project since April 2008 when it solicited bids to evaluate the feasibility of capturing landfill gas produced by the decomposition of waste. In November 2011, the city and LES signed a 20-year agreement for LES to purchase and convert methane gas recovered from the Bluff Road Landfill to electricity.
The city has drilled 54 wells that enable the gas to travel through a system of pipes to a facility where it is burned off in a flare to prevent it from reaching the atmosphere. This phase of the project cost about $2.2 million and was funded through fees paid by landfill users.
LES installed a gas pipeline between the landfill and Terry Bundy Generating Station, gas cleaning and compression equipment and electrical generating equipment. LES’ investment for the equipment, pipeline, construction, engineering and other expenses has totaled $11.32 million, which is $1.61 million (about 8.75 percent) under the project budget of $12.93 million.
“By partnering with the city of Lincoln on this project, LES is able to harness the landfill’s methane gas and use this otherwise untapped energy to provide additional sustainable electricity to local homes and businesses,” says Wailes.