Clear The Air Energy Blog Rotating Header Image

Renewable Energy

Information on plasma gasification technology applied in waste-to-energy treatment

Oct 12th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

Plasma gasification technology has been widely recognized as the future of waste treatment and conversion into reusable energy. Its advantages range from energy efficiency, reduced pollutant production, reduced greenhouse gases emission, conversion of waste products into recyclable materials, elimination of landfill necessity and so on.

Plasma Torches in action (PyroGenesis 2006)

You can read more about the technology here in a white paper from the Gasification Technology Council of the US, and its advantages in application presented in a 2012 symposium by Louis Circeo and Luciano Bardari. The Westinghouse Plasma Corporation of Canada also presents its current plasma projects in the UK, China and India.

Energy Matters – Autumn 2013 Issue

Oct 12th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

Here you can find the latest issue of Energy Matters, published by Scottish property consultants CKD Galbraith. Topics include plasma gasification in waste-to-energy facilities, decommissioning wind farms, biomass energy, and shale gas extraction.

More plasma-driven waste-to-energy plants set up worldwide; Hong Kong yet to progress?

Oct 10th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

While a new waste-to-energy plant driven by plasma gasification technology is now operational in the UK, Hong Kong is still considering setting up incinerators as a waste management solution, against all known health risks and environmental pollution caused by incinerators, which, incidentally, are resolved for plasma plants. Can Hong Kong realistically stay competitive if it fails to progress?

UK Officials and representatives of the energy sector tour the newly operational plasma waste-to-energy plant on Teesside, Middlesbrough (Ian McIntyre/GazetteLive)

Clear The Air has prepared a collection of articles updating on the plasma progress in the past year, on plants setting up in India, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Cheung Kong Infrastructure leads consortium in HK$9.7billion acquisition of largest waste-to-energy company in the Netherlands

Oct 9th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

[Press Release]

(June 17, 2013 – Hong Kong) A consortium led by Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited (“CKI”) has entered into an agreement to acquire AVR Afvalverwerking B.V. (“AVR”) in the Netherlands. The enterprise value of the transaction is approximately HK$9.7 billion (EUR940 million).

Members of the consortium include Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited and CKI, each taking a 35% stake; Power Assets Holdings Limited (“Power Assets”) a 20% stake; and the Li Ka Shing Foundation Limited holding 10%.

AVR is the largest energy from waste (“EfW”) player in the Netherlands. It is the country’s market leader, commanding a 23% market share of the waste processing industry.
AVR’s revenue streams are very stable with long term contracts in place for both gate fees for processing waste as well as off-take for energy generated.

AVR Represents an Attractive Proposition

Leading this acquisition move is Mr. Andy Hunter, Deputy Managing Director of CKI. Mr. Hunter said, “since the acquisition of EnviroWaste in New Zealand in January, we have been presented a number of waste treatment business opportunities around the world.”

“With its secured and stable income as well as good profitability, AVR represents an attractive proposition,” continued Mr. Hunter.

“The experienced management team, market leadership position and potential growth opportunities are other key factors which add appeal to AVR,” commented Mr. Hunter.

“The prospects of AVR are also enticing. Further growth opportunities include the treatment of import waste of which AVR has already started,” Mr. Hunter expressed.

CKI Making Good Inroads in Waste Management

“We are very happy with the acquisition of AVR. It fits in well with CKI’s stringent investment requirements, generating immediate recurring cash flow with profitable and stable returns,” said Mr. H L Kam, Group Managing Director of CKI.

“CKI is making good inroads in the area of waste management. In the United Kingdom, Northumbrian Water is one of the leading companies treating waste water and sludge in the country. While, in New Zealand, EnviroWaste is one of the leading waste management companies in the country and operates the largest landfill there. The acquisition of AVR will see us investing in a leading waste management company in Europe, possessing the largest EfW plant capacity in the continent. With waste treatment being an imminent issue in most places around the world, we see good growth potential in this business,” expressed Mr. Kam.

This HK$9.7 billion AVR acquisition is the second waste treatment investment that CKI has participated in this year, following the HK$3.2 billion EnviroWaste acquisition which took place in January.

New Milestone for Power Assets

“The acquisition poses a new milestone for Power Assets. AVR represents an attractive diversification of our investment portfolio into the energy from waste industry,” commented Mr. CT Wan, Group Managing Director of Power Assets.

“Power Assets now has a strong portfolio of electricity generation and distribution, gas distribution as well as renewable energy business in six markets outside of Hong Kong. Furthering our strategy of expanding our portfolio outside of Hong Kong, the investment in AVR extends our geographic reach into the European Continent,” Mr. Wan continued.

The AVR acquisition transaction is subject to customary approvals, including a Central Works Council consultation process as well as approval pursuant to European Union Merger Regulation (EUMR). Completion of the transaction is expected to take place in the third quarter of the year.

Upon completion, AVR will become the newest investment in Cheung Kong Group’s portfolio in the Netherlands, which currently encompasses retail business and container port.
Together with AVR’s 430 employees, the Group will have about 20,000 staff in the Netherlands.

Solena’s waste-to-energy solution for Hong Kong

Oct 9th, 2013
by Editor.
1 comment

Solena Fuels is currently developing facilities in the UK, US, Australia and Germany that will convert waste into aviation fuel, and they are expected to be fully operational by 2014/15. The cost of the fuel produced would be relatively low (estimated at US$50 per barrel) compared to the current market price for aviation fuel produced from fossil fuels (US$128 in 2012 per barrel). With clear economic and environmental benefits, the US Federal Aviation Administration has recently announced funding for a new research center for jet biofuel research based in Washington State University, bringing together a research team comprised of academics and industry experts.

Solena is building aviation biofuels facilities for British Airways, Qantas and Lufthansa

Solena Fuels conducted a feasibility study in 2011 about setting up similar facilities in Hong Kong, a fuel-hungry and garbage-churning hypermetabolic beast of a city. The potential for deriving low-cost aviation (and possibly marine) fuels from the city’s high waste production, coupled with reduced pollution, should have been very attractive to a city whose transport industries suffer from fierce competition from China. But it seems that it remains to be seen whether the proposals will come to fruition.

Below is the full article of the US FAA announcement on funding biofuel research, from David Holt of fuelfix:

This month U.S. consumers landed some exciting news as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unveiled plans to create a national center for excellence on jet biofuel research.  The recently announced effort will help to revolutionize the air transportation industry by tackling one of its largest challenges – rising fuel costs.

The center will be based at Washington State University and will bring together researchers from 16 academic institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Pennsylvania State University and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, among others.  The research team will also benefit from the expertise of 26 federal government and airline industry partners including companies like Boeing, Delta Airlines and General Electric to name just a few.

By aiming to significantly advance the use of cost-competitive “drop in” aviation biofuel, the effort will support the FAA’s target of deploying one billion gallons of alternative jet fuel by 2018.

Perhaps, the most promising element of the center’s work is that it will approach its research from a regional perspective; taking into account biological materials, and the needs of different hubs, in varying regions across the country.  This strategic approach is important given that the top 40 U.S. airports use approximately 90 percent of America’s jet fuel.

In addition to decreasing carbon emissions, the center’s work is critical to the airline industry’s future growth as fuel costs – which account for approximately 35 percent of an airline’s operating costs – have risen 267 percent over the last 11 years.  This has caused airlines to increase prices for tickets and other services, which increases costs for the entire economy.

In fact, commercial aviation is a cornerstone of the economy, as it intersects almost every sector of the economy and drives more than 5 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2010, for example airlines enplaned 720 million passengers and 18 million tons of cargo on more than 10 million flights.

It stands to reason then, that if successful the center could provide significant savings and market-based solution to help our national economy considering that jet fuel cost, on average, $128 per barrel in 2012.  For comparison, some experts predict the cost of biofuel could be as low as $50 per barrel once it is produced in large commercial quantities.

For its part, the U.S. airline industry has already begun embracing the use of biofuels to reduce costs and lower its carbon footprint. Just a few years ago, eight airlines in the Air Transport Association signed a letter of intent to negotiate the purchase of large quantities of fuel derived from biomass.  As part of that effort, Solena Fuels will utilize post-recycled urban and agricultural wastes to produce up to 16 million gallons of jet fuel per year by 2015 to support operations at Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose.  Meanwhile, in June United Airlines agreed to buy 15 million gallons of lower-carbon, renewable jet fuel from AltAir Fuels over the next three years.

Of course, it goes without saying that the increased use of biofuels in our nation’s airline industry will pay large dividends in decreasing our nation’s carbon emissions.  With the implementation of this center and major U.S. airlines already embracing biofuels the future looks bright for increased renewable fuel use in our aviation sector.

In sum, the Center of Excellence in Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment epitomizes how the federal government and private industry can partner to create new paradigms that benefit industry and the consumer alike. After all, the increasing use of biofuels in aviation will provide significant environmental benefits while stimulating our national economy from the nation’s farms to its terminals, and everywhere in between.

23 Sep 2013

WMW: Gasification Technology Moves Lockheed Martin into Waste to Energy

Oct 8th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

From Ben Messenger of Waste Management World:

U.S. defense contractor, Lockheed Martin, is moving into the waste to fuel gasification technology business following a deal with LA based waste to fuels specialist, Concord Blue.

According to Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) it will provide its engineering, program management, procurement, manufacturing and integration experience to apply Concord Blue’s patented technology globally in the expanding waste to energy arena.

Gasification Technology Moves Lockheed Martin into Waste to Energy

The defense giant said that advanced waste conversion is an emerging technology that uses gasification processes to convert waste products to electricity, heat and synthetic fuels.

Concord Blue has developed a closed-loop process that Lockheed Martin said is already commercially-proven to recycle waste into energy at virtually any scale.

For Lockheed’s part, it said that it brings high-level capabilities in complex systems integration, project management, information technology and advanced manufacturing techniques partnership.

“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,” explained Paul Klammer, director of bio energy programs at Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business.

According to Klammer, Concord Blue’s feedstock flexible technology combined with its ability to scale for smaller applications will enable the partners to waste disposal solutions for a range of situations, including those of industrial customers.

1 October 2013

SCMP: Sky Rabbit/Typhoon Usagi’s sends clear warning for ill-conceived wind farm proposals in Hong Kong

Oct 7th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

From SCMP’s Howard Winn (1 Oct 2013):

One of the effects of Typhoon Usagi, which received little attention, was its impact on the Honghaiwan wind farm in Shanwei, eastern Guangdong, about 130 kilometres northeast of Hong Kong. The onshore wind farm comprises 25 imported Vestas V47 600KW turbines. The website Windpower Intelligence reports that eight of the turbines were blown down by the typhoon, while the blades of another eight turbines were blown off, and the blades of the remaining turbines are being examined to see if they can operate normally.

Typhoon Usagi's damage to turbines in Shanwei's wind farm (CCTV, SCMP)

CCTV2 reported that 70 per cent of the wind farm had been knocked out. Windpower Intelligence reports that one of the managers says the typhoon has led to 100 million yuan in losses for the wind farm. This is the second time the wind farm has suffered typhoon damage. The farm was hit in 2003 with damage to 13 out of 25 turbines, causing losses of 10 million yuan.

The recent damage may have caused some unease within the government and possibly within Hongkong Electric and CLP, the two companies planning wind farms in Hong Kong waters. CLP, Hong Kong’s largest power company, plans to build what will be one of the biggest offshore wind farms in the world off Sai Kung – generating 200 megawatts a year – at a cost of almost HK$7 billion. Hongkong Electric is to build a HK$3 billion wind farm between Lamma Island and Cheung Chau that would generate 100MW of power – enough for 50,000 households.

Since Shanwei is fairly close to Hong Kong, it is frequently used as a reference for winds in Hong Kong. “This is another indication of how ill-advised these Hong Kong wind projects are,” Ng Young, the chairman of Hong Kong’s Association for Geoconservation, told Lai See.

The companies are still involved in testing work, and construction has yet to begin. At best the two wind farms might produce about 1.5 per cent of Hong Kong’s total electricity production, and reduce its output of carbon dioxide by about 2 per cent. This miniscule contribution comes at a cost of HK$10 billion. Regardless of how useless these wind farms are, the government can point to them as its contribution to reducing Hong Kong’s carbon footprint and take its place in the world’s effort to limit the production of carbon dioxide, and thereby global warming, or so they would have us believe. As for the power companies, the farms are a wonderful opportunity for them to increase their net assets at a time when returns from the scheme of control, which governs them, have been reduced from 13.5 per cent to 15 per cent under the previous scheme, which ended in 2009, to 9.99 per cent under the current scheme. But they will get 11 per cent on their wind farm assets since they are a form of renewable energy. Meanwhile, the public picks up the bill in the form of higher electricity prices. Higher fuel costs are inevitable, but better to spend this on efficient clean energy like gas.

Ng says the wind farms are unsightly and kill birds, and are an unreliable source of energy. He makes the point that the Shanwei wind farm operates at an average of 17 per cent to 18 per cent efficiency: “The government is silly to support this project – building this white elephant just for the sake of appearing to do something green, when in fact it is damaging the environment, and costing the community a lot of money in terms of higher fuel bills and higher costs to business. The only beneficiaries are the power companies.”

BusinessMirror – $450-million waste treatment plant pushed (the 3rd world India, Pakistan., Indonesia, Philippines etc) advance to plasma tech whilst HKG goes backwards

Sep 28th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/top-news/19980-450-million-waste-treatment-plant-pushed

$450-million waste treatment plant pushed

· Print

Details

Category: Top News

Published on Thursday, 26 September 2013 21:34

Written by Joel p. Mapiles

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A US-based firm plans to invest more than $450 million for the establishment of a Provincial Plasma Waste-Treatment Facility for the processing and disposal of the municipal and industrial solid waste of Pampanga.

The plasma technology gasifies materials like coal and industrial waste at 5,000°C to 7,000°C, then converts them to electricity. For every metric ton of garbage, about 800 kilowatts up to 1 megawatt of electricity can be produced.

The plan will be pursued through a joint-venture agreement between the provincial government and Quantum International Group Inc.

The $450 million will finance the construction of the plant, the purchase, importation and setup of all plasma equipment and the compensation for the technology required in the plasma processing.

Merlinda Cantero, vice president of Quantum Philippines Property Holdings and Management Inc., said the proposed plasma-gasification plant would need at least 2,000 metric tons (MT) of municipal and industrial wastes daily and is expected to produce power supply not only in the province but also in some parts of Central Luzon.

Cantero said they were willing to discuss the proposal and investment with the concerned local officials and Gov. Lilia G. Pineda.

Cantero said the plant has the capacity to process and treat wastes that would help address the concern over the growing volume of municipal and industrial solid wastes in Pampanga and nearby provinces.

She identified the chief executive officer of the company as Al Johnson. It was learned that they were expecting to put up at least 10 plasma-gasification plants and close the deals —mostly with local government officials in their target provinces—within two years.

Cantero said the US-based firm led by Johnson is hoping that the local government units would be able to see the value of the technology, which could address not only garbage-disposal problems but also power-supply concerns. She said the processing of 2,000 MT of wastes could generate 2,000 megawatts. But she said the local governments could choose what products they want to produce from the plasma-gasification plant. The plant could be used to produce not only electricity but also gasoline, kerosene and biofuels. She said Quantum is open to partnership arrangements with local companies. But the US-based firm could also proceed with the project alone as it has the technical and financial capacity.

Cantero quoted Johnson as having said the only thing they require from the local government unit is their garbage, as they need a long-term contract for a minimum of 2,000 tons per day.

“Quantum needs to sell electricity at market rates. We believe the more electricity we generate from the plasma facilities, prices will come down eventually,” she added.

Gasification Technologies Council Announces Success of Important Trade Mission to India

Sep 28th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gasification-technologies-council-announces-success-of-important-trade-mission-to-india-2013-09-17

WASHINGTON, Sep 17, 2013 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Gasification Technologies Council (GTC) announced today its trade mission to India was successfully completed, with industry leaders sharing crucial information about how gasification can help India meet its fast-growing energy needs.

GTC, the premier trade association and foremost authority on the gasification industry, sponsored the trade mission along with the U.S. India Business Council (www.usibc.com). Mission leaders – executives from Alter NRG Corp. and General Electric Power and Water — and other GTC members met with Indian government ministry officials, U.S. Embassy officials and representatives of the oil, chemical, fertilizer, gas and power industries.

The four-day mission, which ended Sept. 12, was designed to show India’s leaders how gasification could help their country unlock the potential of its vast natural resources.

“India is a key market for coal, biomass and waste gasification,” said GTC Executive Director Alison Kerester. “With its inherent flexibility and clean technology, gasification can help India produce the power and products needed to grow its economy.

“We were pleased to see how receptive India’s leaders are to this important technology,” Kerester added.

In recognition of the importance of India as a gasification market, GTC invited the Hon. Parvathaneni Harish, Consul General of India-Houston, to be keynote speaker at the 2013 Gasification Technologies Conference.

GTC is hosting the conference Oct. 13-16 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Co.

This year’s program will feature sessions on global gasification projects, polygeneration gasification, gasification for hydrogen, gasification for heat and power, advances in coal gasification, plasma gasification, and biomass and waste gasification.

The conference will bring more than 400 people and dozens of exhibitors from around the world, including India, China, Japan and the Middle East.

Registration information can be found at www.gasification.org.

ABOUT GTC

The Gasification Technologies Council promotes a better understanding of the role gasification can play in providing the power, chemical and refining industries with economically competitive and environmentally conscious technology options to produce electricity, fuels and chemicals and for converting waste and biomass into these same valuable products.

GTC members are involved in gasification projects that account for 95 percent of world synthesis gas capacity.

SOURCE: Gasification Technologies Council (GTC)

UNIDO promotes biomass gasification in Pakistan

Sep 28th, 2013
by Editor.
No comments yet

http://tribune.com.pk/story/610390/unido-promotes-biomass-gasification-in-pakistan/

UNIDO promotes biomass gasification in Pakistan

Pilot projec­ts to be develo­ped to demons­trate feasib­ility.

By Waqas Naeem

Published: September 28, 2013

http://tribune.com.pk/wp-content/themes/express/img/share-18-btf.gif?v=1.0Share this article http://tribune.com.pk/wp-content/themes/express/img/printer-friendly.gif?v=1.0Print this page Email

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/610390-biomassAPP-1380311677-114-640x480.jpg

Federal Minister of Information, Senator Pervez Rasheed addressing during launching ceremony of Biomass Renewable Energy Project. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD: Power generation from biomass gasification could help meet a significant portion of Pakistan’s industrial energy needs, Federal Minister of Information, Senator Pervez Rasheed, said on Friday.

Rasheed was speaking as the chief guest at the inception workshop of a new project for promotion of biomass gasification technology by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido).

Biomass gasification is a process to generate cheap energy by burning organic material such as organic waste and wood among other things.

Rasheed said Unido’s efforts at developing a biomass project have immense importance for Pakistan. He said biomass gasification offers the most convincing alternate energy system for industries.

The project is likely to result in improved energy security and economic growth in the country, the minister said.

The four-year “Promoting Sustainable Energy Production and Use from Biomass in Pakistan” project is funded by $1.82 million from the Global Environment Facility – an international institution that provides grants for environment-related projects.

Another $5.3 million will be provided by Unido, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Sindh Agriculture and Forestry Workers Coordinating Organisation (SAFWCO), Centre for Energy Systems at the National University of Sciences and Technology (CES-NUST) and other entities from the Pakistani private sector.

The project’s finances will be used to develop three separate “demonstration projects” in Kamoke and Jhelum in Punjab, and Thatta in Sindh, which will generate overall 4.3 Megawatts (MW) from biomass gasification technology, said Muhammad Ahmad, the National Project Manager for the project.

The demonstration projects include a 3 MW rice husk gasification power plant in Kamoke, a 1 MW Wood Residue gasification power plant in Jehlum and a 0.3 MW electricity provision to a village near Gharo in Thatta.

Ahmad said the project aims to promote biomass gasification in Pakistan as a means to decrease the country’s demand and supply gap in the power sector.

“We want to build the capacity of local manufacturers so they could produce gasification technologies for electricity generation,” he said. “The demonstration projects could help us tell investors that power generation through biomass gasification is economically viable and can be replicated.”

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other industries could use biomass gasification to generate their own electricity and this would help industries avoid the negative impact of the power crisis, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2013.

← Earlier Posts Newer Posts →