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A New SCS Engineers (SCS) Blog/Newsletter
With the cost of energy from fossil fuel continuing to climb relative to historic prices, there again is a renewed interest in development of waste conversion plants globally. However, this time there is a twist - some non-incineration technologies that made their debut during the U.S. energy crisis in the 1970s are reemerging as possible alternatives to conventional waste-to-energy (WTE) plants and landfills. This newsletter is devoted to reporting activities in this area, current SCS experiences with these technologies, and what issues to consider if you are thinking that an alternative technology plant may be in your future. SCS professionals have been actively engaged in evaluating some 30 different technologies, including many pilot facilities, over the past several years. We look forward to bringing these experiences to your desktop! |
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Updates Around the U.S. | |
Planning / Financing
- SWANA Praised WTE Plants in Report Waste and Recycling News, January 30, 2012.
- Waste Gasification Touches Down in Remote Yukon Town, Waste Management World, January 30, 2012.
- Waste to Energy Plant Mulled, Kennebec Journal, January 29, 2012.
- USDA to Fund Solid Waste to Biofuels Plant in Iowa, Waste Age, January 23, 2012.
- Waste to Energy Startup Puts Prize-Winning Plan to Real Test, Crains Detroit Business, January 22, 2012.
- Trash Zapper Plan Not Dead Yet, St. Lucie News Tribune, January 21, 2012.
- High Powered Plasma Turns Garbage Into Gas, Wired, January 20, 2012.
- USDA Awards $25 Million to Iowa Waste-to-Ethanol Plant, Waste Business Journal, January 20, 2012.
- Fight Brews Over Puerto Rico Waste to Energy Plan, CBS News Money Watch, January 18, 2012.
- 37.5 MW Waste Gasification Facility for Connecticut, Waste Management World, January 11, 2012.
- Norwich Says 'No' to Spelman over Waste to Energy Plant, Waste Management World, January 9, 2012.
- Waste Gasification Plant in Ottawa Wins Approval and Contract, Waste Management World, November 3, 2011.
- Garbage in, Energy out: Turning Trash into Biofuel, Scientific Amercian, August 11, 2011.
Construction / Start-up
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Welcome Dry Anerobic Digestion | |
The first high solids dry fermentation anaerobic digester in the Americas has been inaugurated at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.
 The biogas plant, owned by the University, is designed and constructed by BIOFerm Energy Systems, the dry fermentation specialist in the Viessmann Group.
As part of the University's plan to achieve carbon neutrality across its campus, the new facility will take high-solids organic material - food waste, yard waste and crop residue - and turn it into heat and electricity.
Dry fermentation works on organic waste inputs that typically have a moisture content of less than 75% and, in contrast to traditional wet fermentation systems, does not use the addition of liquid to create a fluid mixture that can be pumped through the system.
Instead, dry fermentation works via a batch process in which organic waste is loaded into individual fermenters of the biogas plant on a 28 day cycle. The waste rests in a stationary pile while a liquid solution containing the essential micro-organisms (often termed percolate) is applied to the load at regular intervals.
According to the company, the solution is recycled and used again within the system. The biomass is kept at a constant mesophilic temperature of 40 degrees C through an in-floor heating system to maximize the rate of decomposition.
The plant utilizes a combined heat and power unit (CHP), manufactured by Florida based 2G Cenergy. According to the company, the facility will supply an average of 2320 MWh of electricity each year - around 8% of the university's needs for its campus.
Text Courtesy Waste Management World Online,
"Dry Anaerobic Digestion for the University of Wisconsin", July 25, 2011.
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SCS in the Spotlight | |
Feasibility of Constructing Next Generation Waste-to-Fuel Plant
SCS was commissioned by a California client to conduct an economic and technical feasibility study for developing the next generation 75 ton per day (TPD) plant based on gasification technology. The plant will convert waste in a proprietary-design gasifier into syngas and then produce what is known as "drop-in" quality diesel fuel using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Drop-in fuel is compatible with existing infrastructure handling petroleum-based diesel fuel. The predecessor, a 40 TPD plant, was tested extensively on several feedstocks , including fractions of the municipal waste stream and rice straw. Plans are moving forward for developing the plant pending a formal construction cost estimate.
Feasibility of Constructing a Regional Alternative Waste-to-Energy Plant
 SCS completed a comprehensive economic feasibility study for the City of Marion Iowa. The study, funded by the state, focused on developing a plant based on plasma gasification technology of up to 600 tons per day capacity. The plant would serve a regional area and thus an extensive assessment was done of multiple potential feedstocks for the plant including; biomedical, agricultural and municipal wastes, and biosolids. The study considered several different plant energy output scenarios, including electric power, direct industry use, natural gas pipeline augmentation, and conversion to ethanol. A market study also was performed to assess opportunities, barriers and costs for marketing the slag by-product as possible substitutes for road aggregate and rock rool. View Our Final Report
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Did You Know? |
Municipal biosolids disposal is a prominent issue in many fast-developing regions of the United States. Traditionally land applied as a waste, its reuse mainly was as a fertilizer ingredient. However, biosolids also are becoming a valuable alternative energy source.
SCS recently completed a study for a major industry that assessed the challenges, technologies and costs for use of biosolids as an alternative energy source.
If you need assistance with evaluating specific biosolids-to-energy technologies, contact us. We would like to help you! |
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Not only does SCS know about solid waste, we have more than 40 years of experience helping communities more efficiently and cost-effectively manage their wastes. Talk to us about your challenges!
Marc J. Rogoff, Ph.D.
(813) 621-0080
Bruce J. Clark, P.E., BCEE
(813) 621-0080
We would like your feedback, thoughts, and suggestions as we create future issues of SCS eNews. Your input will be invaluable. |
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SCS in Print | | |
Bruce Clark, P.E., Marc Rogoff, Ph.D., and Jose Davila's article, Ask the Right Questions First: How to Decide if that
New Waste Disposal Technology is Really What You Need, is featured in the December 2011 issue of Waste Advantage Magazine.
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Upcoming Conferences
March 2012
4th Annual WTE Development and Finance Summit, Chicago, IL,
27-29th
April 2012
Solid Waste Association of North Carolina Chapter 2012 Spring Conference, Charlotte, NC, 2-5th
North America WTE Conference (NAWTEC), Portland, ME, 23-25th
June 2012
2nd Annual Waste Conversion Congress - East Coast, Philadelphia, PA, 12-13th
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Status of Some Waste Conversion Plants
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