UK: Works starts on London WTE plant
The construction of the multi-million pound Riverside WTE plant in Bexley, London, is now underway after 14 years of planning. It is scheduled for completion in 2011. It will have the capacity to process 585,000 tonnes of waste per year. Waste will arrive at the plant via the river Thames, keeping waste transport vehicles off London’s roads.
David Cottam, an architect working at the site says, ‘This plant will become London’s first river-served energy-from-waste plant and I am delighted to see work finally start on the scheme ... I know the building will make an impressive addition to the Thames waterfront.’
GERMANY: German WTE company expands into UK market
German WTE company MVV Umwelt is expanding its business into the UK with the formation of MVV Environment Ltd. The intention is for the company to become one of the major players on the market. The idea is to develop a company that grows through PFI projects, acquisitions and merchant plant. It will follow the lead of its German parent.
The German arm of the company has its headquarters in Leuna, eastern Germany, and deals with the waste of more that 4.3 million people across five federal states.
Newly-appointed Paul Carey, MD of MVV Environment Ltd, said, We are pleased to announce the launch of our operations in the UK. MVV has a proven track record and can bring something new to the UK waste management debate. Our aim is to build a company that has the reputation, technology and skill-set to compete for major contracts across the country.’
Holger Franke, Head of Development for MVV Umwelt in Germany added, ‘We are delighted to have Paul Carey leading MVV in the UK. His experience will help MVV expand to become one of the top UK EfW companies, also allowing for the further spread of ideas and innovation ...’
UK: Guidance on WTE and biomass facilities released in the UK
The UK’s DEFRA, in partnership with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), has released a set of guidelines on design aimed at all organisations with an interest in developing or building waste facilities.
The guidance covers all types of facilities from small community and municipal sites such as compost units to larger-scale facilities dealing with combined heat and power. It offers advice on key design principles, best practice, and consulting the public. Though local authorities have the final word, the guideline will help planners to ensure their plans are approved.
JAPAN: Wood gas-fuelled plant in Japan wins award
Japan’s most powerful wood gas-to-energy plant has been recognized at the annual Asian Power Awards, it was announced during the Power-Gen Asia 2008 conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The plant, powered by two GE Energy Jenbacher gas engines, has received the Gold Award for Best Renewable Energy Power Plant of the Year.
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The plant is owned by Yamagata Green Power and was installed by Kanagawa-based JFE Environmental Solutions Corp in Yamagata. It generates power from gasified woodchips from a local forest. This is a biomass resource that would be considered waste were it not treated, and it allows the plant to produce up to 2 MW of electricity.
‘The Yamagata plant is an important specialty gas-to-energy technology reference model for the region. It is supporting the Japanese government’s initiatives to expand renewable energy production to help meet its emissions reduction goals under the Kyoto Protocol,’ says Wataru (Bill) Horie, Country Executive of GE Energy in Japan.
USA: WTE and recycling are compatible
A new study released in September entitled ‘A Compatibility Study: Recycling and Waste-to-Energy Work in Concert’ released by Governmental Advisory Associates, Inc in the USA, has revealed that despite the common belief that waste-to-energy and recycling are incompatible, this is not in fact the case.
The study gives details of an extensive survey across the US looking at recycling rates in areas with waste-to-energy facilities and concludes that even though there is a perception that the two waste management processes do not work well together, this is not in fact the case.
USA: SWACO’s Green Energy Center opens in Ohio
A new facility which will convert landfill gas into compressed natural gas (CNG) for use in cars and trucks has opened in Ohio, USA. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) has opened the $18 million Green Energy Centerin a public-private partnership with FirmGreen Fuels LLC.
The first phase of the centre will produce enough CNG annually to replace 250,000 gallons (946,250 litres) of gasoline plus additional gas which will be sufficient to generate electricity for its own operation.
UK: UK company expands into waste to energy
Waste treatment and composting firm New Earth has expanded into the WTE sector by using waste-derived feedstock for its green energy power plants.
Chairman Bill Riddle says, ‘We are delighted with the progress and prospects of the New Earth group which, with our additional resources, is on track to achieve the ambitious growth that we have set for ourselves. Making the link between waste management and energy recovery is a natural step ahead for us.’
USA: Landfill gas-to-energy project in Virginia
A landfill site in Virginia will see a new development in the form of a gas-to-energy facility which will produce enough electricity to power 13,000 homes every year. The Rappahannock Regional Solid Waste Management Board (R-Board) in Stafford County will sell the power to a local utility company.
‘The landfill gas-to-energy project successfully utilizes a resource that would have otherwise been wasted, and in the process, produces benefits for the landfill, the environment, and the local community,’ says Matt Kelly, of Fredericksburg city council.
PHILIPPINES: Reclaim Resources wins Philippines contract
British-based WTE solutions company Reclaim Resources has signed a deal with the local authorities in the Province of Zambales in the Philippines to supply and install the Vantage Waste Processor (VWP). In addition the processor will be accompanied by a bio-ethanol conversion plant. The contract is expected to be worth around £12 million (US$19.3 million) when it is completed.
The VWP transforms municipal solid waste into biomass which can then be converted into a range of energy resources, including electricity and bio-ethanol. It can reduce raw MSW by up to 60% via a thermal hydration process. Waste is fed in through a rotating stainless steel chamber where it is processed and sanitized.
Plans are for the Province of Zambales, north of Manila, to install a two-chamber VWP which can process 150,000 tonnes per year. The sanitized end product will be manually sorted before being distilled into bio-ethanol. Work will commence in 2009 and is expected to be completed later that year.
Philip Hall, managing director of Reclaim Resources, says ‘I am delighted to have received a contract for our VWP from the Province of Zambales. It serves as strong recognition of the immense benefits that our technology can provide, both to the region and the environment. The Vantage Waste Processor will help local communities reduce the conspicuous problems caused by overspilling landfill sites as well as enable the manufacture of all too precious energy resources such as bio-ethanol, that can be used to run cars or supply power to nearby villages. I believe Asia is the ideal place to drive waste-to-energy technologies such as the VWP, as it can quickly adopt and implement innovative solutions and is enthusiastic and unafraid to invest in progressive technologies.’
VIETNAM: Gar-Tech wins more contracts in Vietnam
UK company Gar-Tech has won three new contracts to turn waste into useful commodities in Vietnam bringing the value of its contracts in the country up to £22 million (US $35.52 million). This announce-ment comes shortly after the company won a £4.5 million (US$7.26 million) contract to process waste in the province of Long An in August 2008.
The new deals will see 12 Recyclone Eliminator RE500 systems processing 6000 tonnes of MSW per day in Ho Chi Minh City. The waste will be converted into nine million litres of high-grade diesel fuel and compost and activated carbon. The Bin Duong and Dong Na Yee provinces will each have six of the RE500 units processing 3000 tonnes of MSW per day.
Derek Reffell, managing director of Gar-Tech says, ‘The Vietnamese have clearly embraced the concept of turning waste into commodities that they need ...’
USA: Michigan State University to develop WTE projects
With the help of state and foundation grants providing more than $3 million in funding, researchers at Michigan State University will develop technology enabling small farms to convert their animal waste products into heat, electricity and other commodities.
The aim is to create affordable WTE systems for small and medium-sized farms by providing them with turnkey digester/microturbine modules. The projects will be overseen by the University’s planned Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center which will take on new and existing projects from its new headquarters within the farm animal and environmental research complex.
The management of farm waste has been a rising concern primarily because of greenhouse gas emissions, and farmers have found that the cost of fertilizer and fuel has increased in recent times. The MSU ADRE Center aims to address both of these concerns by developing methods to convert manure liquid into methane for heat and electricity while extracting fibre, to enrich soil and manufacture ethanol, and water which can be used for irrigation. The manufacture of animal feed will also be a priority as well as algae which can be processed into biofuels.
‘The initiating of the center completes our vision for a continuum of research capabilities from theoretical calculations, laboratory-scale, bench-scale, pilot-scale and farm-scale anaerobic digestion research,’ said Steven Safferman, the centre’s director and an associate professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
An additional three-year grant totaling $1.5 million has also been awarded from a private southeastern Michigan foundation which prefers to remain anonymous. The ADRE Center will also house a farm energy auditing program which will be able to dispense advice to dairy farmers.
USA: Gasification facilities to convert chemical waste into energy
Lakeside Energy has gone into partnership with newly-formed company InEnTec LLC to enable construction of large-scale Plasma Enhanced Melter (PEM™) gasification facilities which will convert chemical residuals and hazardous waste into useful chemical products.
Dow Corning has signed a 10-year contract with InEnTec to convert chlorinated organic residuals into aqueous hydrogen chloride and clean synthesis gas. The first facility will be located at Dow Corning’s Midland, Michigan facility and the output will be reused there. The plant will be operated for InEnTec by Veolia Environmental Services Technical Solutions.
‘Chemical process industries are recognizing the value of sustainability strategies ...’ says Lakeside’s CEO, William Johnson.
