MSW is a huge and growing problem
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a problem that isn’t going away. It’s quite the opposite; by the end of 2008, the generation of international MSW increased by over 30% compared to MSW generated in 2004. Methane emissions from waste not only account for a large portion of greenhouse gases, but they are also over 20 times as damaging as carbon dioxide. While there have been many attempts made to solve this growing problem, many of the current practices in waste disposal are no longer acceptable. Making new landfill sites, transporting it elsewhere to become someone else’s issue, burning it in incinerators… these are no longer viable - or responsible - options.
The Elementa Process is ideally suited to convert MSW to syngas and clean electricity without the need for extensive and costly feedstock processing of other systems. The EP system is designed to maximize operating efficiencies and energy output, resulting in lower capital and operating costs. The Elementa Process can also handle municipal sewage sludge; the combination of sludge, waste water, and solid waste is a win-win-win.
Turning Waste into Want
The Elementa process can be applied in a variety of markets to create substantial value from feedstock including waste streams, purpose-grown crops and coal. Value is derived by using constituents of the syngas (and heat by-products) or converting it to other forms:
- Electricity from gas turbines, including combined cycle systems and co-generation opportunities, creating high overall plant efficiency configurations and low greenhouse gas results ;
- Heat/steam used for greenhouse operations or industrial processes;
- Hydrogen for fuel cells or industrial uses;
- Energetic liquids such as ethanol.
It’s about multiple solutions working together
The foundation for an effective waste management program must include a sensible diversion program and landfill engineering. But these alone cannot meet the challenge facing today’s municipalities. A number of new and emerging technologies for waste reduction and clean energy are coming to market…the Elementa Process is one of these innovative approaches that is worth looking into... one with very special properties.
|
