Consideration of New and Emerging Technologies
(Conversion Technologies)for
Solid Waste Management inMassachusetts
Presented atEBC Solid Waste Energy Seminar
June 9, 2010
Presented by James J. Binder, P.E.
Alternative Resources, Inc.Concord, MA 01742
(978) [email protected]
Conversion Technologies
• Thermal– Use or produce heat to change the composition
of organic portion of MSW– Products include synthesis gas, fuels, vitrified
residue or char, recovered metals and other materials
– Descriptors: gasification, pyrolysis and plasma
• Digestion (Aerobic and Anaerobic)– Decomposes organic compostable fraction of
MSW using microbes– Anaerobic digestion produces biogas and
compost– Aerobic digestion produces compost
• Hydrolysis– Chemical reaction in which water (typically with
acid) reacts with another substance to form new substances
– Extracts cellulose from MSW to form products or sugar which is fermented to ethanol
– Some products include ethanol, levulinic acid
• Mechanical Processing– To create a fuel or other reusable products
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Why Consider Conversion Technologies?
• Environmental benefits, including reduction in greenhouse gas and other emissions
• Enhanced beneficial use of waste; material recovery and energy production; less waste requiring transfer and landfilling
• Production of needed “renewable” products with strong, year-round markets– Electricity– Gas– Fuels – CNG, LNG, ethanol,
hydrogen, biodiesel
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Examples of Recent Independent Evaluations
• New York City– Phase I – 2004
– Phase II – 2007
• LA County– Phase I – 2005
– Phase II – 2007
• City of LA – Phase I: 2005• University of California, Riverside –
June 2009
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Summary of Technical FindingsNYC Phase II Evaluation 2007
• Anaerobic digestion and thermal processing technologies are in commercial operation overseas for mixed MSW, and could be successfully applied in NYC
• Reference facilities provide a demonstration of performance
• Site size requirements
– Anaerobic digestion: 8-14 acres (~500 tpd)
– Thermal processing: 11-36 acres (2000-3,000 tpd)
• No issues have been identified that would prevent transfer of design and operation experience from commercial operation overseas to application of the technologies in the U.S.
• Project-specific and site-specific issues would need to be addressed
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Typical Net Energy Production
Net Electric/ Fuel Output
1,000 TPD 100%
Availability
Thermal /
Gasification/ Electricity
400-700 kWh/Ton
16-28 MWe
Thermal/
Gasification/
Ethanol
60-70 Gal Ethanol/Ton
22-26 Million
Gal/Year
Anaerobic Digestion/ Electricity
125-250 kWh/Ton
5-10 MWe
Acid Hydrolysis/ Ethanol
31 Gal Ethanol/Ton
11 Million Gal/Year
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Typical Landfill Diversion(By weight)
Thermal >90%
Anaerobic Digestion
65-85%
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Summary of Environmental Findings NYC Phase II
Evaluation 2007
• In general, anaerobic digestion and thermal processing technologies have the potential to offer better environmental performance than waste-to-energy facilities, including lower air emissions, increased beneficial use of waste, and reduced reliance on landfilling
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Typical Economics
• Economic analyses indicate that anaerobic digestion and thermal processing technologies, on a commercial scale, are comparable to or less costly than costs for current waste management practices, including in-state and export practices
• Projected tipping fee for private ownership and financing without ARRA, DOE Funding:
– Anaerobic digestion = $60-$80/ton
– Thermal processing = $65-$100/ton
• Potential for ARRA, DOE funding – could lower tip fees $10-$20/ton.
• Corporate teaming experience in the U.S. continuing to develop for the technology suppliers
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Status of Active U.S. Initiatives
• Permitting– St. Lucie County, Florida: 600 TPD –
Plasma Gasification – Electricity– Fulcrum Energy, Nevada: 300 TPD –
Plasma Gasification – Ethanol
• Contract Negotiation– Taunton, MA: Commercial Facility,
1770 TPD – Gasification – Ethanol– City of Los Angeles: Demonstration
Facility, 150 TPD – AD– County of Los Angeles: Demonstration
Facilities, 150-360 TPD – AD and Gasification
– Salinas, CA: Commercial Facility – Plasma Gasification
• Procurement– City/County of Santa Barbara: Commercial
Facility, 700 TPD – AD, Gasification, Other
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Status of Active U.S. Initiatives (cont.)
• Siting– New York City: 300-1000 TPD – AD,
Gasification
• Technology Evaluations/Planning– Connecticut – CRRA
– Delaware – DSWA
– New Jersey – ACUA
– California – San Diego, Orange County, San Jose, Oakland, San Bernardino County, others
Taunton, Massachusetts
• Selected IWT to Finance, Permit, Design, Construct, Operate Facility on City-Leased Site.
• 1770-TPD Regional Solid Waste Management Facility
• Accept post-recycled mixed MSW and other wastes
• Materials Recycling Facility
• Thermoselect Gasification Process
• Coskata Ethanol Production Facility
• Benefits City, Region, State– In-state solution to reduce waste export– Long term, stable and competitive tip fees – economic benefit
to communities, commercial businesses and industry– Increased recycling and diversion from landfilling– Reduced environmental impacts – greenhouse gas emissions– Production of ethanol – renewable fuel – from waste
materials, not corn– Provides economic benefits
300 construction jobs 80 long-term O&M jobs Economic stimulus to region
• Operation – 2013-2014
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Plant View – Site ConstructionArrowBio – Jacks Gully
Sydney, Australia300 TPDJuly 2008
Commercial operation 2009
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Reciprocating Engine/Gen Set
ArrowBio, Tel Aviv
Operating since 2003
Thermoselect GasificationProjects in Japan
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IWT – Chiba, Japan330 TPD
Operating since 1999
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Waste in Pit
JFE/Thermoselect Plant
Kurashiki, Japan
610 TPD
Operating since 2005
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Cut Away Model - Ebara Plant
Kawaguchi, Japan
380 TPD
Operating Since 2002
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Control Room – Ebara Plant
Kawaguchi, Japan
Westinghouse Plasma Gasification System
Utashinai, Japan
165 TPD for Auto Shredder Residue (ASR)
or 300 TPD for MSW
Date of Commercial Operation: 2003
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IES – Romoland, CA50 TPD
Operating since March 2005
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Gasifier and Thermal OxidizerEntech Facility, Bydgoszcz, Poland
25 TPD – Hospital WasteOperating since February 2003
Plasco Energy Demonstration Facility
Ottawa, Canada
100 TPD (Permitted for 85 TPD,
Generates 4 MW electricity)
Date of Initial Waste Processing: 2007
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Plasco Energy Group – Plasma Gasification Facility
Artist Rendering for Facility Proposed for
City of Los Angeles
200 TPD
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