Environmental Systems to turn sludge into renewable energy
Source: MaxWest
Published: Thursday, March 27, 2008
Published: Thursday, March 27, 2008
Sanford, Florida will be the first municipality in North America to adopt the MaxWest gasification system as an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to dispose of biosolids. MaxWest Environmental Systems of Houston Texas has developed the gasification system, which converts sludge from the municipal wastewater treatment system into renewable, green energy.
"Compared to the projected cost of natural gas, a fossil fuel, Sanford will save $9,000,000 over the 20-year life of our contract" said Paul Moore, Sanford Utility Director. "This technology has provided us with the opportunity to save money while managing our waste stream and protecting the environment."
MaxWest will typically build facilities at wastewater treatment plant sites, capturing the energy from organic sludge. The MaxWest system can also use methane and reduce existing odor problems.
Here's how it works: the end product of a sewer plant, wastewater sludge, also called "biosolids", will be gasified in the enclosed primary gasifier to produce syngas. In a continuous integrated process, the syngas will be oxidized in an enclosed thermal oxidizer to produce renewable thermal energy. For Sanford, the thermal energy will replace natural gas to power a new dryer.
While Sanford is the first in the nation to commit to this MaxWest technology, MaxWest is currently in discussions with other municipalities and industries around the United States, and Canada.
In larger MaxWest systems, sufficient thermal energy may be produced to generate renewable, or "green" electric power. In some cases, the renewable thermal energy may also be used to improve performance of the wastewater treatment plant. Operating costs may also be reduced in other ways as well.
The Sanford site will serve as a showcase to demonstrate to other municipalities the way this proven technology has been applied in this innovative and yet effective way.
According to Sanford Mayor Linda Kuhn, "We are thrilled to incorporate the MaxWest gasification solution at our South Wastewater Reclamation Center. Not only is the MaxWest system cost-effective and efficient, it enables Sanford to be a leader in green disposal technologies. Our hope is that the rest of the country will look to us and follow."
"Traditional disposal methods for biosolids are becoming more expensive, publicly unacceptable and potentially harmful to the environment," said Richard Heien, president of MaxWest. "Leading municipal utilities are searching for a low-cost environmentally friendly solution for biosolids disposal. Our system provides that solution. It eliminates costly transportation and potential air and water pollution related to the current disposal practices, landfill disposal, or spreading it on open ground.
Additionally, for states with a Renewable Energy Credit program in place, the MaxWest system will be entitled to credits for using an alternative to fossil fuels.
"Compared to the projected cost of natural gas, a fossil fuel, Sanford will save $9,000,000 over the 20-year life of our contract" said Paul Moore, Sanford Utility Director. "This technology has provided us with the opportunity to save money while managing our waste stream and protecting the environment."
MaxWest will typically build facilities at wastewater treatment plant sites, capturing the energy from organic sludge. The MaxWest system can also use methane and reduce existing odor problems.
Here's how it works: the end product of a sewer plant, wastewater sludge, also called "biosolids", will be gasified in the enclosed primary gasifier to produce syngas. In a continuous integrated process, the syngas will be oxidized in an enclosed thermal oxidizer to produce renewable thermal energy. For Sanford, the thermal energy will replace natural gas to power a new dryer.
While Sanford is the first in the nation to commit to this MaxWest technology, MaxWest is currently in discussions with other municipalities and industries around the United States, and Canada.
In larger MaxWest systems, sufficient thermal energy may be produced to generate renewable, or "green" electric power. In some cases, the renewable thermal energy may also be used to improve performance of the wastewater treatment plant. Operating costs may also be reduced in other ways as well.
The Sanford site will serve as a showcase to demonstrate to other municipalities the way this proven technology has been applied in this innovative and yet effective way.
According to Sanford Mayor Linda Kuhn, "We are thrilled to incorporate the MaxWest gasification solution at our South Wastewater Reclamation Center. Not only is the MaxWest system cost-effective and efficient, it enables Sanford to be a leader in green disposal technologies. Our hope is that the rest of the country will look to us and follow."
"Traditional disposal methods for biosolids are becoming more expensive, publicly unacceptable and potentially harmful to the environment," said Richard Heien, president of MaxWest. "Leading municipal utilities are searching for a low-cost environmentally friendly solution for biosolids disposal. Our system provides that solution. It eliminates costly transportation and potential air and water pollution related to the current disposal practices, landfill disposal, or spreading it on open ground.
Additionally, for states with a Renewable Energy Credit program in place, the MaxWest system will be entitled to credits for using an alternative to fossil fuels.