Date: May 15, 2012
Source: Cocurrent BioEnergy
A young New York company is proposing to develop a waste-to-energy project in West Virginia. The company, called Cocurrent BioEnergy, wants to build a 300 ton-per-day facility near Charleston that would produce 10 to 15 megawatts of electricity and cost about $30 million. The company uses what it calls a two-stage, moderate-temperature gasification process that captures 90 percent of the energy value of the waste with very little emissions. Moreover, the company says that the transformation process itself is unaffected by moisture, dirt, rocks, combustibles, metal or glass; creates no slag, dross or clinkers; and requires no sorting, shredding or preprocessing of the waste. It can take a variety of feedstocks including municipal solid waste, demolition, industrial, medical, yard and agricultural wastes, among others. The gasification process reduces the feedstocks 98 percent by volume and transforms them into syngas and a small amount of sterile bottom ash that can be recycled in cement or asphalt. Company spokesman Rick Clay said the company is looking to site one or two facilities in West Virginia. "This is going to be a game-changer across the country," he predicts. "We're in negotiations to take this international." He said the company is backed by private equity and is not seeking public money other than tax-breaks afforded to renewable energy projects.
FROM THE COMPANY WEBSITE:
Cocurrent BioEnergy was formed in 2010 to combat the catastrophic effects that current waste management practices and fossil fuel dependencies are having on our health and economy. After years of exhaustive research, development and refinement cycles, the company is offering a community-friendly technology platform that transforms municipal, industrial, forestry and agricultural waste into renewable energy components using a process that contributes to the restoration of our land, sea and air. We call this solution the Cocurrent BioEnergy System and its backed by an organization comprised of proven experts in international project finance, governmental regulation, the commercialization of new technologies and the deployment of alternative energy solutions. Simply put, our approach accepts that the generation of waste is a reality but treats it as a resource that can be repurposed rather than as a liability.
Cocurrent BioEnergy is focused on developing and operating renewable energy assets throughout North America over a 20-30 year project life. Our aim is to provide an alternative solution to the practice of landfilling waste with the additional benefit of producing renewable energy for local consumption, all while maintaining a sustainable environmental footprint. We invite you to take a look at the information provided within our website and encourage you to contact us with questions or inquiries regarding potential projects.
The Cocurrent BioEnergy Solution
Comprised of standard, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components, many of which have been field tested for over 50 years, the Cocurrent BioEnergy System is a decentralized renewable energy platform that converts waste into energy using a two-stage, moderate-temperature gasification process that beats all EPA, European and California air quality standards. The System is highly automated, powered by its own self-generated renewable energy and available in prefabricated, 50 ton-per-day modules for quick implementation (about 120 days or less), routine maintenance and easy scalability. Each module requires only 10,000 square feet of building space, making it ideal for housing within existing structures with minor modifications. The transformation process itself is unaffected by moisture, dirt, rocks, combustibles, metal or glass; creates no slag, dross or clinkers; and requires no sorting, shredding or preprocessing of waste. Ideal feedstocks include municipal solid and urban waste, industrial waste, construction and demolition waste, medical waste, scrap tires and textiles, animal waste and litter, food and beverage processing residues, agricultural residues, yard waste, forestry waste and natural disaster waste. Feedstock is reduced 98-percent by volume and is transformed into syngas as the primary product as well as sterile bottom-ash as the only by-product. Residual glass is mixed with the non-toxic bottom ash and is used as filler for concrete or asphalt, while all ferrous materials are recycled after processing.
Distinct advantages of the Cocurrent BioEnergy System include:
Decentralized Framework The System reduces the costs and environmental effects of waste transportation as well as cuts and/or eliminates the capital expense of waste transfer stations and landfills.
Distributed Footprint A typical 300 ton per day, 10 MW System requires approximately 3 acres of land, enabling it to be sited directly at transfer stations or landfills.
Sustainable The System is highly efficient and operates entirely on its own renewable electricity, mitigates all environmental emissions and displaces fossil fuel use.
Highly Efficient The parasitic load needed to operate the facility is less than 10% of the System's renewable power output.
Short Build Cycle - The System can typically be built in less than 120 days.
Competitive Base Load Power - The System has a low investment cost compared to other power technologies at $2.5 to $3.5 million per megawatt.
To learn more, visit: www.cocurrentbioenergy.com.
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