{"id":14156,"date":"2016-11-04T18:05:19","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T22:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-power-in-poop-or-a-dirty-source-for-clean-energy\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T18:30:24","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T22:30:24","slug":"the-power-in-poop-or-a-dirty-source-for-clean-energy","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-power-in-poop-or-a-dirty-source-for-clean-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The Power in Poop\u2019 or \u2018A Dirty Source for Clean Energy\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The origins of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) are attributed to the urbanization that resulted from the Industrial Revolution. Epidemics stemming from crowded industrial cities led to political support for sanitation infrastructure that would include clean drinking water and sewage systems as well as the collection and \u2018disposal\u2019 of household refuse.1<\/sup> Fast-forward one hundred years and you find local landfills contaminating the US countryside and contributing to global warming through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.<\/p>\n

The proliferation of landfills led to a focus on waste reduction and recycling in the 1980\u2019s.\u00a0 However, MSW management techniques including incineration, compaction, and covering all continue to contribute to GHG emissions. Compaction and covering, for instance, lead to anaerobic conditions that actually increase methane gas emissions per volume. Landfill gas emissions now represent the largest source of GHG emissions from the waste sector and the third-largest source of human-made methane emissions.2<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"images\"<\/p>\n

The\u00a0concept of transforming MSW into energy has been developed through the emerging technology of plasma gasification. This technology can avoid the pitfalls of traditional thermal incineration, and furthermore, the traditional challenges of feedstock inconsistencies that lead to decreased efficiencies have been mitigated through one company\u2019s use of Plasma Gasification technology.<\/p>\n

\"main-plasma-pic\"<\/p>\n

Plasma gasification solution represents a new solution to the timeless problem of waste management.\u00a0 Plasma is a state of matter that can reach temperatures comparable to those found on the surface of the Sun (2,200 to 13,900 \u00b0C).\u00a0 At those temperatures, organic matter can be molecularly dissociated and complex molecules can be separated into individual atoms.3<\/sup>\u00a0In plasma gasification, a plasma arc (similar to lightning) can be produced by sending electrical charges through inert ionized gas. \u201cThis extreme heat maintains the gasification reactions, which break apart the chemical bonds of the feedstock and converts them to a synthesis gas (syngas). The syngas consists primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen\u2014the basic building blocks for chemicals, fertilizers, substitute natural gas, and liquid transportation fuels. The syngas can also be sent to gas turbines or reciprocating engines to produce electricity, or combusted to produce steam for a steam turbine-generator.\u201d4<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"syngas\"<\/p>\n

The properties of the temperature and environment can be used to dictate the desired syngas or biofuel.\u00a0 Dr. Ajay Kumar, Associate Professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Oklahoma State University writes: \u201cGasification has many advantages over combustion. It can use low-value feedstocks and convert them not only into electricity, but also into transportation fuels. In the upcoming years, it will serve as a major technology for complementing the energy needs of the world.\u201d5<\/sup>
\n\"alter-nrg-plasma-gasification-solution-waste-to-liquids-768x4512x\"<\/p>\n

Technical challenges still remain however, specifically with the quality of feedstock that enters the process.\u00a0 The more inconsistent the feedstock, the more vitrified slag is produced.\u00a0 Slag, however, is a safe and inert material that can be recycled or used as a building material. However, it will have implications on the economic viability of this technology.\u00a0 This is where Alter NRG, has a built an advantage in its licensing of Westinghouse plasma gasification technology.\u00a0 Alter NRG claims that \u201cunlike the typical incineration technology which can process only MSW and similar feedstocks, Alter NRG gasifier can process almost any feedstock including both solids and liquids. Plus, it can process a blend of feedstocks. Project owners can optimize their revenue streams by determining the correct mix of feedstocks based on calorific value and gate fee.\u201d6<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"feedstock\"\"slag\"<\/p>\n

While it seems that Alter NRG may have a competitive advantage, the industry as a whole still faces regulatory challenges and has incurred several setbacks in North America.\u00a0 The first waste-to-energy plant was constructed in Japan over ten years ago, however, critics claim that the technology remains untested, and IEEE cites \u201clow electricity prices, and enduring community opposition to any facility that resembles an incinerator\u201d as having \u201cderailed every proposed project in the United States and Canada to date.\u201d 7<\/sup>\u00a0 Alter NRG has taken steps to address the opposition, such as incorporating the economic impact into its customer value proposition and operational models.\u00a0 \u201cAlter NRG delivers a complete plasma gasification solution to its customers, that utilizes its Westinghouse Plasma Torches. With our engineering and construction partners we can design and construct a complete gasification plant, assisting with\u00a0technical and commercial support during the entire project development process.\u00a0 Our engineering and construction partners can offer performance guarantees on the entire project facility which truly sets up apart from other earlier stages technologies.\u201d\u00a0 This effort to overcome the reluctance to treat MSW has been mainly through showcasing the economic benefits.<\/p>\n

\"plasma-gasifier-1-img\"<\/p>\n

While upfront capital costs of this technology limit its diffusion, I believe that Alter NRG should be looking towards markets where the near-term benefits of energy and water production may be of more value.\u00a0 I would target developing nations in Africa where energy and water is scarce, fertilizers are expensive, yet landfills are rampant. I can still remember the smell of ash that permeates the air in Uganda and many developing nations as trash burns constantly, or in South East Asia where slash and burn farming techniques dominate the countries\u2019 fertilization tactics.\u00a0 This can only be achieved through effective partnerships with the nations governments and ministries of agriculture, but unfortunately, these entities have little motivation to change or shoulder the upfront costs.\u00a0 Additional pressure would need to be placed by the international communities, however, in the meantime, it seems that Alter NRG and the rest of us will remain in a sh***y situation.<\/p>\n

1<\/sup> Helen Spiegelman & Bill Sheehan, Ph.D. \u2018Unintended Consequences: Municipal Solid Waste Management and the Throwaway Society\u2019 Product Policy Institute, (pg 4-5), March 2005.<\/sup><\/p>\n

2 Osaka\/Shiga. Waste and Climate Change: Global trends and strategy framework<\/em>. (Pg 18). United Nations Environmental Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics International Environmental Technology Centre<\/sup><\/p>\n

3 Wikipedia – Plasma gasification, 2016. Wikipedia https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Plasma_gasification<\/sup><\/p>\n

4\u00a0<\/sup>Gasification and Syngas Technology Council.\u00a0 Gasification-Syngas.org website 2016. http:\/\/www.gasification-syngas.org\/technology\/plasma-gasification\/<\/sup><\/p>\n

5<\/sup> Kumar, A., D. D. Jones, and M. A. Hanna. 2009. Thermochemical biomass gasification: A review of the current status of the technology. Energies 2(3):556-581.<\/sup><\/p>\n

6\u00a0Alter NRG Corp. Company website\u00a02016. “http:\/\/www.alternrg.com\/waste_to_energy\/benefits_advantages\/<\/sup><\/p>\n

7 IEEE Spectrum. Non Profit Organization website 2016. .http:\/\/spectrum.ieee.org\/energy\/renewables\/surges-and-setbacks-for-trashtogas-electricity<\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your sewage can be used to produce clean energy, water, and building supplies through a novel technology called plasma gasification. 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