Nov 26 2010
ECOfuels, a Honeydew, Johannesburg-based renewable energy company, has launched its biomass energy using gasification plant. The 120 kW plant is a pilot model demonstration plant, and the electric power is run through a resistor.
The power generated from the plant is sufficient to meet the electricity requirements of the business park where it is currently located, and sufficient to electrify 30 households. Each kilogram of waste utilized by the plant generates around one kWh of power.
The gasification technology utilized in the plant is designed to change carbon wastes, such as garden waste, wood chips and solid municipal waste in to electric power. The Honeydew plant will use macadamia nut shells for power production. The plant incorporates a gasifier unit that is designed and built locally and the gas generator utilized in the plant is imported. The Gastech engine utilized in the incorporated gasification technology of the plant is exclusively designed to develop energy out of the carbon-based waste products. The regular plant being constructed by Ecofuels will have the capability to generate 500 kW power. The biomass gasifier unit incorporated in the plant can be utilized to generate 120 kW to 5 MW of electricity by employing a variety of waste products. The green power plant from EECOfuels is the first of its kind commercial level gasification technology utilized in Africa. The plant while letting easy disposal of waste products also allows power production from sustainable sources. According to company sources, the plant accomplishes power generation approximately at one tenth of the cost of a normal power generation methods, while releasing no harmful gas in the environment.
Marcel Steinberg, MD of EECOfuels, said that the modular designed and maintenance free plant can be installed in any place where power is required. He added that the plant can be used in any type of business, such as mines, government offices and farms that produce carbonaceous waste in large quantity.
Source: http://www.eecofuels.com/