The City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, and Global Clean Energy Inc. (GCEI), Denver, Colo., have received a grant that will allow them to field test a gasification project designed to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) and industrial waste into synthetic gas and biodiesel.
According to a news release from GCEI, the testing is currently underway in Kingsey Falls, Quebec, and will continue in an industrial park in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
Global Clean Energy’s process was developed in collaboration with Cascades Engineering and Projects, a division of paper manufacturer Cascades Canada Inc. The system uses high-pressure high-temperature steam in an oxygen-free reactor, thereby reducing environmental impact. The new technology allows faster reduction of carbon-based materials to produce synthetic gas that can easily be converted to fuel or other forms of energy, as needed, says GCEI.
This goal of the project is to significantly reduce the amount of waste Salaberry-de-Valleyfield sends to landfill. It also is intended to produce substantial savings on costs generated by the transportation and disposal of waste.
Should the field testing results be conclusive and after a subsequent phase is undertaken, gasification in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield could be used to handle more than 12,500 metric tons of MSW generated within the town. During the commercial phase, the implementation of a regional sorting center and a gasification plant should help process 30,000 to 50,000 metric tons of waste per year, says GCEI.
Additionally, the gasification project at full scale will eliminate the journey of 9,000 truck loads per year of MSW to landfills. Currently, MSW is carried more than 70 miles to reach the landfill, says GCEI. The full-scale plant is expected to eventually produce more than 10 million gallons of biodiesel from MSW and industrial waste products.
“Gasification of the municipal waste is an important milestone in our sustainable development action plan,” says Denis Lapointe, mayor of the City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. “This gasification project is directly in line with the development plan of the municipality and the region, as it will add to the green technology and recycling cluster and will become an important element in the recycling chain for end-of-life material.”
“We are proud to be associated with the City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield,” says Kenneth Adessky, co-founder and CFO of GCEI. “This innovative project marks the accomplishment of the work started several years ago that will allow Global Clean Energy to confirm its position as a global leader in gasification.”