A waste management company in Washington State is to turn food waste into energy using anaerobic digestion technology from Germany.
Cedar Grove Composting is working with BioFerm Energy Systems, part of the Viessmann Group, to integrate the systems into its composting site at Maple Valley, near Seattle.
Anaerobic digestion involves organic material being broken down by microbes, which give off a methane-rich biogas.
The biogas can either be turned into a fuel for cars and trucks, or used directly to produce electricity.
The project is currently in the engineering and design phase, but could become one of the largest of its kind in the US according to Cedar Grove.
It will produce energy equivalent to an electricity supply for 400 homes, or fuel for 1,100 passenger cars.
Next realm
Steve Banchero, Cedar Grove Composting CEO, said: “Cedar Grove is moving into the next realm of its development, the creation of green energy from food scraps that were once destined for a land fill. This is the closed loop business model that is our core competency and focus.”
Mr Banchero said his company was currently looking to secure contracts for the sale of electricity or natural gas from the digester.
He added: “Our plans are to start with a relatively small digester and expand the use of this technology when it has proven itself in our system.”
Copyright © 2010 BrighterEnergy.org
