Consideration of New and Emerging Technologies Conversion Technologies

Consideration of New and Emerging Technologies (Conversion Technologies) for Solid Waste Management in Massachusetts Presented at EBC Solid Waste Energy Seminar June 9, 2010 Presented by James J. Binder, P. E. Alternative Resources, Inc. Concord, MA 01742 (978) 371 -2054 jbinder@alt-res. com

Conversion Technologies • Thermal – Use or produce heat to change the composition of organic portion of MSW – Products include synthesis gas, fuels, vitrified residue or char, recovered metals and other materials – Descriptors: gasification, pyrolysis and plasma • Digestion (Aerobic and Anaerobic) – Decomposes organic compostable fraction of MSW using microbes – Anaerobic digestion produces biogas and compost – Aerobic digestion produces compost • Hydrolysis – Chemical reaction in which water (typically with acid) reacts with another substance to form new substances – Extracts cellulose from MSW to form products or sugar which is fermented to ethanol – Some products include ethanol, levulinic acid • Mechanical Processing – To create a fuel or other reusable products 2

Why Consider Conversion Technologies? • Environmental benefits, including reduction in greenhouse gas and other emissions • Enhanced beneficial use of waste; material recovery and energy production; less waste requiring transfer and landfilling • Production of needed “renewable” products with strong, year-round markets – Electricity – Gas – Fuels – CNG, LNG, ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel 3

Examples of Recent Independent Evaluations • New York City – Phase I – 2004 – Phase II – 2007 • LA County – Phase I – 2005 – Phase II – 2007 • City of LA – Phase I: 2005 • University of California, Riverside – June 2009 4

Summary of Technical Findings NYC Phase II Evaluation 2007 • Anaerobic digestion and thermal processing technologies are in commercial operation overseas for mixed MSW, and could be successfully applied in NYC • Reference facilities provide a demonstration of performance • Site size requirements – Anaerobic digestion: 8 -14 acres (~500 tpd) – Thermal processing: 11 -36 acres (20003, 000 tpd) • No issues have been identified that would prevent transfer of design and operation experience from commercial operation overseas to application of the technologies in the U. S. • Project-specific and site-specific issues would need to be addressed 5

Typical Net Energy Production Net Electric/ Fuel Output 1, 000 TPD 100% Availability Thermal / Gasification/ Electricity 400 -700 k. Wh/Ton 16 -28 MWe Thermal/ Gasification/ Ethanol 60 -70 Gal Ethanol/Ton 22 -26 Million Gal/Year 125 -250 k. Wh/Ton 5 -10 MWe 31 Gal Ethanol/Ton 11 Million Gal/Year Anaerobic Digestion/ Electricity Acid Hydrolysis/ Ethanol 6

Typical Landfill Diversion (By weight) Thermal Anaerobic Digestion >90% 65 -85% 7

Summary of Environmental Findings NYC Phase II Evaluation 2007 • In general, anaerobic digestion and thermal processing technologies have the potential to offer better environmental performance than waste-to-energy facilities, including lower air emissions, increased beneficial use of waste, and reduced reliance on landfilling 8

Typical Economics • Economic analyses indicate that anaerobic digestion and thermal processing technologies, on a commercial scale, are comparable to or less costly than costs for current waste management practices, including in-state and export practices • Projected tipping fee for private ownership and financing without ARRA, DOE Funding: – Anaerobic digestion = $60 -$80/ton – Thermal processing = $65 -$100/ton • Potential for ARRA, DOE funding – could lower tip fees $10 -$20/ton. • Corporate teaming experience in the U. S. continuing to develop for the technology suppliers 9

Status of Active U. S. Initiatives • Permitting – St. Lucie County, Florida: 600 TPD – Plasma Gasification – Electricity – Fulcrum Energy, Nevada: 300 TPD – Plasma Gasification – Ethanol • Contract Negotiation – Taunton, MA: Commercial Facility, 1770 TPD – Gasification – Ethanol – City of Los Angeles: Demonstration Facility, 150 TPD – AD – County of Los Angeles: Demonstration Facilities, 150 -360 TPD – AD and Gasification – Salinas, CA: Commercial Facility – Plasma Gasification • Procurement – City/County of Santa Barbara: Commercial Facility, 700 TPD – AD, Gasification, Other 10

Status of Active U. S. Initiatives (cont. ) • Siting – New York City: 300 -1000 TPD – AD, Gasification • Technology Evaluations/Planning – – Connecticut – CRRA Delaware – DSWA New Jersey – ACUA California – San Diego, Orange County, San Jose, Oakland, San Bernardino County, others 11

Taunton, Massachusetts • Selected IWT to Finance, Permit, Design, Construct, Operate Facility on City-Leased Site. • 1770 -TPD Regional Solid Waste Management Facility • Accept post-recycled mixed MSW and other wastes • Materials Recycling Facility • Thermoselect Gasification Process • Coskata Ethanol Production Facility • Benefits City, Region, State – In-state solution to reduce waste export – Long term, stable and competitive tip fees – economic benefit to communities, commercial businesses and industry – Increased recycling and diversion from landfilling – Reduced environmental impacts – greenhouse gas emissions – Production of ethanol – renewable fuel – from waste materials, not corn – Provides economic benefits § 300 construction jobs § 80 long-term O&M jobs § Economic stimulus to region • Operation – 2013 -2014 12

Plant View – Site Construction Arrow. Bio – Jacks Gully Sydney, Australia 300 TPD July 2008 Commercial operation 2009 13

Reciprocating Engine/Gen Set Arrow. Bio, Tel Aviv Operating since 2003 14

Thermoselect Gasification Projects in Japan 15

IWT – Chiba, Japan 330 TPD Operating since 1999 16

Waste in Pit JFE/Thermoselect Plant Kurashiki, Japan 610 TPD Operating since 2005 17

Cut Away Model - Ebara Plant Kawaguchi, Japan 380 TPD Operating Since 2002 18

Control Room – Ebara Plant Kawaguchi, Japan 19

Westinghouse Plasma Gasification System Utashinai, Japan 165 TPD for Auto Shredder Residue (ASR) or 300 TPD for MSW Date of Commercial Operation: 2003 20

IES – Romoland, CA 50 TPD Operating since March 2005 21

Gasifier and Thermal Oxidizer Entech Facility, Bydgoszcz, Poland 25 TPD – Hospital Waste Operating since February 2003 22

Plasco Energy Demonstration Facility Ottawa, Canada 100 TPD (Permitted for 85 TPD, Generates 4 MW electricity) Date of Initial Waste Processing: 2007 23

Plasco Energy Group – Plasma Gasification Facility Artist Rendering for Facility Proposed for City of Los Angeles 200 TPD 24