Sustainable Waste Diversion Technologies to promote a circular economy

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1 NY Federation Conference May 2018 Richard Schofield Project Development Manager Sustainable Waste Diversion Technologies to promote a circular economy

2 Enerkem at a glance Biofuels and renewable chemicals from non-recyclable household garbage Proprietary clean technology developed in-house Private company founded in 2000; more than 200 employees First full-scale commercial biorefinery beginning operations in Edmonton Pilot and demonstration facilities in Québec Developing similar facilities in North America and abroad MOUs in China and EU 2 Building the circular economy Enerkem

3 ENERKEM ALBERTA BIOFUELS The world s first MSW-to-biofuels and chemicals facility GASIFIER & FEEDING SCRUBBING METHANOL SYNTHESIS COMPRESSORS ETHANOL SYNTHESIS ENERKEM ALBERTA BIOFUELS Capacity: Feedstock: 38 million litres per year Municipal solid waste (household garbage from City of Edmonton) 100,000 dry tonnes per year Biomethanol, cellulosic ethanol 3 Building the circular economy Enerkem Products:

4 Sustainable waste management solution Complementary to recycling and composting 4 Building the circular economy Enerkem

5 Alternative to landfilling and traditional WTE Helping increase waste diversion up to 90% 5 Building the circular economy Enerkem

6 Part of an integrated waste management system 20% Recycled 40%Composted 30% Biofuels 10% Landfill 90% WASTE DIVERSION 6 Building the circular economy Enerkem

7 Transitioning to a circular economy Value added biobased products to the consumer Post-consumption waste generation Replacing fossil sources with low-carbon methanol and ethanol Converting waste into biofuels and renewable chemicals 7 Building the circular economy Enerkem

8 Conversion Technologies Incineration Pyrolysis Gasification Plasma and low severity Anaerobic Digestion Technologies 8 Building the circular economy Enerkem

9 It s all about the lambda (λ) λ = EEEEEEEE O 2 SSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSSS O 2 RRRRRRRRRRR Process Lambda Combustion λ 1 Gasification 0 < λ < 1 Pyrolysis λ = 0 9 Building the circular economy Enerkem

10 It s all about the lambda (λ) 10 Building the circular economy Enerkem

11 Incineration / Combustion What it is Traditional Waste to Energy Blowing air into combustion chamber where waste is fed Excess oxygen Near atmospheric pressure Energy from combustion recuperated As Steam, converted to Electricity and / or heat All carbon sent to atmosphere (as CO2) Bottom and fly ash Often combined to be considered non hazardous (US) Waste Air Combustion Waste Electricity Heat 11 Building the circular economy Enerkem

12 Incineration / combustion Pros and cons Pros Well established Little to no preprocessing required Can process the full waste stream Potential to recover metals in residues Cons PPAs are not what they used to be Very few heat networks available in North America 12 Building the circular economy Enerkem

13 Gasification (Low severity) What it is Waste fed to a oxygen deprived environment Usually pressurized Low temperature Autothermal Waste turned unto syngas Mainly CO and hydrogen Some CO2 that generates the heat Syngas can be used for electricity Waste Oxygen Main focus though is liquid fuels and chemicals Gasification low severity Syngas Catalytic Reactions Electricity Green Chemicals Biofuels 13 Building the circular economy Enerkem

14 Enerkem example of Renewable chemicals for everyday products Chemical building blocks in our syngas Product Family Applications CO Renewable Methanol & Ethanol Alcohols Transportation fuels Solvents for pesticides and coatings Pharmaceuticals Polymers Cosmetic products Plastics Textiles H2 Acrylates Architectural and industrial coatings Plastics Adhesives 14 Building the circular economy Enerkem

15 Gasification (Low severity) Pros and cons Pros Can process the full waste stream Cost effective at current tipping fees (when procuring fuels or chemicals) Flexibility in product output GHG reduction from status quo Cons Preprocessing required Requires utilities (water, electricity, industrial gases) Syngas not always balanced for desired product without gas shift 15 Building the circular economy Enerkem

16 Gasification (Plasma) What it is Waste fed to a oxygen deprived environment Usually pressurized High temperature Electric arc used to produce heat Waste turned unto syngas Syngas can be used for electricity Main focus though is liquid fuels and chemicals Vitrified Slag Formation Waste Oxygen Energy Gasification plasma Syngas Catalytic Reactions Electricity Green Chemicals Biofuels 16 Building the circular economy Enerkem

17 Gasification (Plasma) Pros and cons Pros Can process the full waste stream Little waste preprocessing Flexibility in product output Cons Large electricity costs High cost for high temperature material Syngas not always balanced for desired product 17 Building the circular economy Enerkem

18 Pyrolysis What it is Waste fed to an externally heated zero oxygen environment Often under vacuum Low temperature Carbon chains are cracked into smaller hydrocarbons Oil Gas Char Waste Energy Pyrolysis Hydro Carbons Purification Green Chemicals Biofuels 18 Building the circular economy Enerkem

19 Pyrolysis Pros and cons Pros Flexibility in product output Potential of good yield when homogeneous feedstock used Cons Hard to control output when mixed waste is used Preprocessing required when using mixed waste 19 Building the circular economy Enerkem

20 Anaerobic digestion What it is Organic stream converted (digested) into a biogas Carbon becomes ~50% Methane, ~50% CO2 Biogas can be used as natural gas replacement (@ 50% CV) Could be cleaned and put on grid Solid residue can generally be used as compost Wet AD or Dry AD 20 Building the circular economy Enerkem

21 Anaerobic digestion Pros and cons Pros Full treatment of organics Low non reusable residues Biogas considered almost 100% carbon neutral when burned. Cons Often best when combined with a third stream collection Biogas hard to put on grid Capital costs high vs gas revenue Organic feedstock generally has to be very clean 21 Building the circular economy Enerkem

22 Thank you For more information: Richard Schofield Project Development Manager Presentation Images Source: City of Edmonton Enerkem