They Turn Trash Into Clean Energy

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #2, Page #42

[ Sample Stories From This Issue | List of All Stories In This Issue | Print this story | Read this issue]

Instead of hauling garbage to the dump, IST Energy Corp., in Massachusetts, offers an onsite solution that turns trash into electricity or heat. The all-in-one Green Energy Machine (GEM) is a dumpster, processor, gasifier and energy producer capable of going through 3 tons of trash a day and producing up to 100 kW of electricity and/or 187 kW of heat.
  With an estimated $1.1 million cost, it's not designed for homeowners. But hospitals, universities, hotels, stadiums and factories will see a payback in 3 to 10 years, according to Cathy Leonard, account manager at IST. The payback comes in part from reduced energy costs. But, for many companies, the biggest savings is from landfill fees.
  "Many customers on the East and West coasts pay $100/ton," Leonard explains. The GEM reduces that cost and is good for the environment by reducing trash taken to the landfill.
  Based on estimates that each person generates about 4.5 lbs. of waste/day, it takes about 1,400 people to generate the 3-ton capacity of GEM. Leonard emphasizes that recycling comes first - removing glass, metal and recyclable paper from the waste stream. Everything else - soiled paper, food scraps, plastics, packaging, etc. - can be tossed into the GEM.
  The machine shreds, dries and pelletizes the trash before it's fed into a downdraft gasifier for conversion into an efficient, clean-burning synthetic gas. Up to 95 percent of the trash converts to energy.
  The energy can be customized to the client's needs to power a generator for electricity or a boiler for heat. The first GEM is being customized for Edwards Air Base to mix the GEM's synthetic gas with 1.2 gal. of diesel/hour to generate 100 kW of power. At Edwards, a forklift will load waste into the GEM, but most companies will likely prefer loading bags onto a conveyor.
  Whether it's heavy equipment or a custodian tossing bags in the Green Energy Machine, IST is eager to work with all types of companies interested in reducing landfill bills and energy costs and taking a positive step for the environment, Leonard says.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, IST Energy, 303 Bear Hill Road, Waltham, Mass. 02451 (ph 781 890-2801; www.istenergy.com).

Click here to download page story appeared in.

Click here to read entire issue

They Turn Trash Into Clean Energy ENERGY Alternative Fuels Instead of hauling garbage to the dump IST Energy Corp in Massachusetts offers an onsite solution that turns trash into electricity or heat The all-in-one Green Energy Machine GEM is a dumpster processor gasifier and energy producer capable of going through 3 tons of trash a day and producing up to 100 kW of electricity and/or 187 kW of heat With an estimated $1 1 million cost it s not designed for homeowners But hospitals universities hotels stadiums and factories will see a payback in 3 to 10 years according to Cathy Leonard account manager at IST The payback comes in part from reduced energy costs But for many companies the biggest savings is from landfill fees Many customers on the East and West coasts pay $100/ton Leonard explains The GEM reduces that cost and is good for the environment by reducing trash taken to the landfill Based on estimates that each person generates about 4 5 lbs of waste/day it takes about 1 400 people to generate the 3-ton capacity of GEM Leonard emphasizes that recycling comes first - removing glass metal and recyclable paper from the waste stream Everything else - soiled paper food scraps plastics packaging etc - can be tossed into the GEM The machine shreds dries and pelletizes the trash before it s fed into a downdraft gasifier for conversion into an efficient clean-burning synthetic gas Up to 95 percent of the trash converts to energy The energy can be customized to the client s needs to power a generator for electricity or a boiler for heat The first GEM is being customized for Edwards Air Base to mix the GEM s synthetic gas with 1 2 gal of diesel/hour to generate 100 kW of power At Edwards a forklift will load waste into the GEM but most companies will likely prefer loading bags onto a conveyor Whether it s heavy equipment or a custodian tossing bags in the Green Energy Machine IST is eager to work with all types of companies interested in reducing landfill bills and energy costs and taking a positive step for the environment Leonard says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup IST Energy 303 Bear Hill Road Waltham Mass 02451 ph 781 890-2801; www istenergy com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW NOW