Centralized Solutions
What is Bioenergy?
Bioenergy is the energy stored in living or recently living biological organisms, a definition which specifically excludes fossil fuels. Plants get bioenergy through photosynthesis and animals get it by consuming plants and converting this energy into a beneficial form for sustaining life. Simply, anything organic in composition has the potential to be converted into energy.
Bioenergy Sources
Organic material containing bioenergy is commonly known as biomass. Humans can use this biomass in many different ways, through something as simple as burning wood, or as complex as using bacteria to create biogas like we do at CCI. Since almost all bioenergy can be traced back to energy from sunlight, bioenergy has the major advantage of being a renewable energy source. Bioenergy is energy derived from biomass bound up during the process of photosynthesis. It is a renewable energy.
Bioenergy can be used to make fuels, generate electricity and provide heat. Wood, which people have used to cook and keep warm for thousands of years, continues to be the largest biomass resource. Today there are also many other types of biomass we can use to produce energy. Biomass resources include:
- organic fraction of municipal solid waste
- source separated municipal solid waste
- industrial, commercial & institutional waste streams
- reclaimed wood
- forestry & agricultural residues
- purpose-grown energy crops
- sewage sludge
- liquid wastes
- manures
Bioenergy as a Centralized Solution
At CCI we produce bioenergy from biogas created by a naturally occurring biological process known as anaerobic digestion (AD). The feedstock for the biology is the organic fraction of the waste we all generate every day as individuals or businesses – municipal solid waste (MSW). At CCI we refer to the bioenergy we produce with your waste as “divert-to-convert” energy. We use your wasted organic assets to create community-based renewable energy for consumption in your community or business.
The biogas averages 65% methane content, is produced continuously and there is an abundant supply of organics everywhere in our communities and businesses. This broad availability and flexibility makes biogas based renewables unique when compared to the other renewable energy forms – sun, wind, water and geothermal. The opportunity to utilize the biogas in multiple ways creates an operating environment that provides choice and is flexible to change. The opportunities include:
Cogeneration (CHP)
The biogas is combusted using reciprocating engines to produce electricity and heat (CHP- combined heat and power). Both are then available for sale into the open marketplace or directly to other facilities near the site. Alternatively, the electricity can be used internally to meet electrical needs and the heating requirements in the facility and digestion process.
Upgrading to pipeline grade (Biomethane)
Biomethane is an interchangeable term for biogas which is produced by anaerobic digestion. Once upgraded by the removal of the approximately 35% that is non-methane, chemically it becomes identical to natural gas. Most all utility companies are developing programs that will allow for the injection of this product directly into their natural gas distribution pipelines.
Conversion to biofuels
The conversion to liquid biofuels has occurred in Europe for decades and is now seen in North America as a viable use opportunity. The biogas is upgraded and compressed to create a biofuel identical to compressed natural gas (CNG). The opportunity to create a sustainable solution that envisions the energy for collection being created from the waste collected.
Technological Benefits
The key benefits to be accrued with the implementation of the BTA® Process are summarized below.
Flexible siting
BTA plants require small amounts of land to site a facility. Site plans and building layouts are smaller because there is rapid degradation, reduction and production of multiple products. Siting in a more urban area or a WWTP site is feasible, reducing the overall cost of the solution via reduced transportation costs.
Wide range of feedstocks
The BTA® Process is specifically designed to process a broad range of biodegradable organic elements found in MSW, including organics that are commingled, such as disposable diapers and compound packaging. Mixed waste processing, known as Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) can be implemented to expand the feedstock classes.
Maximized diversion
Combined with the broad range of feedstocks acceptable for conversion is an industry leading 90% plus capture rate of the organic fraction found in the feedstocks. These features translate to maximized organics diversion achievement when measured at the landfill and not the curb.
Flexible bioenergy production
A major benefit of AD is the production of biogas. With its patented AD techniques, the BTA® Process produces biogas rich in methane content (approximately 65%), which is a valuable resource to produce multiple forms of community based renewable energy.
Limited Emissions
The level of emissions is critical to implementing an organics solution. Noise, odour, dust and greenhouse gases are significantly reduced as the majority of the biology occurs inside pipes, pumps and tanks. It is also fact that AD produces the least amount of VOC emissions of any organics or waste processing method.
Enhanced process control
Many organics processing methods experience difficulty in controlling issues such as leachate, noise from equipment, dust from piles, and odours from the decomposing organic matter – all of which contribute to environmental problems, negative visibility and public pressure from the community.
Flexible, robust designs
The BTA® Process is flexible, modular and robust, allowing for only portions of the process to be installed, The ability to incrementally increase capacities, and the capability to respond to change is inherent in the architecture and design and is typically installed using a processing line approach.
Short retention in the plant
In less than 21 days, waste entering a BTA facility is converted into biogas, solids, liquids and residuals. The conversion of biogas to bioenergy is a continuous process. The digestate is then finished and amended aerobically, at accelerated rates versus standard aerobic methods.
By-product quality
The compost has been independently tested and proven to be a quality soil enhancer, with growth properties superior to peat or aerobic yard waste compost. When compared to strict North American compost quality standards, tough requirements for unrestricted use compost are comfortably exceeded.
Flexible Feedstock Options
The majority of organics solutions require the generator to source separate the organics into a specialized container. The reality is inert contamination will be found in this feedstock. The upfront removal of this contamination is a key strength and differentiator of the BTA® Process. Alternatively, some jurisdictions look to implement solutions that will harvest the organics from an unsorted, mixed waste stream
The BTA® Process delivers appropriate processing solutions for:
Source Separated Organics (SSO) Processing : The hydromechanical pre-treatment steps in the BTA® Process are uniquely designed to remove contaminants upfront and allow for the economic conversion of the organic contents into reusable products. Inert contamination up to 20% can be hydromechanically managed.
Mixed Waste (MW) Processing : MW processing is often referred to as “mechanical biological treatment” (MBT). Extending the BTA hydromechanical pre-treatment front end with a third party mechanical dry pre-treatment configuration creates a flexible, integrated, and scalable MBT solution. The primary mechanical pre-treatment extension choices include:
Delivering Generator Ease-of-Use
The Opportunity:
The BTA system capabilities create an environment for the generator to utilize plastic liners in their collection containers to reduce the greatest barrier to use in an organics diversion program, the “wet factor”. This feature delivers industry leading participation and organic capture rates allowing users to maximize their diversion rate, measured at the landfill.
Patented Capability & Results:
The equipment that supports the plastic liner capability is the BTA hydromechanical wet pre-treatment front end. Two integrated, patented pieces of equipment, the BTA® Waste Pulper and the BTA® Grit Removal System (GRS), can effectively process the bag contents and strip away the plastic bag liners.
Tough to Process Materials:
This unique functionality also supports the acceptance of compound products such as disposable diapers, personal hygiene products and packaging where organic elements exist in their structure. The inert fraction of these types of materials is removed up front to maintain downstream product quality.
- + Technological Benefits
-
Technological Benefits
The key benefits to be accrued with the implementation of the BTA® Process are summarized below.
Flexible siting
BTA plants require small amounts of land to site a facility. Site plans and building layouts are smaller because there is rapid degradation, reduction and production of multiple products. Siting in a more urban area or a WWTP site is feasible, reducing the overall cost of the solution via reduced transportation costs.
Wide range of feedstocks
The BTA® Process is specifically designed to process a broad range of biodegradable organic elements found in MSW, including organics that are commingled, such as disposable diapers and compound packaging. Mixed waste processing, known as Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) can be implemented to expand the feedstock classes.
Maximized diversion
Combined with the broad range of feedstocks acceptable for conversion is an industry leading 90% plus capture rate of the organic fraction found in the feedstocks. These features translate to maximized organics diversion achievement when measured at the landfill and not the curb.
Flexible bioenergy production
A major benefit of AD is the production of biogas. With its patented AD techniques, the BTA® Process produces biogas rich in methane content (approximately 65%), which is a valuable resource to produce multiple forms of community based renewable energy.
Limited Emissions
The level of emissions is critical to implementing an organics solution. Noise, odour, dust and greenhouse gases are significantly reduced as the majority of the biology occurs inside pipes, pumps and tanks. It is also fact that AD produces the least amount of VOC emissions of any organics or waste processing method.
Enhanced process control
Many organics processing methods experience difficulty in controlling issues such as leachate, noise from equipment, dust from piles, and odours from the decomposing organic matter – all of which contribute to environmental problems, negative visibility and public pressure from the community.
Flexible, robust designs
The BTA® Process is flexible, modular and robust, allowing for only portions of the process to be installed, The ability to incrementally increase capacities, and the capability to respond to change is inherent in the architecture and design and is typically installed using a processing line approach.
Short retention in the plant
In less than 21 days, waste entering a BTA facility is converted into biogas, solids, liquids and residuals. The conversion of biogas to bioenergy is a continuous process. The digestate is then finished and amended aerobically, at accelerated rates versus standard aerobic methods.
By-product quality
The compost has been independently tested and proven to be a quality soil enhancer, with growth properties superior to peat or aerobic yard waste compost. When compared to strict North American compost quality standards, tough requirements for unrestricted use compost are comfortably exceeded.
- + Acceptable Feedstocks
-
Flexible Feedstock Options
The majority of organics solutions require the generator to source separate the organics into a specialized container. The reality is inert contamination will be found in this feedstock. The upfront removal of this contamination is a key strength and differentiator of the BTA® Process. Alternatively, some jurisdictions look to implement solutions that will harvest the organics from an unsorted, mixed waste stream
The BTA® Process delivers appropriate processing solutions for:
Source Separated Organics (SSO) Processing : The hydromechanical pre-treatment steps in the BTA® Process are uniquely designed to remove contaminants upfront and allow for the economic conversion of the organic contents into reusable products. Inert contamination up to 20% can be hydromechanically managed.
Mixed Waste (MW) Processing : MW processing is often referred to as “mechanical biological treatment” (MBT). Extending the BTA hydromechanical pre-treatment front end with a third party mechanical dry pre-treatment configuration creates a flexible, integrated, and scalable MBT solution. The primary mechanical pre-treatment extension choices include:
Delivering Generator Ease-of-Use
The Opportunity:
The BTA system capabilities create an environment for the generator to utilize plastic liners in their collection containers to reduce the greatest barrier to use in an organics diversion program, the “wet factor”. This feature delivers industry leading participation and organic capture rates allowing users to maximize their diversion rate, measured at the landfill.
Patented Capability & Results:
The equipment that supports the plastic liner capability is the BTA hydromechanical wet pre-treatment front end. Two integrated, patented pieces of equipment, the BTA® Waste Pulper and the BTA® Grit Removal System (GRS), can effectively process the bag contents and strip away the plastic bag liners.
Tough to Process Materials:
This unique functionality also supports the acceptance of compound products such as disposable diapers, personal hygiene products and packaging where organic elements exist in their structure. The inert fraction of these types of materials is removed up front to maintain downstream product quality.