Renewable Energy Technology Thrusts

Technology Areas of Focus

Gasification Systems
Thermal chemical conversion technologies have the capability of transforming multiple organic waste streams into a synthetic gas, “syngas,” that can be used to create power or liquid fuels.

Current Gasification Systems at Technikon:

• IES
  Advanced Pyrolysis Conversion Technology
  IES, using state-of-the-art technology in pyrolysis, offers the most innovative and environmentally safe technology for converting waste to power on the world market today.  Their proprietary pyrolysis system, the Advanced Pyrolytic System® meets or exceeds all federal, state, and local requirements for air quality and environmental regulations.  IES produces further environmentally oriented components such as Thermal Oxidizers, Dust Collectors, and Wet Scrubbers.
   www.wastetopower.com
• Sierra Energy 
  Thermal Gasification
  Sierra Energy is a utility-scale clean energy company. They can retrofit iron-making blast furnaces, converting them into thermal gasifiers capable of creating clean energy at a scale over 20 times larger than their nearest competitor. Because of the significant number of currently idled blast furnaces in the U.S. and abroad, they can deploy their system — called FASTOX™ — quickly and with minimal capital cost, leveraging existing assets and infrastructure. Sierra Energy’s FASTOX™ system will bring new life to struggling iron-making communities while providing the means of turning a wide variety of feedstocks into the clean and renewable energy our society needs.
  www.sierraenergycorp.com
• PEAT International 
  Plasma Thermal Destruction Recovery
  PEAT’s principal mission is the deployment of its proprietary Plasma Thermal Destruction Recovery ("PTDR") technology for toxic waste treatment and hazardous waste treatment. The technology can treat a wide range of waste feedstocks, including industrial, industrial process, biological/medical and universal waste streams.  Using the proprietary PTDR technology, PEAT's environmentally friendly process converts wastes into a non-toxic synthetic gas (which is a valuable source of alternative energy) and other useful end products. The PTDR is a proven, cost-effective, environmentally clean and commercially viable solution for toxic waste treatment and hazardous waste treatment.
  www.peat.com
• Syngas to Electricity Generator
  Syngas can be used as fuel to create electricity, either by creating steam to turbine or by going directly to an internal combustion engine.
  
  Technikon currently has a 24-kilowatt ICC Engine with load bank, a steam production system, and turbine.
• Syngas to Diesel Fuel using Dry Catalyst
  Syngas (mostly carbon monoxide and hydrogen) can be used to create liquid fuels or other complex chemicals.
  
  Current Syngas to Diesel Fuel using Dry Catalyst Systems at Technikon
• Pacific Renewable Fuels
  Pacific Renewable Fuels provides industry-leading solutions that convert waste biomass and other alternative resources efficiently and economically into transportation fuels. Using their patent-pending, proprietary technologies, their Synergy™ plants utilize a variety of renewable or fossil resources including agricultural wastes, forest residues, waste gases, or even coal to produce clean transportation fuels and electricity where it is needed.
  www.prfuels.com

Algae Production Systems
Algae is a unique biological catalyst that can convert CO2 and sunlight into a fast growing, multi-purpose crop.

Current Algae production for carbon capture and bio-oil systems at Technikon:

• Ternion Bio Industries
  Algae-Based Photo Bioreactors
  Ternion Bio Industries makes Photo Bioreactors that provide a controlled, scalable environment in which harmful emissions, notably carbon dioxide, are used to “feed” any strain of algae, producing high-quality raw material for beneficial algae-based products. As a result, Ternion Bio helps emitters of carbon dioxide, such as power plants and petroleum refineries; more easily and cost-effectively meet tightening requirements for sequestering greenhouse gases.
  www.ternionbio.com

Syngas Cleaning Technology
Syngas from gasification and methane from anaerobic digestion requires added cleaning before conversion. Multiple technologies are being explored.

Current Syngas Cleaning Technologies at Technikon:

• Cha Corporation - Microwave reactor
  Cha Corporation's mission is to develop, commercialize, and market new and innovative microwave technologies to help provide a better quality of life; to establish itself as a professional organization that emphasizes the value of technical skills, challenges, and responsibility in an ethical environment.
  www.chacorporation.com