Frequently Asked Questions
Our versatile process creates clean energy utilizing a variety of waste streams, including municipal solid waste, biomass, sewage solids, manufacturing waste, plastic waste, hospital waste, agricultural and slaughter waste, and any other organic waste material. Regardless of the feedstock used, we offer a variety of options for the type of output produced.
Our Reformers produce sustainable energy sources, such as syngas, electricity, liquid fuels and hydrogen. These products can serve as a clean alternative to polluting fossil fuels. In addition, our process creates many desirable by-products, including biochar, clean water, ash (used in fertilizer and construction), heat for conversion of energy, heat for producing hot water, and heat for cooling (water or air conditioning).
Our unique technology produces virtually no pollution or undesirable by-products. Unlike traditional waste-to-energy processes that rely on incineration of the waste material, Concord Blue Reformers use heat transfer in an oxygen-starved environment to fully convert the feedstock. With no flame, the amount of pollution created by the process is vastly reduced.
Cost-effectiveness is built into the Concord Blue system. Our Reformers operate using an energy-saving, closed-loop process that requires no additional power once the conversion begins. Additionally, because the process takes place in an oxygen-starved environment, our facilities do not produce toxic oxidized pollutants—eliminating the need for costly add-on scrubbers to clean emissions. The energy to create hydrogen is considerably less than that needed by electrolysers.
The Reformer utilizes nearly any organic waste material as a resource to produce clean energy, contributing to global sustainability by helping to reduce our society’s dependence on landfills and fossil fuels. Because we can scale up or down to meet nearly any need, we can bring the economic and environmental benefits of clean waste recycling to a wide range of communities and businesses. Additionally, our technology can enable energy independence with domestic production of renewable fuel.
Waste streams can include municipal solid waste, biomass, sewage, manufacturing waste, plastic waste, hospital waste, oil sludge, and any other organic material. Because our plants don’t depend on the cost-efficient availability of a single feedstock, our technology has broad, worldwide application.
Our technology produces the highest quality syngas, which is rich in hydrogen and delivers high heating values. Our syngas has five main applications: to fuel a gas engine for high-efficiency electric power production, for pure hydrogen production, for ethanol production, as a replacement or blender for natural gas, and as a raw material for synthesis gases and biofuels.
Our technology is far more efficient than any other waste-to-energy technology. Decomposition of the feedstock (thermolysis) and refinement of the gas produced (reforming) takes place in separate reactors. This staged reforming allows for more precise control of the process and ultimately increases the overall efficiency of the plant. Additionally, the process takes place in an oxygen-free environment,
which means no incineration or pollution.
In a biogas plant, biomass is “eaten up” by micro-organisms under exclusion of air. Gas is produced as a digestive or metabolic product, referred to as fermentation or anaerobic digestion. Biogas mainly consists of methane and carbon dioxide and is produced at temperatures below 100 °C. The micro-organisms are not able to digest all the material, so complete conversion of organic matter is not possible and there is a substantial waste by-product. BlueGas plants, however, operate at temperatures above 500°C, fully converting the feedstock. BlueGas syngas contains a large amount of hydrogen, which usually does not exist in biogas. The BlueGas Reformer is able to achieve much higher efficiencies without the waste by-products.
The solid waste remaining in the BlueGas Reformer™ consists primarily of the mineral components of the utilized regenerative feedstock (i.e., ash). Our process does not produce waste water, and BlueGas plants do not produce pollution. Organic pollutants are completely broken down in the CBR™, and even the remaining solid waste (ash) can be marketed profitably.
Heavy metals are not produced in the process. The gases formed during thermolysis (thermal decomposition) of organic wastes is further refined into high-quality syngas at a temperature of 1050 °C in the reformer by addition of steam. Our syngas contains mainly hydrogen and is a valuable product gas that can be used for hydrogen or energy production. The carbon dioxide which is still part of the syngas is CO2-neutral. Another minor component of the syngas is carbon monoxide as well as a small amount of residual methane. As a combustible gas, carbon monoxide (CO) serves as a source of energy and is therefore an important component of the gas produced by the BlueGas Reformer.
The global network of CBE plants outside Germany includes United States of America, India and Japan. CBR® facilities contracted or under development are in a range of locations across Europe and Asia, soon to be joined by Australia.
From the initial order or contract to operation, the lead time is 28 to 30 months, depending on location, local conditions and infrastructure, plant specification, plant volume and feedstock.
Whereas conventional WTE installations occupy large plots of land, the BlueGas reformer technology relies on a gravity feed system, utilising a tower design. The most compact plant constructed occupies just over 1000m². Dimensions however are dictated by the waste input type, preparation required and volume and output requirements. A BlueGas plant capable of generating energy for a small township, would still be far more compact, compared with alternative WTE installations. If hydrogen is the target, we can work with 3-5 hectares to create the same energy output as an electrolyser powered by a solar farm of some 250 hectares.
Whether a collection of manufacturing plants or a cluster of municipalities, the BlueGas technology is readily adapted to deliver clean energy solutions for either application. Food processors, abattoirs, bakeries and markets are ideal waste mix companions, general municipal and hospitals waste are another productive combination, for defraying system acquisition costs. BlueGas Reformers are ideally suited for custom designed installations and locations not practical or suitable for large incineration plants.