AFC Fuel Cell for High Temperature Waste to Energy Gasification Developer

London based Waste2Tricity has brokered its first order for a low-cost alkaline fuel cell which will be used to increase efficiency at a small scale waste to energy gasification plant being developed by Powerhouse Energy Group (PHE). W2T said that it has been working with PHE to evaluate its Pyromex Ultra High Temperature Gasification technology, in particular the potential of its use with the AFC Energy fuel cell which W2T holds the license to in a number of territories. The company said that it is continuing to evaluate the PHE technology for smaller projects utilising Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) or Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and that the scale of both the 5 tonne and 25 tonne a day systems would help meet the proximity agenda for waste. At the same time W2T claimed that the widespread adoption of such technology could create a widely distributed hydrogen production network – a requirement for a successful transition to a hydrogen economy. “A successful combination of the technologies would be especially relevant in more remote areas without an existing distributed electricity system and so reliant on small scale diesel engines for local power generation,” explained John Hall, managing director of Waste2Tricity “The PHE systems operate not only on MSW type waste but also forest waste and other bio-waste materials, so combined with the fuel cell would offer an effective way of utilising local resources,” he continued. Keith Allaun, executive chairman of Powerhouse Energy Group commented: “With our modular Pyromex Ultra High Temperature Gasification technology we see a tremendous opportunity for leveraging the AFC fuel cell.” “This enhances the commercial platform we have developed, increasing the efficiency of our waste-to-electricity offering,” he added. The sale of the first AFC Fuel Cell was said to be worth a total of £150,000. Read More Swiss Firm aims at $10.8bn Medical Waste Market with High Temperature Gasifier Pyromex has received a letter of intent to acquire the first of its nominal 5 tonne per day ultra high temperature Gasifiers for use in the disposal of medical waste. Deal to Accelerate Plasma Gasification & Fuel Cell Use in Thailand Waste2Tricity has signed a new MoU in Bangkok to accelerate the adoption of fuel cell systems at plasma gasification waste to energy plants in Thailand. Second Plasma Gasification Plant for Teesside Following Government Deal Air Products is to build a second 350,000 tonne per year waste to energy plasma gasification facility on Teesside following the signing of a 20 year power purchase agreement with the UK government's Cabinet Office. The Waste Gasification Debate While a number of major projects are underway globally, waste gasification has a chequered past. Many argue that when traditional thermal treatment with heat recovery is able to achieve such high efficiencies, gasification is complex and unnecessary. Others point to low emissions and the potential to produce products such as hydrogen. WMW asked some experts for their thoughts on the subject…