World's largest waste-to-energy plant opens in SA
Thématique :
sud afrique
South African thermal processing specialists Prestige Thermal are leading the way in the global waste-to-energy conversion industry, having opened the world's largest conversion plant last month.
"There has been a lot of global competition towards this technology, but ours is the world's first commercially-viable full-scale waste-to-energy conversion plant," says Mark Potgieter, Prestige Thermal's sales and marketing director.
The company has been at the forefront of conversion technology research for over six years, says Potgieter. Their work has led to the development of specialised autoclaving technology through which waste is reduced to cellulous fibre and pyrolysis - a process whereby solid waste material is converted into clean gas.
Employing these new technologies, Prestige Thermal's R28 million plant in Wadeville, has the capacity to produce 3MW of electrical energy from three tons of municipal solid waste (MSW).
Potgieter says there are currently no agreements in place with Eskom that would see Prestige Thermal's technology contribute to the national electricity grid. However Potgieter says he is encouraged by the growing local interest in their equipment.
In the meantime, the company has received considerable attention from Europe. According to Potgieter, the company is recognised as a global industry leader particularly in the area of waste management best practice.
European countries are increasingly looking to alternative non-landfill solutions for the management of municipal waste, says Potgieter. "Where our technology is being used in the UK, we are reducing landfill sites by up to 70%."
The company has been at the forefront of conversion technology research for over six years, says Potgieter. Their work has led to the development of specialised autoclaving technology through which waste is reduced to cellulous fibre and pyrolysis - a process whereby solid waste material is converted into clean gas.
Employing these new technologies, Prestige Thermal's R28 million plant in Wadeville, has the capacity to produce 3MW of electrical energy from three tons of municipal solid waste (MSW).
Potgieter says there are currently no agreements in place with Eskom that would see Prestige Thermal's technology contribute to the national electricity grid. However Potgieter says he is encouraged by the growing local interest in their equipment.
In the meantime, the company has received considerable attention from Europe. According to Potgieter, the company is recognised as a global industry leader particularly in the area of waste management best practice.
European countries are increasingly looking to alternative non-landfill solutions for the management of municipal waste, says Potgieter. "Where our technology is being used in the UK, we are reducing landfill sites by up to 70%."
