Waste as an asset, not a liability

For decades plasma gasification technology has been used in a variety of applications, including the conversion of organic refuse into electricity and other reusable products.
 
Advances in technology mean that the process has the potential to produce clean energy whilst eliminating the need for landfills.
 
The plasma gasification process utilises ionised gas (plasma) to vapourise domestic refuse and produce a super-heated synthetic gas (syn-gas). Steam is created in cooling the gas, with electricity being generated by a steam turbine and through combustion within a gas turbine.
 
Other reusable bi-products include industrial chemicals such as sulphur and an inert slag product which has commercial application as an aggregate for roads or in building materials.
 
The electricity generated by plasma gasification produces minimal greenhouse gases, and utilises this waste resource in both a renewable and sustainable way.
 
Hyder Consulting has worked with potential investors in plasma gasification plants to conduct a technical review of the process and its electricity generating capability, and to assess any potential risks associated with the technology.) This review is part of a process to establish the economic feasibility of the proposed development.
 
Hyder has also been assisting the project developer understand the local economic, social and political implications of the project, and been involved in briefing local council and community groups.
 
Each proposed plant has an estimated project value in excess of AUD$100m and will be the first of their kind in Australia. With similar plants currently in construction in the United States, a regional roll out of the technology is being planned for Australia and Asia