Thanks in part to pellet mill technologies and solutions, waste-to-energy plants around the globe will likely be an important piece of how we manage waste in the years and decades to come on a much larger scale.
By Josh Gill
What if the trash in your bin could effectively be converted into fuel for your next commercial flight, clean-burning heat that can power industrial processes, or valuable industrial materials? All while reducing the emission of greenhouse gases?
Thanks in part to pellet mill technologies and solutions, this is already happening at waste-to-energy plants around the globe and will likely be an important piece of how we manage waste in the years and decades to come on a much larger scale.
The Waste Challenge
As a planet, we produce a lot of waste. In 2018, the World Bank estimated that we produce more than 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) every year, and they expect that number to grow to 3.4 billion tons by 2050.
Effectively dealing with, reducing, recycling, and reusing this waste is critical for the long-term health of our planet. Many solutions attack this challenge in a variety of ways鈥攆rom converting used tennis balls into playground bedding, turning broken shipping pallets and plastic bags into long-lasting building materials, to performing bottle-to-bottle plastic recycling, and much more. However, one of the most exciting applications in waste management is waste to fuel.
Pellet Mills at Work
With more than 2,000 installed globally, California Pellet Mill (CPM) has proven to be robust, reliable, flexible, and highly efficient. One single CPM partner has 10 CPM pellet mills installed at two waste-to-fuel plants where they process waste into more than 350,000 tons of pellets annually. A study performed by Ingenia in the Netherlands found that 1.6 tons of CO2 can be saved by every ton of fossil fuel substituted with waste fuel. According to that calculation, that single CPM partner plant is reducing 320,000 tons of CO2 emissions every year.
Waste-to-Fuel: Opportunities and Benefits
Broadly, 鈥渨aste to fuel鈥� refers to a range of technologies and processes that convert waste materials into usable fuels. A wide range of waste products鈥攆rom household garbage to industrial by-products, agricultural leftovers, and more鈥攃an be transformed into usable fuels through techniques that might include anaerobic digestion, biogas digestion, pyrolysis, gasification, and more.
The environmental benefits of waste to fuel come from two sources: 1) reducing greenhouse gas emissions from methane at landfills, and 2) creating green energy sources that can replace fossil fuels. The potential benefits could be massive. Some estimates show that waste to fuel could produce CO2 reductions/sequestration of more than 6 gigatons between 2020 and 2050.
From Waste to Sustainable Aviation Fuel
One of the most exciting applications for waste-to-fuel operations is the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Both the EU and U.S. have ambitious goals for SAF requirements. In the EU, 2 percent of jet fuel must be sustainable by 2025, 6 percent by 2030, 20 percent by 2035, and 70 percent by 2050. In the U.S., several state and federal policies support the creation of SAF through tax credits and funding opportunities. The White House recently issued a 鈥済rand challenge鈥� with the goals of 1) producing three billion gallons of SAF by 2030 and 2) enough SAF to meet 100 percent of commercial demand by 2050.
The EPA estimates that in the U.S. alone, 1 billion dry tons of biomass can be collected sustainably each year, which can be used to produce 50 to 60 billion gallons of low-carbon biofuel.
In the EU, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) estimates that 2.3 million tons of SAF will be required by 2030. With a current estimated capacity of 0.24 million tons, it is expected that the industry will see rapid growth during this decade.
Photos courtesy of CPM.
Waste-to-Fuel Solutions
A variety of solutions for the waste to fuel industry include:
- Intelligent systems that automate and streamline waste material processing operations.
- Custom process engineering and equipment for end-to-end operations that turn agricultural waste into biofuels.
- Machinery for particle size reduction, sorting, drying, and pelletizing鈥攁ll of which are key processes in waste to fuel facilities.
Pelletizing
Because waste is bulky and hard to handle, turning it into pellets or briquettes is a key transformation that makes it suitable for many waste-to-fuel processes. Pellet mills are an extremely popular option for waste-to-fuel pelleting applications.
Briquetting
For small-scale municipal waste transformation facilities, briquetting represents the suitable solution, as it effectively transforms waste into high-calorific value fuels. Mechanical briquetting machines embody efficient and reliable technology for densifying various waste streams.
Before pelletizing or briquetting, mixed waste products go through a series of processes designed to separate, refine, and make the final product more suitable for the waste-to-fuel conversion process.
Partnerships for a Better World
In the end, using waste for fuel is like mining valuable materials from the ground, but in a more sustainable way that helps us to build a better and cleaner world. If your company is ready to explore these solutions, look for a partner to deliver reliable, proven waste-to-fuel or waste-to-energy processes. | WA
Waste to Fuel Glossary
Looking to get up to speed on the latest in waste to fuel? Here are a few terms that might be helpful to understand.
Gasification鈥擜 process that converts organic or waste materials into syngas鈥攁 mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide鈥攂y heating the materials at high temperatures in a low-oxygen environment. It is used in waste-to-fuel applications to transform municipal solid waste and other types of waste into a usable form of energy, reducing landfill use and producing clean, renewable fuel.
Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Process鈥擜 chemical reaction that converts a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, often derived from gasified waste materials, into liquid hydrocarbons. It can be used to convert waste into synthetic fuels like diesel or jet fuel.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)鈥擧ousehold garbage, yard waste, and commercial and industrial refuse. It encompasses a wide range of materials requiring management for disposal or recycling.
Pyrolysis鈥擜 thermal decomposition process that breaks down organic materials in waste at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. It converts solid waste into a mix of gas, liquid bio-oil, and solid char, which can be used as renewable energy sources or chemical feedstocks.
Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF)鈥擜 fuel produced from various types of waste, including non-recyclable plastics, paper, and other organic materials. It is created by processing and treating municipal solid waste to remove inserts and increase its energy content, making it suitable for use in energy generation.
Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF)鈥擜 high-quality fuel produced from non-hazardous waste materials. In the context of waste to fuel, SRF is processed and treated waste that has been sorted and refined to have a high calorific value, making it suitable for use in energy production.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)鈥擜n eco-friendly fuel for aircraft, made from sustainable sources like waste products and agricultural residues. It reduces aviation鈥檚 carbon footprint by emitting up to 80 percent less carbon dioxide compared to conventional jet fuel, supporting the industry鈥檚 sustainability goals.
Waste to SAF (WtS)鈥擜 process that transforms waste materials, such as municipal solid waste or biomass, into sustainable aviation fuel.
Methane Digester鈥擜 system that breaks down organic material in a controlled environment to produce biogas, primarily composed of methane, which can then be used as a renewable energy source.
Biogas Digester鈥擜 device or facility that processes organic waste materials to produce biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, which can be used as a source of renewable energy.
Biogas Generator鈥擜 system that converts biogas, produced from organic waste through digestion, into electricity or heat for practical use.
Josh Gill is Waste and Recycling Sales Manager for California Pellet Mill (CPM), specializing in alternative fuels and waste-to-energy solutions. He began his career with Bliss Industries in 2018, working in customer service before advancing to Sales Manager, where he played a key role in CPM鈥檚 acquisition and integration of Bliss鈥檚 product lines. With a passion for innovation in waste management, Josh transitioned his focus to the alternative fuels and recycling sector, helping businesses tackle the growing problem of landfill waste by repurposing materials into sustainable energy sources. His expertise in contract negotiation, equipment sales, and process optimization has helped expand CPM鈥檚 presence in the waste-to-fuel market, driving measurable impact in the industry. He can be reached at [email protected].