Turning waste into value

Mobile, scalable technology that can turn a variety of waste products into energy and help clean up landfill sites while potentially create income for communities sounds like science fiction. Thankfully, it’s not.

NECSA and SANEDI have developed a mobile plasma gasification technology system that treats green waste and produces electricity as part of the process. Initially designed for organic waste only, the system has since been improved to treat a range of biomass waste types, which may include surrogate Covid PPE waste.

A particularly useful feature is that the system is mobile and can be placed on sites where it is need, obviating the need to transport waste to a fixed waste site. The system was not initially designed to be hauled to sites, but instead for the components to be transported and assembled on arrival. Work is currently underway to make the unit more robust for purposes of travelling.

The technology as it stands can treat between 0.2 and 0.5 tons of waste per day, although the system can be scaled, and produce between 10kW and 25kW of off-grid electricity. The energy can be sold into the municipal grid or used as auxiliary power.

The diversion of green waste from landfills has a significant benefit since the decomposition of such materials releases methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) whose a global warming potential is 21 times more than that of carbon dioxide. GHGs contribute significantly to climate change, the foremost global environmental challenge. Landfill sites also have, in most instances, limited space and contribute to ground and air pollution.

In the months ahead, a roadshow will be conducted at municipal sites across the country to raise awareness and test how the technology might be received. The unit will also be branded. The next step will be a feasibility study to determine whether the technology can produce hydrogen.

The plasma gasification initiative supports South Africa’s ambition to become a world leader in producing hydrogen for local use and export to global markets.

Plasma Gasification Project Objectives

• Support SANEDI’s strategic objectives of addressing climate change and the country’s global climate change obligations and targets by reducing methane production in landfill sites, along with other toxic leachates seeping into surface and subsurface soil and water resources.

• Contribute to the just energy transition strategic objectives with the potential of empowering women and young people through establishing community cooperatives that can potentially earn an income by bringing waste to drop-off sites.

• Technically assess the current plasma gasification system with a view to improve functional capability, material robustness and presentability.

• Demonstrate the technology, while training and developing operators at local municipal sites.

• Conduct a feasibility study with respect to the potential to produce hydrogen through gasification in support of the national strategy to become a global hydrogen producer and exporter.