Tom, Lists, Bert
Because this sounded pretty bad news for biochar, I have done a little looking
around. I eventually talked to the key individual at ICM - Dr. Bert Bennett,
who has agreed to comment on your news story below.
Bert gave a very informative plenary about this specific ICM plant at Sonoma.
Anyone can watch a good 15 minute video found at:
http://2012.biochar.us.com/conference-videos
I also found a shorter similar 5 minute audio from 2011
http://domesticfuel.com/2011/05/10/icm-spotlights-biomass-gasification-at-conference/
There are also plenty of news releases on the facility - all I saw were very
complementary.
Because Bert has agreed to give some more background, I won't say more except
to say this should be by no means the end of the biochar story from this 350
person company, that is operating worldwide.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Miles" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected], "Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:08:46 AM
Subject: [biochar] ICM gasifier project comes to a close
The article below demonstrates how difficult it Is to convert urban residues to
heat, power and biochar in today’s economy.
I observed that technically the ICM gasifier worked very well. The ICM gasifier
can take wood, straw or corn stover and convert it to gas and biochar in
various proportions. It makes a good quality biochar that has been tested in
various locations. I was impressed by the fuel flexibility.
The economic challenges are manifold: if it is not feasible to generate and
sell heat or power and biochar at one location then you can’t generate the cash
flow necessary to run the plant. We hope that Bert Bennett and his team at ICM
can find a suitable customer.
Tom
ICM gasifier project comes to a close
By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan
December 20. 2012 11:00AM
www.thekansan.com/article/20121220/NEWS/121229996
The decommissioning of ICM's prototype gasifier at the Harvey County Transfer
Station marks an end — or at least a postponement — of the county's vision of a
viable waste-to-energy system.
At Monday's county commission meeting, officials announced the project would be
coming to a close, and within six months, all the equipment will be taken down.
"It would bring to a halt our hopes ... of what would be a waste-to-energy
facility," said John Waltner, county administrator.
ICM’s Biomass Gasification System, also known as a “gasifier,” burns trash and
converts it to synthetic gas, which can be used to generate power in industrial
and commercial settings. ICM tested thousands of tons of different types of
waste, which are referred to as “feedstocks.” Feedstocks tested included wood
chips, wheat straw and refuse-derived fuel (this includes junk mail, cardboard
and other paper products thrown away).
Using a gasifier to convert Harvey County trash into energy had once appeared
to be a possibility. The Harvey County facility likely would have needed to
burn 90 tons of trash per day, a number officials had thought the county could
reach.
ICM plans to try to market the technology in a different area, perhaps
overseas.
Despite the county's disappointment the project wasn't ultimately viable here
in Harvey County, they said their experience working with ICM was positive.
"It really has been just a terrific exercise for us," Waltner said.
Commission chair Marge Roberson agreed."It feels really good that Harvey County
had the tenacity to push to take a good, hard look at doing something with
trash other than putting it in the ground," she said. "I absolutely do not
regret any moment we've spent with this partnership."
Waltner does believe the technology will be prove to be viable in the future.
"They're going to be successful," he said of the company. "This is something
that's going to happen."
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