Biowaste Conversion Plants

The challenge is enormous

Lockheed Martin, the giant military technology and industrial production company, has recently announced the unveiling of an 'advanced gasification plant' at its Owego, New York facilities. The plant produces 250 kilowatts of energy, enough to power several trains, through the processing of biomass waste directly from landfills.

The advanced gasification plant works through a four step process. First, trucks from the Owego facility go to local landfills and collect trash, aiming for wood-waste, municipal solid waste, and industrial waste. Next, the collection is sorted to remove recyclables and conditioned through a drying process. Then, the plant creates a special synthetic gas, called syngas, by mixing the biomass in a proprietary heat carrier. Finally, the clean syngas fuels a combustion engine to produce electricity.