Last checked at 30 May 2022 07:00
30 May 2022
EQTEC plc
("EQTEC", the "Company" or the "Group")
Positive report on conversion of contaminated plastic waste to syngas through EQTEC technology
EQTEC plc (AIM: EQT), a world-leading technology innovation company enabling the Net Zero Future through advanced solutions for hydrogen, biofuels, SNG and other energy production, is pleased to announce that the Université de Lorraine ("UoL") has released a report verifying that EQTEC's Advanced Gasification Technology successfully converts contaminated plastic waste into synthesis gas ("syngas") cleanly, stably and efficiently (the "Report").
The Report was compiled by UoL following a series of successful tests on contaminated plastics undertaken in December 2021 (the "Tests") at EQTEC's technology innovation facility in France. The Company has for 10 years worked in partnership with the Energy from Biomass and Wastes ("ERBE") team, part of the Laboratoire d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Matériau Bois ("LERMAB") at UoL in Nancy, France to pursue research and development of syngas production based on EQTEC's Advanced Gasification Technology. The partnership supports both parties' understanding of a greater range of biomass and waste feedstocks and a greater range of syngas applications, including generation of electricity and heat and production of synthetic methane and hydrogen.
The main conclusions from the Report are:
· | EQTEC's Advanced Gasification Technology is effective for contaminated plastic waste gasification, providing very good conversion results in line with results obtained from traditional feedstocks such as biomass (from which commercial plants running EQTEC technology have delivered 90%+ operational availability); |
· | The calorific content of the syngas produced through EQTEC's technology from plastic-containing waste is much higher than that typically recorded for syngas produced from biomass feedstock; |
· | The tar content of the syngas produced through EQTEC's technology from plastic-containing waste is low, so that the syngas purity can support a wide range of advanced energy and biofuels applications; |
· | Throughout the test period, the composition of the syngas remained stable, with no incidence of feeding-in or other issues typical of plastics or refuse-derived fuel (RDF) gasification; |
· | Emissions from direct combustion of the syngas in a boiler and without the use of additional flue gas treatment are well below a wide range of regulatory limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (80% lower versus limits), dioxins and furans (70% lower) and metals (10 - 1,000 times lower), indicating that the EQTEC-patented conditioning treatments work well with complex feedstocks; and |
· | The duration of the tests, the syngas stability and the accuracy of the closing heat and mass balances were satisfactory, further validating the accuracy of EQTEC's proprietary simulation model, applied to the design of industrial-scale as well as small-scale installations. |
The Tests were conducted toward pursuit of a pipeline of projects with SEPS SAS ("SEPS"), a French company specialising in the management and recycling of industrial waste. SEPS were a partner in the test, preparing the feedstock as part of their own long term research efforts into industrial waste-to-energy. As previously announced on 14 March 2022, the Company and SEPS intend to collaborate in development of contaminated waste treatment plants applying their combined capabilities. The first project is aimed at an on-premise, industrial facility in Haute-Garonne, France.
The Tests form part of the Company's technology innovation programme, which in 2022 also aims at development of steam-oxygen gasification to support production of hydrogen, synthetic natural gas and advanced biofuels. The programme will engage a range of technology partners and existing research partners in the development of integrated solutions for low-carbon, fossil fuel replacements based on syngas. In addition to UoL, the Company's technology partners include Wood and other, top-tier companies to be announced in due course.
Dr Yoel Alemán, CTO of EQTEC, commented:
"These successful results reaffirm the precision of our proprietary computational model and its ability to accurately predict the syngas composition of a new and interesting feedstock. Unrecyclable plastic waste is a challenging global problem, and its clean disposal is supported by only a small number of prospective solutions. Not only are we excited to cleanly and efficiently convert this difficult feedstock into energy and biofuels, but we believe our delivery of scalable solutions for that purpose will enjoy strong commercial demand, backed by government support. Our extensive R&D programme with LERMAB and our broader innovation programme with leading technology partners will keep us at the leading edge of clean solutions that address the world's waste and energy challenges."
Professor Yann Rogaume, Professor and Head of Research Team at Université de Lorraine, commented:
"This report builds on our long-standing collaboration with EQTEC at our R&D plant which has been operating for the past 10 years. Our teams' specialist capabilities are in fine-tuning EQTEC's technology equipment and process, to prove that it can successfully handle an increasingly diverse group of very complex waste feedstocks, which now includes contaminated plastics such as the industrial materials we tested from SEPS. This series of tests opens the door to proving the capabilities of hydrogen production from syngas with high efficiency and low environmental emissions rates."
Laurent Rousseau, CEO of SEPS, commented:
"Everyone at SEPS is excited by this report which verifies that contaminated plastics waste can be treated cleanly, safely and efficiently by producing an intermediary fuel for power, heat and biofuel production. We look forward to the developing the first plant at our facility in Haute-Garonne, France, as part of our collaboration with EQTEC in due course. The results of the tests place us in good stead for the upcoming permitting phase and will offer the sector a treatment for production of energy."
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About EQTEC plc
As one of the world's most experienced gasification technology and engineering companies, with a growing track record of delivering operational and commercial success for transforming waste-to-energy through best-in-class technology innovation, engineering and project development, EQTEC brings together design innovation, project delivery discipline and solid commercial experience to add momentum to the global energy transition. EQTEC's proven, proprietary and patented technology is at the centre of clean energy projects, sourcing local waste, championing local businesses, creating local jobs and supporting the transition to localised, decentralised and resilient energy systems.
EQTEC designs, supplies and builds advanced gasification facilities in the UK, EU and US, with highly efficient equipment that is modular and scalable from 1MW to 30MW. EQTEC's versatile solutions process over 50 varieties of feedstock, including forestry wood waste, vegetation and other agricultural waste from farmers, industrial waste and sludge from factories and municipal waste, all with no hazardous or toxic emissions. EQTEC's solutions produce a pure, high-quality synthesis gas ("syngas") that can be used for the widest range of applications, including the generation of electricity and heat, production of synthetic natural gas (through methanation) or biofuels (through Fischer-Tropsch, gas-to-liquid processing) and reforming of hydrogen.
EQTEC's technology integration capabilities enable the Group to lead collaborative ecosystems of qualified partners and to build sustainable waste reduction and green energy infrastructure around the world.
The Company is quoted on AIM (ticker: EQT) and the London Stock Exchange has awarded EQTEC the Green Economy Mark, which recognises listed companies with 50% or more of revenues from environmental/green solutions.
Further information on the Company can be found at www.eqtec.com.