Many industries, including oil & gas, food processing and petrochemical emit gases into the atmosphere. Ener-Core says it has created a system to help such companies convert their air pollution into clean energy.
In some instances, flaring waste gas is actually required by environmental laws. But Ener-Core says waste gas can be turned into clean energy through its special oxidation process.
Ener-Core has demonstrated its technology at the power station at the US Army Base landfill in Fort Benning, Ga.
Recently, Pacific Ethanol, a producer of renewable fuels, announced an agreement with Dresser-Rand to install a 3.5 MW cogeneration system with Ener-Core’s gradual oxidizer at its Stockton, Calif., plant for about $12 million. The cogeneration system will displace purchased electricity by using Ener-Core’s technology to convert waste gas from ethanol production and natural gas into electricity and steam.
The Stockton cogeneration system will replace most of the electricity Pacific Ethanol currently purchases from the grid and will reduce its energy costs by an estimated $3-$4 million per year. Pacific Ethanol expects the cogeneration system to be operational by the second-quarter of 2016.