Municipal - Emerald Energy from Waste, Toronto, Canada - Case Study

The Emerald Energy from Waste Facility (Emerald Energy) is located in the suburban area of Toronto, Ontario, in the City of Brampton. Recently purchased from Algonquin Power Energy Fund by Upak Disposals, Emerald Energy is a privately-held waste collection and recycling company with a 45-year track record of success. Gordon Hoskinson invented the core pyrolytic gasification technology, which has been used by the plant for nearly 30 years; this plant is representative of Version 3 of the technology. (The current version is Version 5, which Hoskinson has perfected through continuous refinements and improvements. It is up to 25% more efficient than earlier versions and incorporates advances in materials and material handling). The project involves converting waste to electricity and steam for sale. Parameters include waste receiving, loading into gasification units, gasification and oxidation, heat recovery, steam and power production, air quality control and monitoring, and ash disposal. The Facility commenced initial operations in 1992 and included four 100-ton-per-day Consumat (A Gordon Hoskinson company) and technology two/stage gasification units with heat recovery boilers and a dual/train air quality control system consisting of evaporative cooling towers, PAC and hydrated lime reactors, and fabric filter bag houses.