In the United States (US), biomass gasification technology providers Aries Clean Energy LLC has changed its name to Aries Clean Technologies, with a refined focus on the clean conversion of wastewater biosolids. Unsafe disposal of biosolids can contaminate the clean water supply, representing a major problem for municipalities, businesses, people, and the planet. Simply stated, "humanity has a biosolids problem, and it’s getting messier," the company says.
With a New Year, a new name, and a renewed focus, Aries Clean Energy – now rebranded as Aries Clean Technologies – is on a mission to use its patented gasification systems to cleanly convert biosolids from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into renewable energy and beneficial use byproducts, keeping biosolids out of landfills and farmers’ fields.
According to the company, the United States (US) alone produces seven million dry tonnes per annum of biosolids, or treated sludge, with limited options for dealing with it.
Current methods of disposal are unsustainable, can be harmful to the environment, and are increasingly regulated and restricted. This applies to landfills, land applications, incineration, and even composting.
2020 was a mess. Let’s clean up some of our mess in 2021. With our proven technologies, we can keep biosolids out of the landfills and out of farmers’ fields. We can make the earth cleaner and healthier. We can also help cities and companies set and achieve sustainable carbon reductions and zero waste goals while keeping renewable debris out of landfills, said Greg Bafalis, CEO of Aries.
Proprietary gasification technology
The Aries solution is to disrupt the existing biosolids disposal system – using gasification technologies to convert biosolids into clean energy and beneficial byproducts. More specifically, Aries is disrupting the process that occurs after the flush, when waste is converted into biosolids at WWTPs, with limited options for disposal.
The wastewater treatment industry has long recognized that biosolids could potentially be treated as a revenue stream rather than a costly challenge, contributing to the development of a sustainable circular economy. The primary challenge with implementing this vision has been technological.
Our new name, Aries Clean Technologies, more fittingly represents what we offer – patented innovations around clean, sustainable technologies that leverage fluidized bed gasification for biosolids, and downdraft gasification for wood waste said Greg Bafalis.
With eight patents, 10 years of product development and operating experience, and two full-scale, operational facilities, Aries’ gasification solutions divert biosolids and biomass from landfills and convert them into clean energy and useful byproducts – biochar and Bio-Fly-Ash.
Aries GREEN Biochar is used in manufacturing, carbon filtration, and as a soil amendment, while Bio-Fly-Ash is used in concrete production.
We are looking forward to using this clean technology in New Jersey. This will lead to a healthier community for all. And the opening of this plant will provide additional revenue, reductions in operation and maintenance costs, and give our ratepayers an economic benefit that will allow the Authority and the City to stabilize budgets, said Mayor Derek Armstead.
According to Aries, its proprietary gasification solutions provide numerous environmentally friendly and sustainable benefits, including:
- Reduction of biosolids volume by up to 95 percent;
- Destruction of harmful chemicals;
- Significantly reducing trucking emissions and cost;
- Carbon neutral-to-negative footprint;
- Creation of clean energy from biosolids;
- Beneficial byproducts – biochar or Bio-Fly-Ash;
- Reduction of disposal costs;
- Stable, predictable pricing
