In the United States (US), Aries Clean Technologies LLC (Aries) has announced that it has reached another major milestone by achieving mechanical completion of the Aries Linden Biosolids Gasification Plant in Linden, New Jersey (NJ). Commissioning is underway and is expected to be completed over the next few months. At full capacity, the plant will process 130 000 tonnes of biosolids annually, diverting the biosolids from local landfills.
According to Aries, this fluidized bed (FB) gasification plant is currently the largest facility of its type in the world. Apart from diverting 430 tonnes per day of biosolids from landfills, it will also result in the production of approximately 22 tonnes per day of “Bio-Fly-Ash”, a renewable product that will be sold as an additive to local concrete companies.
A special congratulations to Renus Kelfkens, Aries Executive Vice President – Engineering, and all the Aries Clean Technologies team on this major milestone. These teams have worked thousands of hours and delivered all fabrication and installation within two years from groundbreaking. I have no doubt this technology will become a new standard for the safe conversion of biosolids into beneficial use products. Currently, 90 percent of the domestic Class A biosolids market is disposed of through ineffective conventional means such as landfilling, land application, or incineration. The fluidized bed technology can safely and efficiently stop this now and generate clean energy and Bio-Fly-Ash, said Gregory Bafalis, CEO of Aries.
The plant is located in a re-purposed building within the Linden Roselle Sewerage Authority (LRSA) complex. Even before construction began, collaborations were underway with LRSA and the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
We’ve looked forward to celebrating this historic date that brings new technology and progress towards a cleaner environment to Linden and the Garden State. The Aries Build-Own-Operate model provides no financial risk to the LRSA or to the City of Linden but brings with it new, high-paying, green jobs in the cleantech industry for the people of Linden. And I’m so pleased that 16 new, permanent positions will bring this plant to life. We look forward to a long partnership with the Aries Linden team, said Derek Armstead, Mayor of Linden.
Cost- and environmentally effective solution
Founded in 1948, LRSA services the City of Linden and the Borough of Roselle. It was established to contract and operate wastewater treatment and interceptor facilities to collect, treat, and dispose of sewage generated by the municipalities.
In addition to being the lowest cost option for biosolids disposal in the Linden area, the new plant will serve the largest metropolitan area in the country, New York, that includes New York City, Long Island, and the Mid and Lower Hudson Valley in the state of New York and five of the largest cities in New Jersey – Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, and Edison, and their vicinities.
According to Aries, the awarding of the environmental permits not only validates its biosolids solutions but helps bring the state closer to its environmental goals. Permits addressed areas such as site use, soil conservation, air quality, water usage, and electrical generation and consumption.
Effective against PFAS
Current research indicates that the fluidized bed gasification process will become an efficient method to address and destroy the quickly growing problem of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aka “forever chemicals.”
These man-made chemicals are used in many industrial applications and are very pervasive in the environment and the human body. PFAS accumulates over time, leading to adverse health effects.
Current studies show that the high temperature reached during the gasification process destroys any PFAS in biosolids as well as pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungus.
The closed-loop system runs primarily on clean sustainable, renewable synthetic gas rather than relying on fossil fuels during operations. It is carbon negative and captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere from the decomposition of landfilled biosolids.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) will also be reduced indirectly due to the reduction in trucking miles to reach existing, conventional disposal methods.
Financing was provided in part through the sale of US$61.5 million of “Green” tax-exempt bonds issued through the Union County Improvement Authority. Equity for the project comes principally from Aries Clean Technologies and Spring Lane Capital.
This project and Aries’ gasification technology fit perfectly with Spring Lane’s investment approach of partnering with leaders in the energy, water, food, and waste industries to help them deploy innovative, sustainable solutions. We are thrilled to support the Aries team on this and future projects, said Nikhil Garg, General Partner at Spring Lane Capital.
