Green Energy and Waste Disposal Solution

The world is in need of a safe and green way of producing energy to replace the burning of fossil fuels. It wouldn’t be that long enough before our natural resources run out. Dependence on fossil fuels causes serious problems to our environment and that is the exact reason why we have to find sustainable and environmental alternatives. Renewable energy is one of the feasible green energy solutions we have today. Among this renewable energy sources is the waste to energy systems like Biosphere Technology.

Biosphere technology is a breakthrough in waste management and energy generation. It uses gasification process wherein it destroys and converts wastes in ecological and cost effective manner. The waste materials or feedstocks undergo thermal decomposition at elevated temperature and oxygen starved environment, this way it does not emits harmful atmospheric emissions. Unlike other waste disposal facilities, biosphere technology can recycle or destroy waste materials into marketable end products without causing any harm to our environment. Moreover, with this technology we can revolutionize the green energy production at a large scale method without having to use our natural resources because it uses waste materials to generate energy. It also helps in clearing our environment free from waste materials.

For more information about this technology log on to www.spectrumbluesteel.com

What is Thermal Treatment?

Thermal Treatment Unit

Thermal treatment may refer to waste disposal technology that involves high temperatures. The waste materials or feedstocks are processed at elevated temperature that involves combustion. This method is not exclusively involves combustion of waste materials.

Some examples of technologies involving this kind of method are as follows:

Gasification - Is the process of converting carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide and hydrogen using elevated temperature and controlled amount of oxygen. The process produces mixed gas called synthesis gas which is then use to heat a steam turbine generating electricity.

Incineration- It is a method of handling wastes that involves combustion of organic materials. It converts waste materials into ash, flue gas and heat.

Pyrolysis- This process refers to thermo chemical decomposition of organic materials at elevated temperatures and absence of oxygen. It is mainly used in chemical industry such as in producing charcoal, activated carbon, and methanol.

Waste Autoclave- This is a solid waste treatment method that uses heat steam and pressure of an industrial autoclave. It provides high pathogen and virus kill rate.

In handling waste materials, what matters is that it does not harm our environment and can be useful to the community.

Meet the Rainbow Warrior

The Rainbow Warrior was a former fishing trawler of UK Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) which later on bought by Greenpeace International. The ship was built in 1955 and originally named “Sir William Hardy” which entered service with MAFF until 1977. Then she was acquired by Greenpeace and re-launched on April 29, 1978 as the Rainbow Warrior. She served Greenpeace until it was sabotage and sunk on July 10, 1985. 

Today Greenpeace has their current Rainbow Warrior which will work to make a difference for our environment such as promoting clean green energy, defending our forests and protecting our oceans.

Green Energy Sources

An energy source is defined as a system wherein electricity can be generated or extracted. There are various sources of energy ranging from non-renewable to renewable energy sources. Non-renewable energy sources are the ones that cannot be renewed or regenerated quickly while renewable energy are the ones considered to be unlimited, and can be renewed or have the potential to be renewable. Renewable energy may also refer to green energy or alternative energy source.

Below are the examples of these energy sources:

• Biomass energy / waste to energy systems
This is derived from different energy sources including garbage, wood, waste, landfill gases, and alcohol fuels. In some cases living plants can also be used to generate energy, through other green technologies. With biomass, only biodegradable wastes are used to produce electricity. On the other hand waste to energy systems like biosphere technology can destroy and convert non-traditional waste materials such as fossil fuels, and municipal solid waste (MSW) into marketable by-products like energy or electricity.
Both use thermal conversion that may vary depending on the amount of oxygen and conversion temperature to convert materials into different chemical form. Combustion, torrefaction, pyrolysis, and gasification are some of the processes that involve thermal conversion. Among all other sources of energy, biosphere technology is the most efficient and most environmental system of generating energy.

• Solar energy
Solar energy is the harnessing of energy from sunlight. Nowadays solar energy is the commonly used renewable energy because it is free, cost-effective and energy efficient. It is now one of the growing industries worldwide. Though there is a single flaw regarding the production and disposal of solar panels which are used to harness energy from the sun: according to some studies solar panels are constructed using various toxic containing chemicals including toxic silicon that are harmful to human health. While solar energy industry is primarily advertised as “green energy”, but unfortunately it could be very harmful to our environment if not properly managed.
• Wind Power
Wind energy is another commonly used renewable energy and one of the ancient ways of harnessing energy. It uses wind turbines for energy production. Critics say that it also has an environmental impact since construction and maintenance of wind farms requires more energy from fossil fuels. For example, the hauling of materials uses large vehicles, not to mention cases of malfunctions of turbines which also requires huge amount of energy for repairs or replacements.


• Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is thermal energy which comes from the earth’s crust. The heat under the earth is used for generating electricity. The environmental effect of this however is the atmospheric emissions during the process consisting mainly of carbon dioxide. Water drawn from the deep earth carries a mixture of gases which cause environmental problems such as acid rain and global warming.

• Hydro Energy
Hydroelectric power is the energy from moving water. Hydropower plants are usually supported by large dams. The only problem with this is that it destroys habitats and displaces people if poorly managed.

One simple vision, Zero Waste for 2011

If there is one thing that True Green Energy Group (TGEG) and Spectrum Blue Steel Corporation(SBSC) wanted for the Philippines this 2011 that is to achieve zero waste society. This is a one simple vision for the country which can greatly help save our environment. The first step that TGEG and SBSC have taken into action is landfill-avoidance through deployment of biosphere gasfication facilities in various cities and municipalities in the Philippines. The campaign has already started in City of San Fernando Pampanga, where the first biosphere facility is being constructed.

Aside from being an alternative to landfill system, the gasification facility or biosphere technology will also serve as an alternative source of green energy. The biosphere technology is designed to convert waste materials into marketable products like green energy or electricity. By the time the biosphere gasification facilities are finished the environmental problems brought by inefficient waste management and energy problems will be resolved. According to SBSC Founder Ronald Flynn, this technology will make true changes in energy industry not only in the Philippines but in the whole world. A single biosphere gasification facility is integrated with three steam turbines and 3 boiler systems each producing 2.5 mega watts per hour on each steam turbine. Having this estimation of 2.5 mw per hour, the facility can deliver power to a large city and its nearby provinces.

TGEG in association with SBSC has been diligent in negotiating contracts to own and control landfill sites and dump site zones in the Philippines as well as Brazil and other countries. The company believes that through this they will able to achieve their vision of zero waste society for 2011.

Review of the Top Ten Environmental Moments of 2010

Below are the environmental moments that marks good or bad contributions to our environment.

Oil Spill. On April 20, 2010 a blowout in BP’s Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico killed 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon rig and continued to destroy marine wildlife and ecosystems. About 172 million gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico according to the estimation of government scientists.

The Bill. With the earnest desire to resolve the heat-trapping emissions that cause climate change, many environmentalists sought resolution on the Senate climate bill. However, after nearly two decades of planning and cajoling and restructuring a program to cap greenhouse-gas pollution and allow polluting industries and financiers to trade pollution allowances, the Senate bill enshrining all this complexity died.

Extreme Heat. No doubt the year 2010 could rank as the hottest year on record. The concentrations or amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were recorded as high as 390 parts per million. This caused heat wave worldwide which led to peat fires in Russia and other forests.

Drought. The big question on the Colorado River, the source of some or all water for more than 25 million people in the Southwest, is whether 2011 will mark the end of the 11-year drought or make the tally an even dozen , forcing federal authorities to declare the first-ever water shortage on the river.

Solar Power. It was a topsy-turvy year for solar power in the United States. The good news was the development of promising new technologies to make solar cells more efficient; the approval of massive solar plants in the California desert; and the expansion of new policies and business practices to encourage their use everywhere from homes to store roofs to parking lots.

Electric Cars. Two new models, Chevrolet’s hybrid Volt and Nissan’s all-electric Leaf went on sale in 2010 and will become a growing part of the national automotive fleet in 2011. But they do not come cheap. The Leaf’s selling price is $33,600, in selected United States markets; the 20,000 slated for sale here have already been reserved. A New York Times reviewer wrote of the Volt, which sells for $41,000, “G.M. has nailed it, creating a hatchback that feels peppy and mainstream yet can sip less fuel than any gas- or diesel-powered car sold in America.” Both the Volt and the Leaf qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Oil Sands Pipeline. In July, the State Department postponed its decision on whether to approve a controversial 2,000-mile, $7 billion pipeline project to deliver crude oil from Canadian tars sands to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas. The oil would be drawn from 178 billion barrels of proven reserves percolating through the sands of northern Alberta; the energy-intensive process of separating the oil from the earth has been the focus of environmental opposition. A decision by the Obama administration on the project — which could allow Canada to export up to 1.1 million barrels of oil daily — is expected in a few months.

Fracking. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has been a common method used by the natural gas industry to open up sealed pockets of gas in underground formations. But the impact of the high-pressure injection of water, sand and chemicals on groundwater is not well documented. That has been a matter of sharp concern in eastern states like Pennsylvania and New York, which lie above the gas-rich area known as the Marcellus Shale. New York’s governor, David A. Paterson, rejected a legislative moratorium on such drilling, replacing it with his own, which lasts until July but narrows the definition of the prohibited kinds of drilling. While the companies are eager to start their drills, the federal Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a study, mandated by Congress, of the technique’s effect on drinking water supplies. The results are expected in 2012.

Tigers and Bears. With major reports on biodiversity all showing an accelerating loss of species on land and in the oceans, attention was focused most closely on polar bears, whose sea ice habitat is melting for longer periods almost every year. A team of climate scientists and biologists is promoting the idea of setting aside a “sea ice refuge” — a swath of the Arctic from northwest Greenland west through northern Canada where the ice remains thickest. Another study predicted that polar bears would breed with grizzlies, creating hybrids that are less resilient. Meanwhile, fears of the extinction of the wild tiger prompted a summit of sorts in Moscow, at which officials agreed to a goal of doubling the number of wild tigers — now about 3,200 — by 2022.

Source: National Geographic