Seattle, WA – May 1, 2014 – Seattle-based Impact Bioenergy has been awarded a patent for a low-cost below- grade digester that operates on a one-year cycle for facilities like resorts, parks, islands, and farms with a seasonal waste pattern. This is a unique technology, enabling seasonal facilities a way to generate energy from food scraps and organic waste. The alternative digester is quick to construct and contains both anaerobic biomethane production and aerobic feedstock finishing to convert food, paper, landscape material, and food production residuals into energy, heat, and compost. The system operates with a 6-month loading and digestion cycle, followed by a 4-month composting and unloading cycle. The system is designed to generate 2.35 MMBTU (2.48 GJ) of energy and 8 cubic feet of finished compost per ton of waste input. If electricity is generated, this is equivalent to 227 kW-hours per ton of waste input. The footprint of the totally enclosed, weatherproof system takes 6 square feet of ground space per ton of waste input. A standard system is designed for 2,600 tons of waste over 6 months (ideal for 20,000 – 40,000 people), generating 6.1 MMBTU of biomethane and 22,000 cubic feet of finished compost. If electricity is produced this is equivalent to 590,000 kW-hours of power. The system is scalable down to 500 tons per cycle per module.
The unique aspects of the design include a rapidly-installed wall system that is below ground. This allows the proprietary floor, roof, and mechanical systems to operate with complete capture of methane and odor.
Impact Bioenergy has offices in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. We sell localized bioenergy technology, representing a paradigm shift in both waste management and renewable energy production. Impact’s systems eliminate the costs and environmental impacts associated with the disposal and hauling of organic wastes by converting them into heat, electricity, vehicle fuel, and soil amendments on-site at their point of generation. Doing so also generates a faster Return on Investment (ROI) than solar or wind power. Impact’s bioenergy units are manufactured in the Northwest to ensure quality and perpetuate support for local business, and are pre-fabricated for construction in under six months (centralized facilities often take years).
In addition to bioenergy products, Impact offers waste diversion and energy consulting services. Impact’s CEO Allen states, “Impact’s technologies provide valuable tools for the environment that can eliminate waste hauling and fossil fuel energy dependency. We empower our customers to simultaneously ‘Do Good’ for the planet and their bottom line.”