[USCC] Energy from wet sludge - look to St Paul Minn

[Maureen Reilly]

Dear Mr Rubin,
Thank you for your compliments. I didn't think this listserve was the place
for private dialogue and I'm surprised to see this post, since I already
answered you privately.  As a Sludge Watch subscriber you will be aware
that sludge emits, according to studies done by a California South Coast Air 
Quality Monitoring
District, as much as 34.5 pounds of methane per ton during the composting
process. Methane is one of the worst greenhouse gases...21 times worse than
carbon dioxide.  With biomass energy from sludge this methane is utilized 
and removed as energy.



Here is more information about the carbon dioxide in biomass energy. These 
plants are considered
carbon dioxide neutral.  See "Why Biomass?" from the Netherlands Energy 
Center
for more information. http://www.ecn.nl/en/bkm/additional/why-biomass/


Carbon dioxide from the biomass energy plant can be further removed, if 
desired.
It can be utilized in a variety of ways, for example the production of 'dry 
ice' or
it can provide for the utilization of the carbon dioxide in nearby 
greenhouses.

I have always said that ash from thermal treatment of sludge can, and
should, go to an appropriate land fill in a form that doesn't blow around, 
leach into
groundwater or travel offsite.

Al, I wasn't trying to do an environmental assessment of the various 
technologies
for managing sludge.  I wasn't even recommending a venue for the management 
of
sludge.  All I was doing was explaining that sludge can be effectively
used as a fuel to generate power.  I was refuting inaccurate arguments by
Mr Chaney who alleged that this was impossible.

The potential to use sludge for a biomass energy source is there.  Whether a 
community wants
to use that potential, is a separate question.  Because North American (and 
European) sewer wastes contain
significant industrial toxins and pathogens they are difficult to manage. 
Thermal processes address pathogens,
but certainly require very competent air emmissions pollution control 
technologies.   From a pollution prevention
point of view it would be better if we didn't mix toilet waste and 
industrial waste in the first place.

Al, I see from your next post, that you are consulted by Jim Nelly (this 
listserve administrator)
as to whether he should allow various postings to go through.  This helps to 
explain why
my post on Energy from Sludge at St Pauls was delayed for about 5 days.

Al, I am asking you to stop misrepresenting my positions on this listserve.
I suggest you post your opinions.  Leave it to me to post mine.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "The Rubins" <rubinhial at cox.net>
To: "US Composting Council Compost Discussion List" <compost at composter.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 8:46 AM
Subject: Re: [USCC] Energy from wet sludge - look to St Paul Minn


> Maureen:
>
> A good set of comments for advocating thermal processes for biosolids
> management.  However, again you are silent on the issue of CO2 production
> from biosolids incineration at the St Paul wastewater treatment plant and
> eventual CO2 production from the combustion of methane obtained by
> gasification type technologies ("Kyoto friendly"???).  In addition, again
> you are silent of the issue of managing potentially toxic/hazardous
> ash/residue generated from thermal processes (your earlier position in 
> your
> blogs).  You have made that point repeatedly in the past before you 
> started
> advocating thermal processes for biosolids management.  I urge you to
> address these issues now to make your advocacy more credible.
>
> Just trying to help and Cheers
>
> Alan
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Maureen Reilly" <maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca>
> To: <compost at compostingcouncil.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 2:46 PM
> Subject: [USCC] Energy from wet sludge - look to St Paul Minn
>
>
>> U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
>> Wyndham Orlando Resort | Orlando, FL | January 21-24, 2007
>> The National forum for those involved in the development and expansion of
>> the composting and organics recycling industry
>> CONFERENCE PROGRAM, REGISTRATION FORMS, WORKSHOP AGENDAS,
>> EXHIBITOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE
>> USCC WEBSITE: www.compostingcouncil.org OR CALL THE USCC AT 631-737-4931
>>
>>
>> Dear Compost Companions,
>>
>> Sludge can be used for energy...and the economics of doing so can be
>> attractive.
>> I used to say, "aint nothing cheaper than haul and dump" but with
>> higher fuel prices this is no longer true.
>>
>> The fact is that sewage sludge is being utilized as fuel very 
>> successfully
>> in a number of places.
>> For instance:  St Paul's Minnesota has found that the least expensive
>> method to manage their sludge is the AEE Von Roll CH2MHill award winning
>> technology they
>> have now installed.
>>
>> This is cheaper than land application.  They use the digested sludge to
>> fire the plant and use turbines to generate energy and have the capacity
>> to distribute heat as energy (should there be a use for it locally).  The
>> fuel bill has been reduced substancially  ($2 million per year) at the
>> plant.
>>
>> Trucking costs and fuel prices are spiralling. Using this dewatered 
>> sludge
>> (cake) as a fuel is working so well that they won an award. I understand
>> that in addition to the energy benefit (which isn't even fully optimized
>> at the St Paul plant) there is a capture of over 99 % of the mercury and
>> 99% of the dioxins from the sludge...so those contaminants are not
>> released on farmlands. All those nasty pathogens,  the heavy metals and
>> hormone disruptors are not smeared on farm fields.
>>
>> Also the methane that would be released by sludge (about 34lb/ton of
>> sludge) is not released as a greenhouse gas.
>> So this is Kyoto friendly.
>>
>> To read about how they save $2million per year in energy costs:
>> http://www.metrocouncil.org/Directions/water/water2004/incinerators.htm
>>
>> To read and about the Engineering Awards go to:
>> http://www.acecmn.org/Current%20Year%20Awards/Awards2006.htm
>>
>> about how the plant saves money and the environment:
>> http://www.ema-inc.com/communicators/com_fall02.htm#FORESIGHT
>>
>> Now...the latest news is that two American cities are getting a treatment
>> for their sludges that involves putting undigested sludge through a 
>> filter
>> that separates the water and the solids fraction.
>> The water will be used for watering lawns, parks or industrial uses, 
>> while
>> the solids fraction will go to a gassifier for energy.  When I have
>> permission to release the info I will provide the details to this forum.
>>
>>
>> Rufus can rant about zealots if he cares to...but he is the one who can't
>> seem to understand the science and finances of sludge and energy.  He
>> apparently doesn't have
>> the last word with Mother Nature, either.
>>
>> Me?  I still want to see waterless composting toilets come into greater
>> use. Combining industrial and toilet waste is the heart of the problem.
>> We should keep our toilet waste and our liquid industrial wastes
>> separate....Then our human manure, if properly managed...could take its
>> proper place on the soil without soil contamination.
>>
>> Composting toilets - go to it!!
>>
>>
>> Maureen Reilly