Environmental Benefits

Plasma gasification represents a clean and efficient option to convert various feedstocks into energy in an environmentally responsible manner. In the plasma gasification process, heat nearly as hot as the sun’s surface is used to break down the molecular structure of any carbon-containing materials – such as municipal solid waste (MSW), tires, hazardous waste, biomass, river sediment, coal and petroleum coke – and convert them into synthesis gas (syngas) that can be used to generate power, liquids fuels or other sustainable sources of energy.

Gasification occurs in an oxygen starved environment so feedstocks are vaporized, not incinerated. Due to the high operating temperatures in the plasma gasification process:

• No bottom ash or fly ash that requires treatment or landfill disposal is generated.
• Metals and non-combustible inorganics are melted and captured in an environmentally benign slag, which can be used as construction aggregate.
• Each plasma gasification application will have a differing environmental profile, but in general terms a plasma gasification facility will have very low emissions of NO_x, SO_x, dioxins and furans.

As well, in the plasma gasification process CO₂ can be captured and sequestered.

CO₂ Equivalent Emissions per Unit of Power Generated

“One technology which potentially can use various types of waste, produce electricity and hydrogen without emitting dioxin, furan and mercury, is plasma arc technology. Municipalities can install a plasma arc facility which will eliminate land filling …” – EPA

Coal gasification is “the only coal-based energy technology that could result in near zero emissions.” – Pembina Institute