The BioTown Plan » Phase II
Phase II includes the research, development and implementation of plans to take agricultural and municipal wastes and make electricity. With more than 150,000 hogs within a 15 mile radius, as well as several other sources of biomass, Reynolds is an ideal location to use technology that converts manure and biomass into energy for the homes and businesses in the area.
Research
Indiana State Department of Agriculture commissioned a detailed research initiative that took an in-depth, analytical look at energy uses in the Reynolds area, potential biomass feedstocks, byproduct uses and technologies that can be used to convert waste to energy. This document, the BioTown, USA Sourcebook, was released to the public in early April 2006.
Development
The BioTown, USA taskforce recommended the Technology Suite be made up of three complementary systems: an anaerobic digester, a gasifier and a biodiesel generation package.
The BioTown Technology Suite
The Technology Suite will take municipal waste, corn stover and other types of biomass and turn these wastes into electricity, fertilizer, thermal energy and biodiesel.
The technologies:
- Anaerobic digestion is the breakdown of organic liquid waste by bacteria in the absence of oxygen to form biogas, similar to natural gas.
- Gasification is the breakdown of organic wastes in a reduced oxygen environment (allows some burning to provide heat for gasification), which produces syngas and ash.
- Biodiesel generation package
Implementation
The BioTown Technology Suite is set for groundbreaking this winter and is expected to be producing electricity by summer 2007. The Technology Suite is managed by Rose Energy Discovery.
