Left-over pizza may become more useful as a source for power than as a snack—as long as you have kind of energy conversion technology available at the East Bay Municipal Utility District in Oakland, CA. As Kelly Zito reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) is using food waste to power its waste-water plant.
According to the Chronicle article, EBMUD has technology that speeds up the food’s natural decomposition process. The waste product from this process is methane. The methane gas is then used by EBMUD to power energy pumps and pipelines at its waste water plant. EBMUD is able to collect and use 100 tons of scrap food a week. The food comes from restaurants and grocery stores. Therein lies the challenge, as the food sorting process is a key part to the technology and process operating efficiently.
EBMUD hopes that eventually the process will be profitable. Currently, the company plans to sell its renewable energy to others, like Pacific Gas and Electric, Co. As the climate change debate continues on Capitol Hill, EBMUD and others with similar interests will be hoping for a bright future for their existing technology. To read more about EBMUD and the methane conversion process and to read the article in the Chronicle, click here.
According to the Chronicle article, EBMUD has technology that speeds up the food’s natural decomposition process. The waste product from this process is methane. The methane gas is then used by EBMUD to power energy pumps and pipelines at its waste water plant. EBMUD is able to collect and use 100 tons of scrap food a week. The food comes from restaurants and grocery stores. Therein lies the challenge, as the food sorting process is a key part to the technology and process operating efficiently.
EBMUD hopes that eventually the process will be profitable. Currently, the company plans to sell its renewable energy to others, like Pacific Gas and Electric, Co. As the climate change debate continues on Capitol Hill, EBMUD and others with similar interests will be hoping for a bright future for their existing technology. To read more about EBMUD and the methane conversion process and to read the article in the Chronicle, click here.
Posted: 07/27/09
