Speaker: Dennis Dick Session: Recovering Food, Capturing Nutrients and Energy

1. …renewable energy through organic management solutions
DENNIS DICK

2. Let’s not W A S T E….
our
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

3. THE SITUATION – ORGANIC WASTE
• 9,000,000 tonnes of organic waste generated in Ontario annually
• 25% to 40% of all food is wasted
• 1/3 of our total waste stream is organic
• Majority of waste currently is landfilled
• Organic waste management is an environmental challenge
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

4. THE SOLUTION:
• Renewable energy through Anaerobic Digestion
• Seacliff Energy processes 30,000 tonnes of organics annually
 Electricity production powers ~1200 homes
 Thermal power to heat 6.5 acres of greenhouses
 By product of nutrients is fertilizer for 2,000 acres of corn
• Ontario could host 300 ADs,
 electricity for 360,000 homes,
 nutrients for over 500,000 acres of corn,
 heat for 1,600 acres of greenhouses
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

5. Seacliff Energy Ltd.
…renewable energy through organic management solutions
What is Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes
in which micro-organisms break down
organics materials in the absence of
oxygen. It is used for industrial or domestic
purposes to manage waste and / or to
release energy .

6. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
• Biogas was used for heating bath water in 10th century BC in
Assyria
• Pasteur proposed utilization of biogas
• Biogas was used to light lamps in UK in 1890s
• Seacliff uses a 2 stage digester that splits fermentation biology
• First 2 stages of fermentation are hydrolysis & acidogenesis
• Last 2 stages of fermentation are acetogenesis & methanogenesis

7. THE PROJECT
• Began in 2005 as a solution for alternative energy for greenhouse
• RESOP in 2008 enabled AD viability
• Site preparation in 2009
• Project delayed due to moving target of permit
• Construction resumed in 2010 – tornado setback
• First KwH produced January, 2011
• Separation equipment installed in January, 2012
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

8. June 2, 2010 – 4 days before Tornado

9. Structural damage at Seacliff Energy - aftermath of June 6/10 tornado

10. June 6/10 – Tornado touches down in Leamington area - severe
damage at both Pelee Hydroponics and Seacliff Energy

11. THE PROJECT
• Began in 2005 as a solution for alternative energy for greenhouse
• RESOP in 2008 enabled AD viability
• Site preparation in 2009
• Project delayed due to moving target of permit
• Construction resumed in 2010 – tornado setback
• First KwH produced January, 2011
• Separation equipment installed in January, 2012
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

12. Hydro One
Anaerobic Digesters
Generator
Cow manure
Greenhouse
waste
Process Bldg
Land application
Incoming organics

13. THE PROCESS
• Incoming organics unloaded in enclosed building
• Solids on the floor, liquids in sealed storage tanks
• Grocery waste and slurries in receiving pit
• 80 tonnes of waste introduced daily into pre-treatment tank
• After 24 hrs of pre-treatment tank is pumped into one of 2 holding tanks
• From pre-treatment tanks, slurry is fed to both fermenters every 15 minutes
• All tanks stirred at preset intervals
• Fermenters are kept at a constant fill level – 24,000 gals of nutrient rich
digestate is removed
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

14. INPUTS:
• Liquid & solid organics – everything from food processing waste
to grocery store organics
• Most organics are contaminated with plastics, wood, glass, etc.
• Seacliff has installed state of the art separation equipment to
remove contaminants
• Landfill reduction of 90% - 95% for grocery store organics
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

15. Seacliff Energy Ltd.
…renewable energy through organic management solutions
Acceptable Waste Products for Digester
Liquid Products
* Syrups
* Daf Sludge’s
* Carbonated drinks
* Chocolate
* Cooking greases
Solid Products
* Organics
* Vegetables
* Fruits
* Meats
* Flowers

16. METHANE PRODUCTION
• 750 cubic meters of biogas generated hourly
• Enough gas to produce 1600 KwH of electricity
 1KwH of electricity = 1 KwH of thermal power produced by engine
• Heat is recovered from stack & engine oil cooling through heat exchangers
• Heat is stored as hot water in 2 million litre tank
• Heat is directed to digester process or greenhouse as required
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

17. SOCIO ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF AD
• Reflects Green Energy Act mandate
• Organic waste management through renewable energy production
•
Jobs – 5 fulltime jobs created - 15 additional direct jobs
• Sustainable base-load power
• Produce power where needed & avoid high transportation losses
• Infrastructure benefit to consumers
• GHG reduction
• Fossil fuel reduction
• Landfill reduction – groundwater protection
• Biogas plants cost 75% less than indoor composting
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

18. Power Plant

19. Seacliff Green
Certified fertilizer
used as fertilizer
Land Application

20. Electricity & Heat
Computer monitored
power generator
State of the art generator
Heat to greenhouse
organic tomatoes

21. BARRIERS TO BIOGAS IN ONTARIO/CANADA
• NO national/provincial biogas strategy
• Access to grid restricted
•
Price
• NIMBYism
• Landfill costs still inexpensive
Respect for the interdependence of all existence of which we are a part.
What can you do?
• Google www.biogasassociation for more information
• Write your MP, MPP, Municipal Councilors
• Continue to reduce, reuse, recycle
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

22. What does the future hold?
• Status of biogas in Europe
•
Opportunity for Ontario
• Seacliff’s role in promoting biogas
• Biogas is a stepping stone to an
evolving,
sustainable,
renewable
• energy solution to the replacement of fossils fuels
…renewable energy through organic management solutions

23. Jan 27/11 – 1st kWh generated

24. AERIAL VIEW
PELEE HYDROPONICS, SEACLIFF ENERGY & DICK FARMS

25. SO …
Let’s
W A S T I n g….
our
…renewable energy through organic management solutions