Decarbonisation Technology - February 2024 Issue

XTH Module Anything to heat

XTM Module Anything to advanced molecules

XTE Module Anything to equilibrium

RDF from C&I and municipal waste

Gas cleaning system removes all inorganic contaminants

Equilibrium approach reformer high pressure. High temperature gas treatment

Pressurised stacked uidised bed proven technology for a wide range of feedstocks

Syngas upgrading to r ecycled DME, (LPG substitute). rMethanol, SAF

Woody biomass

Grade ‘B’ Syngas

Grade ‘A’ Syngas

Hazardous waste including CAT 3 aviation waste

CHP

Combined heat and power

(Grade A+ reductant gas)

(Grade ‘B’ Syngas as pressurised natural gas substitute)

O-grid energy

Transport

Chemicals industry

Agricultural biomasses, straw, sewage sludge, digestate

Figure 2 KEW ’s modular plants

KEW’s innovative pressurised advanced gasification process, a form of advanced conversion technology (ACT), sits above incineration and landfill and can play a vital role in decarbonisation across multiple sectors. By taking any form of waste (including non- recyclable and low-grade biomass), the technology converts it into fuel and different advanced molecules for use across hard- to-abate sectors such as energy-intensive industries, off-grid energy, transport, and chemicals (see Figure 1 ). Technology benefits One significant challenge in ACT is the creation of tar, which is extremely problematic. Tars can be detrimental to downstream equipment, such as engines and turbines or fuels/chemical synthesis catalysts, and require additional processing or cleaning to ensure the gas meets quality standards for various applications. Managing and minimising tar content is critical to optimising the efficiency and reliability of waste gasification technologies. KEW’s proprietary technology has overcome this challenge, which means it can focus on addressing hard-to-abate sectors by facilitating the production of renewable molecules like dimethyl ether (DME) as a low-carbon liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and diesel substitute,

hydrogen, methanol, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) without tar-related hindrances. To date, other gasifiers have been able to gasify waste to a dirty and inconsistent composition of syngas, typically with high levels of tar remaining in the gas stream. This inability to crack and reform ‘dirty syngas’ has resulted in numerous operating failures in the market due to poor run time and availability. The other challenge is achieving the consistency of syngas composition, specifically the 1-1 ratio between H2 and CO that is critical for progressing from syngas to high- value molecules through a catalyst. KEW’s proprietary Equilibrium Approach Reformer, which utilises high pressure and temperature for the syngas reformation process, enables it to achieve both tar-free syngas at robust availability levels, as well as a clean, consistent syngas for the production of molecules regardless of the waste feedstocks. Moreover, the technology extends beyond generating syngas as a natural gas substitute or sustainable chemical feedstock. It integrates with other technologies to upgrade syngas into valuable, sustainable energy products, including renewable and recycled carbon DME, hydrogen, methanol, heat, and other fuels and chemicals. This capability empowers industrial, commercial, and residential energy consumers to achieve and surpass net-zero ambitions, particularly