Powering cities with waste
Food Waste
Around the world approximately 40% of food is wasted, a staggering amount. This waste poses a substantial burden on land-fills and accounts for 18% of methane emissions in the U.S., which is a 25 times more potent greenhouse gas compared to CO2. As a result, states and municipalities are rolling out organic waste policies and landfill bans.
Renewable Electricity
To increase the proportion of renewable electricity, capacity for energy storage must grow rapidly and become more affordable as generation from solar (and to a lesser degree wind) do not typically align with demand. In 2018, CA curtailed 461 GWh and in just the first half of 2019, 700 GWh have already been curtailed.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that has the potential to transform the way we think about energy. Its use in fuel cell technologies results in a zero emission source of energy. However, almost 90% of the hydrogen used today comes from fossil fuels, and its cost for fuel cell applications is currently restricting growth.
Electro-Active Technologies Inc. is developing a modular system to convert food waste and renewable electricity into affordable, renewable hydrogen. The system can be deployed onsite or in a decentralized fashion as a local, urban solution. This will enable companies and communities to reinvest their waste for added value and improved sustainability.
Negative Carbon Pathway to Hydrogen
Local urban solution
Food waste used locally to produce energy for local use, minimizing transport
Fighting climate change
Drastically reduces landfill emissions and offsets fossil fuel use for negative carbon pathway
Value from waste
Liquid fraction of food waste converted into hydrogen, and residual solids can be composted, used as animal feed, or processed into a soil product