Dry Anaerobic Digestion
A state-of-the-art, high heat, dry anaerobic facility started converting organic waste into carbon-neutral biogas and high-grade natural compost in San Luis Obispo, on November 18, 2018.
Zurich based Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) designed, financed, built, owns and operates the plant. HZI is a global leader in energy and material from waste solutions.
What is Anaerobic Digestion?
Environmental Protection Agency"Anaerobic digestion is the process by which microorganisms break down organic (carbon-based) materials, such as food waste, grease, and wastewater solids in the absence of oxygen. This process produces biogas, a renewable energy source, as well as digestate or biosolids, residual materials that facilities can treat and use in beneficial applications".
Kompogas Plant Processing Steps
- Material reception, pre-treatment, and feeding
- Digestion
- Dewatering
- Press water loading
- Post-treatment of solid digestate – aerobic stablization
- Biogas Pre-Treatment
Article posted by Brian Taylor in Waste Today Magazine, April 19, 2024."To date, the plant has diverted more than 140,000 tons of organic waste with the help of locals, including residents, businesses and agriculture. From this waste, the facility has produced more than 10 million M3 of biogas and fed more than 11 million KwH of electricity into the local grid, powering the equivalent of about 600 homes per year.
Additionally, the facility has produced more than 30,000 tons of compost and 6,500,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer, making it a closed-loop, circular economy initiative."
