Seacliff Energy Ltd

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

DENNIS DICK

BRING FOOD HOMENOV 19, 2013

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

W A S T E….

Let’s not our

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

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

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

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 .

Seacliff Energy Ltd. …renewable energy through organic management solutions

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

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

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

June 2, 2010 – 4 days before Tornado

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

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

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

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

Incoming organics

Cow manure

Process Bldg

Generator

Hydro One

Anaerobic Digesters

Land application

Greenhouse waste

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

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

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

Seacliff Energy Ltd. …renewable energy through organic management solutions

Acceptable Waste Products for Digester

Liquid Products Solid Products * Syrups * Organics * Daf Sludge’s * Vegetables * Carbonated drinks * Fruits * Chocolate * Meats * Cooking greases * Flowers

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

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

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

Power Plant

Seacliff Green Certified fertilizer

used as fertilizer

Land Application

Electricity & HeatComputer monitored

power generator

organic tomatoesHeat to greenhouse

State of the art generator

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

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

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

Jan 27/11 – 1st kWh generated

AERIAL VIEW PELEE HYDROPONICS, SEACLIFF ENERGY & DICK FARMS

…renewable energy through organic management solutions

W A S T I n

g….

SO …Let’s

our