[Gasification] [biochar] ICM gasifier project comes to a close

[rongretlarson at comcast.net]

Tom, Lists, Bert 

Because this sounded pretty bad news for biochar, I have done a little looking around. I eventually talked to the key individual at ICM - Dr. Bert Bennett, who has agreed to comment on your news story below. 

Bert gave a very informative plenary about this specific ICM plant at Sonoma. Anyone can watch a good 15 minute video found at: 
http://2012.biochar.us.com/conference-videos 

I also found a shorter similar 5 minute audio from 2011 
http://domesticfuel.com/2011/05/10/icm-spotlights-biomass-gasification-at-conference/ 

There are also plenty of news releases on the facility - all I saw were very complementary. 

Because Bert has agreed to give some more background, I won't say more except to say this should be by no means the end of the biochar story from this 350 person company, that is operating worldwide. 

Ron 
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Miles" <tmiles at trmiles.com> 
To: biochar at yahoogroups.com, "Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification" <gasification at lists.bioenergylists.org> 
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:08:46 AM 
Subject: [biochar] ICM gasifier project comes to a close 









The article below demonstrates how difficult it Is to convert urban residues to heat, power and biochar in today’s economy. 



I observed that technically the ICM gasifier worked very well. The ICM gasifier can take wood, straw or corn stover and convert it to gas and biochar in various proportions. It makes a good quality biochar that has been tested in various locations. I was impressed by the fuel flexibility. 



The economic challenges are manifold: if it is not feasible to generate and sell heat or power and biochar at one location then you can’t generate the cash flow necessary to run the plant. We hope that Bert Bennett and his team at ICM can find a suitable customer. 



Tom 



ICM gasifier project comes to a close 

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan 

December 20. 2012 11:00AM 

www.thekansan.com/article/20121220/NEWS/121229996 





The decommissioning of ICM's prototype gasifier at the Harvey County Transfer Station marks an end — or at least a postponement — of the county's vision of a viable waste-to-energy system. 
At Monday's county commission meeting, officials announced the project would be coming to a close, and within six months, all the equipment will be taken down. 



"It would bring to a halt our hopes ... of what would be a waste-to-energy facility," said John Waltner, county administrator. 
ICM’s Biomass Gasification System, also known as a “gasifier,” burns trash and converts it to synthetic gas, which can be used to generate power in industrial and commercial settings. ICM tested thousands of tons of different types of waste, which are referred to as “feedstocks.” Feedstocks tested included wood chips, wheat straw and refuse-derived fuel (this includes junk mail, cardboard and other paper products thrown away). 



Using a gasifier to convert Harvey County trash into energy had once appeared to be a possibility. The Harvey County facility likely would have needed to burn 90 tons of trash per day, a number officials had thought the county could reach. 
ICM plans to try to market the technology in a different area, perhaps overseas. 
Despite the county's disappointment the project wasn't ultimately viable here in Harvey County, they said their experience working with ICM was positive. 



"It really has been just a terrific exercise for us," Waltner said. 



Commission chair Marge Roberson agreed."It feels really good that Harvey County had the tenacity to push to take a good, hard look at doing something with trash other than putting it in the ground," she said. "I absolutely do not regret any moment we've spent with this partnership." 


Waltner does believe the technology will be prove to be viable in the future. 



"They're going to be successful," he said of the company. "This is something that's going to happen." 






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