Shobana Kesava, Straits Times 5 Nov 08;
SINGAPORE'S only plant which converts food waste into an energy source may soon be able to put wood, foam and plastics through the system, using new British technology.
IUT Global turns organic waste into compost, methane and energy.
With Refgas technology, it can also turn inorganic waste into Syn-gas, a hydrogen-based gas which can be added to methane to generate heat and electricity.
The combined mixture will power the Tuas Eco-Recycling Plant's gas engines to potentially double the electricity that could supply the national grid, said its chief executive officer, Mr Edwin Khew.
An agreement for the project was signed yesterday in Singapore by Mr Khew and Refgas chairman George Willacy. The plant could be ready in a year, estimated Mr Willacy.
Funds of up to $10 million will first need to be raised to build the 500 sq ft plant, which will connect to IUT's plant on a large 1.7ha site in Tuas.
'Fund-raising could prove a bit of a challenge given the financial times we're in,' said Mr Khew.
The team could apply for test-bed funds from the Economic Development Board as the project is the first of its kind here.
The new process produces clean energy by incinerating dry bio-mass waste such as woodchips, leaving only gas and a small amount of inert ash as a by-product. IUT's system feeds in a semi-liquid material.
Mr Malcolm Wicks, the Special Representative on International Energy Issues to the British Prime Minister, told The Straits Times that the project was exactly the kind he wanted to promote to governments and businesses to encourage the growth of low carbon growth economies.
The former British energy minister, who was here for International Energy Week, said businesses which developed clean technologies early would 'reap the most long-term competitive benefits'.
So far, Refgas has generated enough heat and electricity for 1,000 homes in Wales.
