Belgian company offers green technology to Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Belgian Firm Enext Environmental Protection and Renewable Energy (ENEXT) is introducing to the Philippines its green coal technology which provides an eco-friendly alternative to non-renewable fossil coal fuel.

Green coal technology uses municipal solid wastes from landfills, particularly non-biodegradable materials such as plastics to transform it into fuel.

The solid wastes undergo a series of processes such as grinding, fermenting, and mixing with additives and binders, to produce environment-friendly coal pellets.

Jozef Vanneuville, who is in-charge of the technology support and strategic alliances of ENEXT, said that green coal technology provides a solution to the solid waste management problem of the Philippines.

A green coal facility can process 400-430 tons of solid waste a day, or about 150,000 tons a year and it can produce 150-200 tons of coal pellets a day or 70,000 tons a year.

Each ton of coal pellets can generate 6,388 megawatts of electricity.

Green coal pellet is a better substitute for fossil coal, according to Vanneuville.

Green coal pellets, he said, are brittle and can easily be crushed with less energy than fossil coal.

The green coal pellets emit 45 percent less carbon dioxide emissions when burned.

The coal pellets are water repellent and have a higher caloric value -- the amount of heat that can be generated in a certain amount of fuel.

The caloric value of ENEXT green coal pellets can be customized according to the customer’s needs.

Green coal technology reportedly does not require large investment for infrastructure, since the technology can be integrated to existing solid waste management systems.

The green coal pellets, likewise, can be used to feed conventional coal-fired power plants.

ENEXT, through its Philippine representative, is offering its services to local government units, owners of landfills and interested investors.

Sonia Floresca, representative of ENEXT Philippines, said investing in the green coal technology would cost $ 27 million.

A green coal processing facility with a 200,000 ton capacity can employ at least 20 people to handle its operation.

ENEXT services include preparation of feasibility study, design and engineering, installation, supervision, maintenance, and upgrade of the facilities.

Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug,who was present during the green coal launch, however, cautioned that ENEXT’s green coal technology has to undergo a review to qualify for a service contract, which would then entitle the Belgian firm to fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

Layug acknowledged the need to work for the Department of Energy and the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments (BOI) to provide greater incentives for renewable energy projects.