Phoenix Waste Solutions offers a sustainable solution for remote regions facing waste management challenges with their mobile waste-to-energy furnace, the Phoenix.
The Phoenix, a mobile waste-to-energy furnace, is capable of thermally reducing 500 pounds of unsorted solid waste per hour at 2,000°F without using any auxiliary fuel, at less than half the cost and 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions of landfills.
Waste such as plastics, organic material, styrofoam, PVC, medical waste, and biosolids can be reduced to 1–2% ash while co-generating electricity. The ash can be made into bricks or used as a soil amendment. The Phoenix offers a practical solution to waste disposal issues that are faced by island or coastal communities or countries with poor waste management infrastructure. Additionally, excess heat created by the furnace can be utilized to co-generate electricity for 20 homes. Steel and glass also remain intact through the process and can be recycled, enhancing overall waste management and resource recovery.
Filling a Gap
The incumbent technologies for managing waste are landfills and incineration. Both require huge investments and are massive sources of greenhouse gases. They are large-scale and highly centralized systems requiring lengthy transportation.
Waste experts have recommended localizing waste management so that initiatives that promote waste reduction, recycling, and community engagement can be implemented. However, small-scale waste disposal technologies have thus far failed, mainly because of high operational costs. Small-scale waste combustors are typically expensive to operate due to their high fuel consumption. Texas A&M University did a comparative study of 26 waste incinerators. These would use, on average, 375 gallons of diesel or 800 gallons of propane in one day to dispose of 5 tons of waste.
The Phoenix does not require any auxiliary fuel at all. The proprietary low-temperature plasma process produces 50% less CO2 compared to conventional incineration and 25% CO2 equivalent compared to landfills.
What’s Next?
Sharing their next steps, Phoenix Waste Solutions shared that building a heating system for palladium catalyst for CO conversion, winterizing the furnace for sub-zero temperatures, and carrying out demonstrations for potential buyers was of top priority.
Phoenix Waste Solutions was one of three winners at Ocean Exchange 2024. As an awardee of the Neptune Award, the company provided a solution that advanced our understanding of the ocean and will help to minimize the impact on these resources, resulting in more resilient bodies of water, including healthy marine life and coastlines. With the award, Phoenix Waste Solutions aims to finance the build of a pre-production model, invest in sales and marketing support for the medical waste disposal market, and create strategic partnerships to accelerate market traction.
Yuen-Li Chan, COO and Co-Founder of Phoenix Waste Solutions, commented on the competition, “Ocean Exchange is laser-focused on its environmental mission. The publicity and connections from Ocean Exchange will be critical as we move from R&D to commercialization. The selection process has been stringent but rewarding as it has made us hone our pitch, clarify our business plan, and make detailed plans for the next 12 months.”
As the exclusive media partner to the event, ON&T’s editorial team was onsite in late October, bringing readers all the news and insights from Fort Lauderdale. To find out more, visit: https://oceannews.com/featured-stories/accelerating-the-adoption-of-innovative-solutions-ocean-exchange-2024/
