We have prepared these Frequently Asked Question Questions (FAQ) from enquiries received to date.
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DMG stands for Distributed Modular Generation – it is the name of our proprietary advanced thermal conversion technology, which we employ to produce electrical power and hydrogen from waste plastics.
Incineration is a direct combustion process which takes place in the presence of oxygen. The waste material itself is burned to produce useful heat in an exothermic reaction.
DMG is in fact a sub-stoichiometric, endothermic gasification process. Whereby a significant amount of heat is applied to the waste plastics.
This causes them to breakdown into their constituent molecules, and through a series of endothermic chemical reactions, turn into energy-rich syngas. Our DMG technology is also significantly more efficient compared to incineration or combustion-type processes.
Residue ash is a small component circa 5-10% of the feedstock input – typically as non-hazardous inert ash but may vary depending on clients’ feedstock.
There is also some sodium chloride, filter cake and contaminated water which can be considered by products or waste streams.
We are of the opinion that all plastic which can be recycled, should be recycled. However, recycling is only part of the solution to the growing plastic problem, and it has its limits. For example, many mixed and contaminated plastics are economically challenging to recycle, either mechanically or chemically. Also, there are limits to how many times plastics can be recycled, because of the effect the recycling processes have on the properties of the regenerated plastics. Furthermore, from a capacity standpoint, the UK recycles less than 30% of its plastic waste, and worldwide its only around 10%.
We are supportive of the waste hierarchy, but non-recylable end of life plastic is an under -utilised resource that is currently treated as a costly and challenging waste management issue, as opposed to a revenue generating potential source of clean energy. The present-day fate of waste plastic does not maximise its energy recovery:
Incineration – low efficiency, wasteful and inefficient energy conversion, with high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to overall energy output.
Landfill – unsustainable needing hundreds of years to degrade, while producing leachate and potential GHG emissions.
Export – shifting the problem, wasting the resource and a declining option as more countries refuse to accept the waste. Global plastic production is forecast to rise, especially in the post COVID world, and it is from these wasted and polluting plastics that DMG® technology efficiently reclaims their inherent and currently discarded hydrogen.
DMG can be applied to many feedstocks or waste streams to extract inherent energy. The Powerhouse R&D team have trialled, tested, and modelled several materials and expect to evolve the DMG technology to further feedstocks beyond waste plastic, However, waste plastic is a major issue facing the world at the moment and so this is the primary focus of the DMG technology at this time.
Powerhouse have received many enquires for the expansion of the technology to deal with wide ranging feedstocks. If you have a significant waste stream or energy rich feedstock that DMG technology may be applied, please get in touch with us.
Emissions from DMG plants will vary depending on the feedstock, the design, and the customer requirements. The plants can be designed to minimise emissions to air through targeting carbon in residues.
DMG facilities can be built ready to include Carbon Capture for utilization or storage.
The volume of syngas will depend on the design of each plant. For a typical plant regenerating 40 tonnes of waste plastic per day, at least 40 tonnes of energy rich syngas may be produced each day.
Energy rich syngas from the DMG Process can be used in many ways. For example, industrial processes, such as chemical production, or to replace natural gas in furnaces or burners. Additionally the hydrogen can be extracted from the syngas and can be used as fuel in zero-emission vehicles.
The DMG plant produces hydrogen up to 99.999% purity, which is road-quality fuel. For some clients, lower purity may be adequate, depending on their application. Requirements such as these can be accommodated during each individual site’s design phase.
Depending on the waste feedstock put through the DMG process, a typical plant will process approximately 40 tonnes of waste plastic per day and produce up to 2 tonnes (2000kgs) of hydrogen in the same period.
This equates to approximately 50 kg of H2 for every tonne of feedstock.
Reclaimed sustainable hydrogen produced by the DMG® technology differs from hydrogen produced by other processes as it:
- Is self-sustaining. No external electrical power is required during normal operation. Green hydrogen from electrolysis requires significant amounts electricity.
- Provides a small scale local distributed solution vs blue hydrogen from SMR with CCS.
- Does not require an expensive pipeline distribution network.
- Produces lower emissions with lower investment vs grey Hydrogen from SMR.
Each DMG plant will be designed and built for each customer’s specific application and site. The modular nature of the DMG facilities means units will differ from site-to-site. Some customers may require pre-processing of plastics, storage, transfer etc. whilst other sites may require just syngas, or just electrical power, or they may include hydrogen extraction, storage, pipeline export, or tanker/vehicle refuelling facilities.
Typically, £20M is a ballpark figure for a hydrogen and power-producing DMG plant.
This will vary depending on the site location, infrastructure, modules required and other customer requirements. Typically, we expect a 1-year programme from final order to operation.
Powerhouse Energy customers, developers, and partners will drive the supply chain through integration and construction contractors.
If you are major packaged equipment supplier and wish to be considered for engagement, please get in touch and we will pass your details on as required.
We are a small team with plans to expand, however, our team will remain relatively small to reflect our needs as a technology company. We are always interested in dedicated and passionate team members with relevant engineering qualifications and skills. Please get in touch if you feel you can add value to our team.
Powerhouse Energy Group PLC is listed and traded on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
PowerHouse has not received any grants or aide to date. Potential developers and customers of PowerHouse may apply for grants etc. for the use of DMG technology, however, PowerHouse’s preference is for fully funded project developers as partners.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.