On 17th April, a group from Science and Technology plus the Environment and Climate group made a visit to Advanced Biofuel Solutions Ltd (ABSL) in Swindon to see their unique demonstration plant. This plant is the first facility in the world to convert household waste into grid-quality biomethane.
In January this year ABSL, who are a developer and producer of advanced waste-derived biofuels, announced successful first production from the 22 GWh waste-to-syngas line at its demonstration plant in Swindon.
The plant employs ABSL’s patented RadGas technology. RadGas combines a gasifier, electric arc furnace and waste heat boiler in a highly efficient, reliable process that converts household waste and biomass residues into a synthesis gas or “syngas” which is free of tars and particulates.
Crucially, that syngas is clean enough to be used as a direct feedstock for catalytic conversion into a range of biofuels and a pure stream of carbon dioxide. The biofuels can then be used as an alternative for fossil fuels in hard-to-abate sectors where electrification is a challenge, such as industrial heating or the production of sustainable air fuel (SAF).
When the carbon dioxide is transferred and stored in sequestration infrastructure, the process generates negative emissions essential for reaching Net Zero.