OWEGO, N.Y., Sept. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) opened a new bioenergy
facility in Owego, New York, at a
ribbon cutting ceremony today. The system, which is now completing
commissioning, uses Concord Blue's advanced technology that will
convert waste into clean, renewable energy.
"This new bioenergy technology can change the way our world
addresses clean energy and waste management challenges," said Frank
Armijo, vice president of Lockheed Martin Energy. "At our
bioenergy facility in Owego, we're
able to reduce our own energy costs while also demonstrating the
groundbreaking capability of our technology to potential
users."
Prior to the ribbon cutting, Lockheed Martin successfully
demonstrated the end-to-end capability of the new system. The
demonstration validated its ability to convert waste material into
energy for the company's Owego
operations, where it designs and builds space-flight hardware,
military helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
How It Works
This self-sustaining system can transform waste into electricity
through a process called advanced gasification. There are four key
steps in the process:
- Waste Collection: Wood-waste, municipal solid waste,
industrial waste and more can be collected and used as input. The
Owego facility will initially use
wood-waste, with plans to transition to municipal, commercial or
industrial waste to create its power in the future.
- Waste Conditioning: Metal, glass and other materials are
removed, and the waste is dried to specification.
- Gas Creation: Proprietary heat carrier spheres are
heated and mixed in with the organic waste. Once a certain
temperature is reached, the solid waste turns into gas, which then
travels to a reforming vessel where the gas is turned into
synthesis gas (syngas).
- Power Generation: The syngas is then used to fuel a
combustion engine that produces electricity. Alternatively, the
syngas can also be used to produce hydrogen and
biofuels.
Unlike incineration, the process is oxygen-free and flame-free,
which means no harmful byproducts are produced, emissions are
limited and waste going to landfills is greatly reduced.
What's Next
Building off experience gained during development of the
Owego facility, Lockheed Martin
and Concord Blue recently began construction on a bioenergy plant
in Herten, Germany. The facility will convert 50,000 tons of
feedstock per year into 5 megawatts of energy output, enough to
power about 5,000 local homes and businesses.
Concord Blue's unique technology benefits the environment,
fulfilling all international, Environmental Protection Agency and
European regulations for renewable energy and air emissions.
Concord Blue operates globally, with offices in the United States, Germany and India.
Lockheed Martin Energy is a line of business within Lockheed
Martin that delivers comprehensive solutions across the energy
industry to include demand response solutions, energy efficiency,
energy storage, nuclear systems, ocean energy technologies and
bioenergy generation.
For additional information, visit our website:
www.lockheedmartin.com/energy
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research,
design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of
advanced technology systems, products and services. For additional
information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin