ENER-G wins major contracts in Hungary
company news from - Ener-g
05 July 2008
Sustainable energy technology business ENER-G plc has won three significant contracts to generate ‘green’ electricity from landfill gas sites in Hungary.
Two agreements will run for 15 years at two landfill sites owned by an Austrian waste management company. The other contract covers a ten year period at a site operated by a local authority south west of Budapest.
The operations involve ENER-G drilling holes into the landfill waste mass, inserting pipes and sucking methane into large spark ignition engines that convert the gas into green electricity.
The conversion of waste gas into energy will provide power for some 2,000 homes. A further environmental benefit is the prevention of methane gas – 21 times more damaging to the ozone layer than carbon dioxide – escaping to atmosphere.
Hugh Richmond, managing director of ENER-G Natural Power, said: “The process sounds very simple. However, if air is allowed into the waste mass, the whole process can be destroyed. This is where the skill and experience of ENER-G delivers value.”
More than £2.6 million will be invested in operations at the three sites, which have a combined electrical capacity of 2.65 megawatts.
The contracts will be delivered by ENER-G Natural Power in partnership with Hungary-based ENER-G Energia Technológia, formerly Kipszer, which ENER-G plc acquired in 2006.
The operations will involve one Caterpillar 1150kW generator at the largest site and a combination of Perkins 400kW and 500kW generators at the two other smaller ones. Biogas Technology (a sister company of ENER-G and also based in the UK) will also supply equipment in the form of suction pumps and flares as part of the project.
Hugh Richmond said: “These contracts were awarded after competitive tendering with other European companies back in August and September 2007. We were delighted to enter a country where we had never worked before, convince them of our ability, fight off the competition and have signed contracts in less than 12 months: we see that as a major achievement.”
Hugh Richmond added: “From what we have seen during the last 15 months of visiting potential sites in Hungary, the operators of the landfills do not manage the infilling of waste in such a way as easily facilitates gas collection. With our internationally-based experience and expertise we are looking forward to working with the Hungarian landfill operators to introduce methods which are conducive to gas collection and create mutual benefits not only for power generation but for the environment in Hungary.
“We are currently reviewing a further 10 sites in Hungary, which include a major opportunity with Budapest Waste Management. These contracts would also help to develop Budapest as a major operational hub in eastern European, where landfill opportunities are currently being explored in Romania and Bulgaria.”
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