In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, Emerald Energy from Waste (EfW) leads the way in innovation. Dedicated to minimizing environmental impact and maximizing resource efficiency, Emerald pioneers a revolutionary approach to converting waste into hydrogen—a clean, renewable energy with immense potential.
Background on Emerald Energy from Waste
Since its inception in 1992, Emerald has committed to creating a cleaner, greener future. By converting waste to energy, Emerald transforms what would otherwise end up in a landfill into clean, renewable energy. Strategically located in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area, Emerald has served our community for over 30 years. Emerald’s state-of-the-art facility processes waste in an environmentally responsible manner, extracting energy and metals that traditional landfills would lose.
Beyond waste reduction, Emerald plays an integral role in supporting the local community. The steam we produce powers a nearby recycled paper manufacturing company, and we feed electricity into the Ontario grid. In addition to providing 40 direct jobs, we support local employment by spending more than $3M annually to maintain and operate our business. Our 30-year record of emission compliance protects community health and the local environment. We commit to building a sustainable future through environmental responsibility and community support.
Ontario’s Hydrogen Innovation Fund
In February 2023, Ontario announced the establishment of a Hydrogen Innovation Fund, earmarked to invest $15 million over the next three years. This fund aims to initiate and advance opportunities for integrating hydrogen into Ontario’s clean electricity system, including hydrogen production and storage. Emerald is one of the initial six recipients, securing $2,990,000 to develop a pilot project dedicated to producing hydrogen using the energy we recover from municipal waste. Once developed, the pilot project will assess the ability of local hydrogen production to both improve the resilience of Ontario’s electricity grid and produce hydrogen locally for commercial vehicles such as buses and trucks.
The Rise of Renewable Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the fuel of the future, and for good reason. When used as fuel, hydrogen produces only water vapor as a byproduct, making it a clean alternative to fossil fuels. However, not all hydrogen is created equal. Hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources is the most sustainable form of hydrogen available because it uses a low-carbon energy source to create a zero-carbon fuel.
Emerald’s innovative approach converts the electricity recovered from municipal waste into hydrogen. Energy recovery eliminates carbon emissions generated by trucking waste to remote landfills and methane generation in landfills. The energy recovered from municipal waste offsets energy use in the community, further reducing emissions from fossil fuels. Emerald’s approach to producing hydrogen from municipal waste promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from urban communities while providing a local source of zero-emission fuel for the transportation sector.
From Waste to Renewable Hydrogen
Emerald’s process begins with effective waste management. Effective waste management means following the waste hierarchy of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Recover. Where feasible, homes and businesses should reduce the amount of waste they generate through waste reduction and reuse strategies and recycle materials where technically and economically feasible.
Effective waste management also means recovering energy from the materials that remain after recycling (post-recycling materials). These materials, which would otherwise head for landfills, undergo thermal treatment to recover their embodied energy as heat. The steam produced at Emerald’s facility is used directly (process steam, district heating) or converted into electricity in a steam turbine. The electricity we produce will be used to create high-quality hydrogen through advanced electrolysis technology. The hydrogen produced by Emerald can fuel fuel cell electric vehicles.
By harnessing waste as a resource, Emerald participates in the circular economy, viewing waste not as something to discard but as a fuel. This approach addresses the pressing issue of waste management while contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable community.
Understanding Hydrogen and Its Applications
Hydrogen is the simplest element in the universe, consisting of just one proton and one electron. It is an odorless, colorless gas (H2) much lighter than air. It plays a role in many industries, including metallurgy and food processing. One of its standout attributes is being a zero-emission fuel, producing no carbon or nitrogen emissions when combusted or used as a source of electricity in fuel cells.
When used as fuel, hydrogen can serve multiple roles, functioning as:
- An electron carrier, providing power to electrical devices, whether they are vehicles or stationary power equipment.
- A combustible gas that can replace or complement diesel or natural gas engines, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
- An indirect energy source when combined with CO2 to generate renewable natural gas through a process called methanization.
The Benefits of Renewable Hydrogen
- Environmental Impact: Traditional waste disposal methods, such as landfilling, pose great risks to soil, water, and air quality and generate significant methane emissions. By diverting waste from landfills and converting it into renewable hydrogen, Emerald reduces landfill-related pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Sustainable Energy Production: Renewable hydrogen serves as a clean and renewable energy source. Unlike fossil fuels, it does not produce harmful emissions when used. This makes it an ideal option for powering various industries, from transportation to manufacturing, without compromising the environment.
- Resource Efficiency: Emerald’s waste-to-hydrogen process exemplifies the concept of resource efficiency. By extracting value from waste, the company ensures that materials are reused and repurposed, minimizing the need for virgin resources and reducing the overall environmental footprint.
- Energy Security: Renewable hydrogen offers a promising solution to energy security concerns. As a domestically produced renewable energy source, it reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels and enhances energy resilience.
- Economic Benefits: The renewable hydrogen industry presents significant economic opportunities, from job creation to technological advancements. Emerald’s innovative approach positions it as a leader in this growing field, driving economic growth while promoting sustainability.
Emerald exemplifies the innovative spirit needed to tackle the environmental challenges of today. Through groundbreaking work in converting waste into renewable hydrogen, it demonstrates that sustainability and economic growth can go hand in hand. As the world moves toward a greener future, Emerald’s contributions to the renewable energy sector will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable Ontario.
