Hitachi Zosen Inova USA has been awarded a contract to build sustainable waste-to-energy and renewable gas infrastructure for 3 Rivers Energy Partners in Knoxville, Tenneesee, US.
The agreement will see Hitachi Zosen Inova USA design and construct a new anaerobic digestion (AD) plant.
The integrated renewable natural gas (RNG) plant consists of a 648,000 gal/day wet anaerobic digester, amine biogas upgrader system (BGU) and integrated process piping and controls.
The 3 Rivers Energy Partners owned and operated facility will utilise new Wet AD technology that will use spent stillage as the feedstock allowing the plant to turn waste into energy.
The AD system will power an adjacent distillery with RNG, providing 65% of its gas needs.
Importantly, the RNG facility will help to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 50%.
“When it came time to pick a partner to help us build one of the country’s largest renewable natural gas production and treatment facilities, we knew we needed a company with superior expertise and experience. Hitachi Zosen Inova was a clear choice for us,” said John Rivers, CEO of 3 Rivers Energy Partners.
HZI’s Sales Manager Joe Szczepkowski added: “HZI is very excited to execute what we anticipate will be one of many innovative renewable energy projects with 3 Rivers Energy Partners. Providing integrated energy recovery solutions from waste products is fundamentally what HZI does, and this supports our vision for the future.”
Once in operation this facility will produce approximately 2,700 SCFM (standard cubic feet per minute) of RNG to power the adjacent distillery.
Finally, the by-product from the AD and RNG processes is the production of a fertiliser which can then be used in local agriculture.
The construction and later commissioning phases of the facility can now commence, with operations at the new AD and RNG facilities expected to start in December 2024.
Hitachi Zosen Inova USA awarded major RNG contract by Rivers Energy Partners
