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A breath of fresh air
Flex OC will install turbines that generate power from methane gas and other air pollutants.
by brandon russellPublished: February 01, 2012
There’s something very nostalgic about post-rainy days. The cleansed air smells better, feels crisper and offers a nice respite from the smog that occasionally shrouds Orange County. Unfortunately, air pollution has become as much a part of Southern California as warm winter days and beautiful sandy beaches. If only there were a way to harness the unwelcome toxins.
Thanks to Irvine-based Flex OC Renewables, a subsidiary of FlexEnergy, there is. Through a newly approved Santiago Canyon project, Flex OC will use state-of-the-art turbine technology to generate power while simultaneously reducing methane gas and harmful air pollutants.
The new system will implement Flex Powerstation FP250 turbines, which use an advanced thermal oxidizer to help balance a temperature range high enough to avoid the creation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO), while being low enough to prevent nitrous oxide (NOx) formation.
“By installing the Flex Powerstation FP250 power generation system, we will be able to beneficially reuse landfill gas to generate a source of revenue and renewable energy,” says FlexEnery CEO, Joseph Perry.
Flex OC, which gained approval for the project earlier this year after receiving a unanimous 5-0 vote from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, is currently moving ahead by reviewing power purchase agreements, conducting an environmental review and preparing the site for development. Landfill gas assessments peg the Santiago site to contain between 1.5 and 2 megawatts of potential energy on a continuous basis – enough to power between 1,500 and 2,000 homes.
“We expect Santiago Canyon to become a showcase facility that will enable Orange County to continue its leadership in clean technology, create jobs, improve our environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Perry says.
The new, environmentally advanced facilities should begin generating power before the end of the year, which is plenty of time to help Orange County meet the stringent air quality emissions for waste gas scheduled to go into effect next year. Until then, think of it this way: The noxious gases you’re currently inhaling will soon power someone’s home. I’m suddenly feeling nostalgic again.
Fact: Methane is created near the Earth’s surface primarily by micro-organisms. The gas is carried into the stratosphere by rising air in the tropical regions.
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Thanks to Irvine-based Flex OC Renewables, a subsidiary of FlexEnergy, there is. Through a newly approved Santiago Canyon project, Flex OC will use state-of-the-art turbine technology to generate power while simultaneously reducing methane gas and harmful air pollutants. The new system will implement Flex Powerstation FP250 turbines, which use an advanced thermal oxidizer to help balance a temperature range high enough to avoid the creation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO), while being low enough to prevent nitrous oxide (NOx) formation. “By installing the Flex Powerstation FP250 power generation system, we will be able to beneficially reuse landfill gas to generate a source of revenue and renewable energy,” says FlexEnery CEO, Joseph Perry. Flex OC, which gained approval for the project earlier this year after receiving a unanimous 5-0 vote from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, is currently moving ahead by reviewing power purchase agreements, conducting an environmental review and preparing the site for development. Landfill gas assessments peg the Santiago site to contain between 1.5 and 2 megawatts of potential energy on a continuous basis – enough to power between 1,500 and 2,000 homes. “We expect Santiago Canyon to become a showcase facility that will enable Orange County to continue its leadership in clean technology, create jobs, improve our environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Perry says. The new, environmentally advanced facilities should begin generating power before the end of the year, which is plenty of time to help Orange County meet the stringent air quality emissions for waste gas scheduled to go into effect next year. Until then, think of it this way: The noxious gases you’re currently inhaling will soon power someone’s home. I’m suddenly feeling nostalgic again. Fact: Methane is created near the Earth’s surface primarily by micro-organisms. The gas is carried into the stratosphere by rising air in the tropical regions. |
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