INL waste-to-energy project wins recognition

Technology that began development at the Idaho National Laboratory won national honors during the 2019 Federal Laboratory Consortium Awards.

“The impact is significant,” said lead scientist on the project, Dr. Peter Kong.

In conjunction with Cogent Energy Systems of Merrifield, Virginia, Idaho National Laboratory researchers created an ionic gasification process. The system directly processes combustible agricultural waste, such as biomass and solid municipal garbage, inside an active plasma field of 3,000 to 10,000 degrees Celsius. The result is a clean, high-energy, synthesis gas that can be used to generate electricity. It can also be converted into many other end-products, including hydrogen, liquid fuels, and building blocks for other chemicals.

Cogent has now developed and demonstrated two full-scale, waste-to-energy gasifiers. It has plans to complete a commercial demonstration system in 2020.

“It’s for the good of the environment and in particular for the health of this planet,” said Kong.

INL Commercialization Manager Ryan Bills, along with Cogent’s Dr. Abraham Haspel and Dr. Peter Kong, were recognized for their accomplishments with the FLC Award this month.

“Young people, don’t be afraid to venture into science and let your curiosity bring you wherever you can go,” said Kong.