A Revolution in Neighborhood-Scale Renewable Energy

PLACE has registered a patent for a neighborhood-scale system that, quite simply, takes food waste from a community (think: food scraps) and turns it into energy, which then grows organic produce for distribution via CSA (community supported agriculture). We're looking to site the first E-Generation facility to benefit a community of people and businesses with lower energy bills and access to fresh, organic produce year round. Check out this great video to learn more, and read on!

The Details

E-Generation comprises a portfolio of sustainable energy technologies, including a neighborhood-scale anaerobic digester. The digester will work in concert with a combined heat and power generator to turn food waste into renewable energy alongside other renewable energy sources appropriate for each location--solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, micro-wind, geothermal--balanced for optimal “free” energy inputs. The outputs of the process are organic fertilizer, heat, and carbon dioxide, all of which will be used to grow organic produce in an onsite greenhouse. A modest footprint will grow enough food for 300 CSA (community supported agriculture) shares, and will provide several permanent, living-wage jobs. 

PLACE has designed our facility to address the legitimate community concerns of odor control and noise. The E-Generation facility will operate as a sealed, pressurized system. A waste hauling vehicle will enter the closed bay, deposit organics into the digester, and leave. The space will be pressurized to prevent odors from escaping. An additional odor control mechanism is the greenhouse itself: minimal exhaust from the digestion and power generation process (which will contain CO2) will be filtered and fed into the greenhouse when people aren’t there to enhance plant growth. 

Click here for more information about anaerobic digestion.

PLACE will develop an educational program around E-Generation to raise awareness of energy, food and waste issues in communities.