How Breakthrough Technology Is Converting Waste into Energy to Solve the Ocean Waste Pandemic
Denpasar – After 15 years of development and laboratory tests, EX Venture released Zero Carbon, a portable waste conversion system that will change how communities turn waste into useful resources. The commercial pilot has arrived in Uluwatu, one of the most prominent beach areas in Bali. Like many islands in Southeast Asia, Bali is negatively affected by a massive waste pandemic eroding the island’s reputation as a pristine vacation destination.
Gili Air, 2020
The patented Zero Carbon system runs on organic and inorganic waste in blended form, the way you would find it on beaches in Southeast Asia. The Zero Carbon process converts these mixed waste streams into clean energy used for household necessities, including electricity, heating, cooling, other household necessities, and biochar. Biochar is a chemically stable compound rich in Carbon and persistent to encourage Carbon forming in the soil to improve its health and fertility. Biochar is an effective carbon sink, and it sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the ground soil for generations. The local biodiversity has been seriously harmed in marine environments trying to cope with massive solid and liquid waste emissions.
Zero Carbon offers validated technology with a proven super low emission standard. Converting mixed waste streams into clean energy is not an easy task, as confirmed by EX Venture’s CEO Julien Uhlig. There are so many chemical reactions that can cause harmful emissions. Most waste is either dumped into rivers ending up in the ocean, or gathered and set on fire. Both alternatives are detrimental to the environment and people alike. Lately, due to a strong rainy season, some of Southeast Asia’s beaches are ridden with massive amounts of waste. The famous Kuta beach probably set a new sad record recently with over 150 tons of garbage collected on a single day. Even collecting waste on the beach does not offer a long-term solution as long as treatment solutions are not in existence.
X5, as featured on CNN Business
Uhlig emphasizes the notion of having waste fuel to shape the future to generate energy. The technology turns non-utilized trash into clean energy with maximum efficiency and minimum cost. The machine was developed by EX Venture’s CTO Michael Hofmeister and his team at MFC in Germany within the last decade. Before release, the innovative and patented system has undergone more than 30 university tests in Germany’s Zittau Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. The study by the University concludes the viability and process stability of the X5 Machine.
The power systems, called X5, are the size of a refrigerator and can even be transported by a pick-up truck. The X5 system can operate on up to 25% plastic and 75% biofuels, which are pelletized out of organic waste, for instance, rice husks, straws, seeds, and other types of organic waste, and convert them out to be clean energy of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, and nitric oxide.
“Through the process of gasification, these portable plants will combine mixed waste streams and convert them into a natural gas replacement. This producer gas can be used for power generation on-site,” Uhlig confirms, “The technology can convert waste into energy even in the middle of nowhere. The process of first reducing tar while removing clinkers and minerals from the reactor while keeping extremely high temperatures has been a long time challenge for the Team of MFC in Germany.”
The development of the X5 system is funded by EX Venture and multiple programs by German Federal and State Funding Sources such as the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the Saechsische Aufbaubank (SAB).
Other than the machine’s portability, it also resolves the problem of many waste management systems. This reactor uses a high temperature of more than 1,000 degrees Celsius, hot enough to destroy all the harmful pollutants. The system uses a patented clinker crushing system that automatically pulverizes clinkers to dust. Combining a low tar process with the innovative clinker crushing system means that the machine can solve ocean waste problems on-site without harmful emissions, a real breakthrough. As studied, these regions have untreated waste due to non-existing treatment solutions.
In contrast to the benefits, these high-tech and easy-to-use treatment plants require extremely low maintenance. Uhlig said that both machines need around two to three bags of pelletized biofuels a day, and the automated clinker simply requires water for cleaning. The machine’s functionality will be managed remotely by the EX Venture’s laboratory by connecting data and controlling operations. All these features will enable the devices to be used by almost anyone without extensive technical training.
“We aim to have communities processing their waste and use it like electricity or thermal energy,” Uhlig smiled, “Seeing waste as a valuable resource is going to revolutionize the way we live.”
Julien Uhlig, Jan von Rosenstiel, Jessica Ehinger of EX Venture, with Wahyu Taufik of Selaras Group and Professor Vinaya of Udayana University
Uhlig and his team had worked to build the machine’s commercial pilot system, currently in the Udayana University of Bali. The Southeast Asian island of Bali presently does not operate sufficient waste treatment systems. Therefore waste is harming the reputation of this island known for its beautiful beaches. Today these beaches are far too often entirely littered in garbage, hurting local communities and tourists alike. Uhlig has a plan for wider and optimized distribution channels via organizational collaborations, community adoption, and retail sales at USD25,000 per unit. Initial customers will be hotels, for example, that want to treat their collected waste right on-site.
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The EX Venture team has been managing more than 80 projects funded by the German government. Julien Uhlig, the founder, customizes EX Venture to resolve the world’s most challenging sustainability issues through investments through generous support from the German government. EX Venture also hosts EX Venture Night, a free online platform connecting leading investors and companies on a global scale.
Within the last decade, Uhligh and the EX Venture team have invested in small-scale waste-to-energy companies while working on realizing great clean technologies (cleantech) ideas to life. Uhlig himself has been featured in leading media, such as CNN, Bloomberg, The Guardian, and Japan Times, noted to be leading one of the most innovative companies in 2018 and nominated a mentor in building the next change-making entrepreneurs in cleantech from any parts of the world.
Media contact:
Julien Uhlig, CEO
Gavriella Tjandra, MEDIA
EX Venture PTE LTD.
Whatsapp: +49 178 2873624
E-Mail: [email protected]
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Media Contact
Company Name: EX Venture PTE LTD
Contact Person: Julien Uhlig
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Phone: +491782873624
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Website: https://www.exventure.co/
