Chinook, EMR to Recover Metal and Create Energy
Chinook Sciences, Ltd., a manufacturer and operator of advanced gasification technology, and European Metal Recycling Ltd., a recycling company, on March 25 announced the formation of the first commercial-scale joint venture to convert automobile shredder residue (ASR) into renewable electricity and recover and recycle metal in the process.
The joint venture—named Innovative Environmental Solutions UK Ltd.—will process 120,000 metric tons of automobile shredder residue (ASR) per year using Chinook's patented and proprietary RODECS® gasification system. The RODECS® will gasify the residue, destroying all harmful emissions, recover all valuable material—primarily metal—for recycling and generate approximately 30 MW of renewable power, enough electricity to power 21,000 homes. ASR is a waste material created by shredding automobiles and comprises approximately 25 percent of the weight of the car.
David Ireland, director of technical services at EMR, based in Warrington, United Kingdom, said, "This alliance with Chinook Sciences is very exciting and a further significant step toward our goal of achieving 95 percent recycling and recovery from our shredding operation and thereby further improving the impact on the environment."
Rifat Chalabi, Ph.D., chair of Chinook Sciences, said, "Partnering with EMR is part of the Chinook Sciences Beyond Landfill Global Initiative, which is designed to form joint ventures with environmentally conscious companies looking for advanced technology to recover valuables and convert waste into renewable energy. A unique and very attractive feature of our technology is the creation of a very large negative carbon footprint."
European Metal Recycling, Ltd. employs approximately 2,300 people and operates at 100 locations around the world. EMR's core business is the recycling of metal-rich waste streams arising from end of life vehicles, consumer products, industry, and construction resulting in sales of recycled commodities of around 10 million metric tons a year.
Chinook Sciences, based in Cranford, N.J., was founded in 1998 and is the leading manufacturer and operator of advanced gasification technology. Its gasification system, now in its eighth design generation, has an eight-year track record of industrial commercial operation.