Nexterra, Andritz Become Partners in Renewable Energy
Nexterra Systems Corp., a supplier of biomass gasification solutions, and Andritz, a customized plants, process technologies, and services company for hydropower, pulp and paper, metals, and other industries, have formed a strategic alliance to market drying solutions that are fuelled by renewable biomass energy.
Andritz Separation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Andritz Group, supplies biosolids dryers and separation equipment used extensively in the wastewater treatment market. The company also has a product scope in gasification technologies for biomass but for large scale energy and syngas production.
Under the alliance, Nexterra and Andritz will jointly market a suite of biosolids drying solutions that combine certain Nexterra gasification technologies with Andritz biosolids dryers. These solutions will enable municipal wastewater treatment facilities to reduce fuel costs, eliminate dependence on fossil fuels, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
“This strategic relationship ... provides us with a partner who has a deep understanding and presence within the wastewater treatment market, which we see as a very significant market opportunity for our gasification technology,” said Jonathan Rhone, president and chief executive officer of Nexterra. “Our vision is to offer municipalities a seamless range of renewable energy solutions for drying biosolids, and eventually for power generation with gas engines.”
As part of the first phase of the relationship, the partners will immediately target opportunities where existing biosolids dryers can be retrofitted with biomass gasification technology and will use biomass fuel to replace natural gas as a heating source. The companies also plan to offer a solution for greenfield sites that combines biosolids dryers and gasifiers.