EQTEC PLC (AIM:EQT) has entered a collaboration framework agreement with American firm Simonpietri Enterprises to advance waste-to-energy projects in the US.
The partnership, using EQTEC’s syngas technology, will focus on developing waste-conversion facilities to produce renewable energy and support the circular economy.
Specifically, it will see two plants developed in Hawaii and one in Washington State.
The Aloha Sustainable Materials Recycling and Fertilizer Facility (Aloha SMRFF), in Hawaii, is envisaged to process some 50,000 tonnes of construction, demolition, and landscaping waste annually. It will be processed and converted into energy for an organic fertilizer plant.
Engineering work and public assessments are progressing, with EQTEC engaged in the Front-End Loading (FEL-3) design phase, the company noted.
Also in Hawaii, the Aloha Carbon Honolulu RNG is envisaged as a 100,000 tonnes of waste per year operation, converting to renewable natural gas (RNG).
A final project proposal worth approximately €1 million has been submitted, and feedback is anticipated within a five-month delivery timeline.
In Washington, the Aloha Carbon Tacoma RNG will be the largest of the three plants, handling some 350,000 tonnes of waste annually. EQTEC noted that site, feedstock, and offtake have been identified, and design work is set to advance.
"We are delighted to formalise our partnership with Simonpietri Enterprises, a company that shares our vision for the energy transition,” chief executive David Palumbo said in a statement.
“We were particularly impressed with the extensive expertise of the SEL team, not only in the commercial development of these projects but also in their deep level of community engagement.
“They have demonstrated a real commitment to bringing to life projects that will make a lasting difference to local communities.”
Palumbo added: “SEL's team has significant technical expertise, including know-how and intellectual property in areas of the plants that are highly complementary to EQTEC's technology.
“We are excited about the potential to develop new know-how and IP together as we collaborate on these innovative waste-to-energy solutions."
Joelle Simonpietri, meanwhile, commented: “We were fortunate to be able to spend two weeks of due diligence in Europe with EQTEC's team that included a number of technical sessions in Barcelona, a visit to the Movialsa plant in Spain, a visit to the Agrigas plant in Larissa, Greece, and a testing programme at the LERMAB R&D facility in France.
“We were able to observe gasification operations on difficult agricultural wastes like high-silica straw, as well as industrial waste such as mixed post-consumer plastic waste. I am highly impressed by EQTEC's technology and the professionalism, experience and capabilities of their team.
“By integrating EQTEC's proven technology with our project development expertise, we will unlock new possibilities for waste valorisation and renewable fuel and recycled-material products manufacturing."