Technologies
Waste-to-energy solutions
Landfill gas
Recovia produces and sells renewable electricity from landfill gas. Landfill gas consists roughly of 50 % methane and 50 % carbon dioxide that is generated inside landfills (or dumpsites). If not collected properly, the methane leaks into the atmosphere where it has around a 30 times higher heating effect compared with carbon dioxide, over a 100 year cycle. Therefore, the capture and utilization of landfill gas is mandatory in the EU. The methane content in landfill gas is high enough to fuel gas engines that generate electricity.
The gas can also be utilized for heating of premises, greenhouses etcetera. Within landfill gas, our business model is to build own and operate landfill gas installations. We currently landfill gas installations in Eastern Europe but are developing new projects in Africa.
Gasification to power
Recovia is closely studying technologies that can gasify various waste streams in a sustainable and clean way. The two products coming out of the gasification process are char and syngas. If the waste is entirely renewable (such as agri waste, wood waste or food waste) the char can be considered a biochar, subject to a stamp of approval from an independent body. Biochar is an increasingly demanded product as it represents both a carbon sink as well as a soil enhancer. The syngas can be used for power production in the same way as Recovia generates renewable power from landfill gas. It can also be catalytically upgraded into other products.
Renewable hydrogen
Recovia believes that truly green hydrogen will see increased demand in the coming years. Driven by higher demand for it we also believe that the ways in which it is produced, will evolve. Whereas most renewable hydrogen is generated through electrolysis today, our conviction is that more ways will be applied going forward. Recovia is engaged in this development through concrete projects
Fields of Activity
Waste-to-energy solutions
These range from large‐scale waste incineration plants to small scale energy production in which landfill gas‐to‐power and pyrolysis are two of the main technologies. Recovia focuses small scale projects (1–20 MW of power) within landfill gas and is exploring promising pyrolysis technologies in parallel.
Waste-to-Energy management
A large part of the municipal solid waste is deposited on sanitary landfills where landfill gas is generated. In order to extract landfill gas a series of wells as well as a vacuum system need to be installed. The collected gas gets redirected to a central point where it can be processed and treated depending on its final use.
Installations at Gomel/Vitebsk/Novopolotsk
Recovia started its operations in Belarus in 2011 and today owns and operates five landfill gas installations in the cities of Vitebsk, Orsha, Novopolotsk, Gomel and Mogilev through its daughter company OOO Recovia. It employs a staff of 20 people and its technical team is highly capable in all parts of the value chain; from design of landfill gas solutions, to construction and operations.