An important paragraph fell out of my waste gasification coverage this week during the editing process:

Bryden [PlascoEnergy’s CEO] says the core functions of their 100-m.t./day demo plant are performing to expectations. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that its also had its share of teething pains. The feed system has proved susceptible to jamming, regularly interrupting test runs. And they discovered that after such unanticipated interruptions oxygen entering the system ignited particulates and burned the baghouse filters designed to capture that soot before it exits the plant. Adding a valve stopped the filter fires, and Bryden says PlascoEnergy will install a new waste feeder in August.

These are the kinds of glitches one expects with new technology. But they’re also an important reminder that this is new technology and, as such, there’s no guarantee it will work as advertised.

Caveat emptor.

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