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AirBuild says wastewater-to-biochar pilot now running; will seek land agreement to scale
Summary
AirBuild told the Green River City Council it has activated a small demonstration wastewater-treatment site that mixes algae and organic waste, pyrolyzes the mix into biochar and could treat sewer lagoon loads in a smaller footprint; the company said it will seek a development agreement next month to expand to about three acres and pursue state funding.
John, identified in the meeting as an AirBuild representative, told the council the company turned on a demonstration site and is preparing to collect test data for a process that mixes algae with organic waste and pyrolyzes the result into biochar. He said the system currently on site is sized for testing and not yet large enough to handle the city's sewer ponds but that the approach can be “about four times more efficient” than land-applied sewer lagoons and could provide a smaller, more scalable wastewater treatment footprint.
John said AirBuild is not requesting city funds at this time but will bring a formal action item next month seeking a development agreement and additional land (he estimated expansion from roughly half an acre to three acres). He said AirBuild is pursuing state support and that the company has signed an offtake/offset agreement to monetize carbon offsets for buyers; the University of Utah is growing algae for the pilot.
Council members asked clarifying questions; one member said the project could help the city avoid future sewer lagoons and added it would be preferable if state funding paid for the scale-up rather than city dollars. AirBuild pledged to return with more detailed design, land-use and funding documents when it brings the formal agreement to the council.
