CAE has developed a local equivalent of tried and tested International vertical reservoir digester design that is fully heated and stirred, optimising gas and energy production.Where applicable CAE Energy can also provide sealed Covered Lagoon type digesters for entry level solutions.

Easily digestible “wet” organic waste like fruit, vegetables, manure, sewage sludge, food, leaves, grass cuttings etc is usually fed to an anaerobic bio-digester that is sealed to enable the gas to be captured. This gas then requires a clean up process and is then fed to a gas engine which generates electricity. This is well established technology and Germany has over 3000 farms running such units. CAE has thoroughly investigated the world wide situation with these processes and related equipment and found that most project developers want to simply copy what has been done overseas. The cost of establishing such plants directly using overseas equipment and construction is too high and hence unattractive in the broader African context.

CAE have developed local appropriate manufacturing techniques to be able to produce biogas electricity plants locally at a much reduced cost. This then also translates to local job creation and local supply options for maintenance and repair. All the projects generate foreign capital inflow from carbon trading, provided they are large enough, that contributes to financial viability. The sludge that is generated once the energy has been extracted still contains a significant amount of organic material, and all the fertilizer nutrients that were fed to the digester, and may be applied as a slurry or dewatered and converted to a granular natural fertilizer.

CAE has taken the initiative in sourcing the newest Gasification technology available and forming international partnerships to enable local manufacture to create jobs and provide cost effective solutions.

Harder waste like wood chips, sawmill waste, municipal solid waste, plastics, tyres etc are processed in a gasification plant that combusts the material at a relatively low temperature to produce syngas that is then burnt at high temperature in a secondary combustion chamber. Two different plant designs are available and may be adapted to provide the optimum solution for different waste streams and customer requirements.

The lower initial burn temperature also allows for recovery of metals and glass for recycling purposes.The heat is captured and converted to steam which drives a steam turbine to generate electricity.

Once again CAE has researched the technologies used overseas and has identified a new, but proven technology that is cost effective and highly efficient. CAE has negotiated with the developer to manufacture most components under license in South Africa to reduce cost. The cost of establishing such plants directly using overseas equipment and construction is too high and hence unattractive in the broader African context.

This then also translates to local job creation and local supply options for maintenance and repair.

All the projects generate foreign capital inflow from carbon trading, provided they are large enough, that contributes to financial viability. The ash that is generated may be used in fertilizer production from composting processes or as a fill material in road aggregates and concrete product manufacturing.