Blue Sphere Provides Update on R.I. Anaerobic Digestion Project

Blue Sphere Corporation, an international independent power producer, provided a project update today for the waste-to-energy facility it has developed and is currently under construction in Johnston, R.I.

The company has been developing a 3.2MW anaerobic digestion biogas facility that will sell electricity to National Grid under a 15-year power purchase agreement.

Its EPC contractor, Auspark LLC, issued an update stating that the plant is going through the phases needed to bring the facility to the testing and commissioning phase. During the few last weeks, the Auspark team of engineers and subcontractors have been completing key elements of construction while preparing the facility for testing, commissioning and, ultimately, the commencement of operating activities. The Auspark update stated that the facilities’ weighting station has been installed and connected; the large reception building has been equipped with the Austep proprietary pretreatment equipment; the primary construction of the biopulper; hot digesters and cold digester are all complete; the installation of the membrane for the gas holder is complete; the assembly of the piping circuits necessary for the heat exchangers is complete; the biogas line is complete; the construction of the safety torches is complete; and the parasitic load connection was scheduled for Dec. 1 and the cold commissioning of the CHP’s will begin shortly thereafter.

“We are very excited for the Rhode Island facility to be entering into this phase of development especially with winter about to arrive in the northeastern United States. We have been working very hard with all of our partners including the Austep Group to see this facility take shape and we further look forward to the day when we see this amazing asset become fully operational.” Blue Sphere CEO Shlomi Palas said in a statement.

Last December, the company secured financing for future projects and acquisitions. In addition to the Rhode Island facility, it is working on a $27-million, 5.2-megawatt facility in Charlotte, where it maintains its U.S. headquarters. The project entered its final stages of development this summer.

In N.C., the electricity will be sold to Duke Energy and in Rhode Island it will be sold to NG to provide power to local homes and businesses.

By 2018 Blue Sphere plans to have built 11 facilities, with six more under development.

From its Rhode Island and North Carolina facilities, Blue Sphere expects revenue to total $150 million in the next 15 years.