Orbital Biocarbon, PYREG Partner to Transform Wastewater Sludge Disposal into Regulation Compliant, Carbon Negative and PFAS-Free Profit Center
link to original press release at orbitalbiocarbon.com
Orbital Biocarbon Expands its Strategic Alignment Agreement with PYREG: Transforming Wastewater Sludge Disposal From a Cost Center to a Regulation Compliant, Carbon Negative and PFAS-Free Profit Center
– PYREG, the global leader in carbonization technology, with more than 60 commercial-scale plants across three continents, expands its efforts in the US wastewater sludge disposal market by strengthening its partnership with Orbital Biocarbon, a US-based waste manager and project developer for wastewater utilities.
– Orbital Biocarbon finances, builds, owns and operates facilities that transform wastewater sludge into a PFAS-free, high-quality commercial-grade fertilizer, at a cost significantly less than traditional disposal methods.
– The EPA has tested PYREG’s technology at Silicon Valley Clean Water’s wastewater treatment plant in the San Francisco Bay Area, and found that it eliminates PFAS and related contaminants in wastewater sludge.
– Orbital Biocarbon’s wastewater sludge projects have first-in capital available, backed by market-priced clean energy/commodity purchase agreements related to future CO2 credit production.
PITTSBURGH; DORTH, GERMANY – (April 18, 2024) – Orbital Biocarbon, a leading Pittsburgh-based project development and finance company specializing in wastewater sludge disposal solutions for wastewater utilities, has announced an expanded partnership with PYREG, a global leader and manufacturer and of carbonization technology.
Using PYREG’s technology, Orbital Biocarbon transforms wastewater sludge by indirectly heating it in the absence of oxygen (without combustion) at high temperatures. This process produces salable biochar, a commercial-grade fertilizer or durable building material additive, renewable energy, and CO2 removal credits.
Last week, the EPA implemented new regulations mandating water utilities to monitor and eliminate forever chemicals (PFAS) from their water supply. PFAS chemicals, often found in wastewater sludge, pose risks to public health if they infiltrate the water system via landfill leachate or runoff from land-applied wastewater sludge. PYREG’s technology plays a crucial role in addressing this issue by destroying these PFAS contaminants, thus helping water utilities meet EPA requirements and safeguard public health.
“Over the past 18 months, we have brought PYREG’s compact, modular and easily integrable technology to scores of wastewater treatment plants, many of which are in varying stages of implementing our solution,” said John Day, President of Orbital Biocarbon.
“Like PYREG, Orbital Biocarbon shares our core values of integrity, transparency and attention to the needs and expectations of our customers. Working together for these many months has served to reinforce our conviction that our selection of Orbital Biocarbon as a premier channel into the US wastewater sludge disposal market was and continues to be an excellent decision. The North American market offers immense opportunities, and we look forward to advancing our collaboration with Orbital,” said Jorg zu Dohna, CEO of PYREG.
Orbital Biocarbon provides a comprehensive solution, managing the financing, construction, ownership, and operation of on-site wastewater sludge disposal facilities for 20 to 30 years through long-term sludge purchase agreements (SPAs). This innovative approach empowers wastewater utilities to bypass public debt financing and operational risks while maximizing the value derived from their wastewater sludge.
Orbital Biocarbon also offers project development and PYREG technology solutions for wastewater utilities that prefer to own and operate these best-in-class plants.
PYREG’s Chief Sales Officer, Robert Kovach, commented: “We have been thoroughly impressed with Orbital Biocarbon, and its capable and dedicated professionals. From Orbital’s most junior financial modelers to its project managers to John Day, the company’s young, energetic and entrepreneurial president, a Washington County, Pennsylvania native, the company has assembled an exceptional team. With a clear focus and urgency, Orbital Biocarbon is committed to enhancing cost-effectiveness for wastewater utility clients while prioritizing environmental stewardship.”
Mr. Kovach added: “As a sales executive, I am always impressed when a company removes barriers from clients to make important operational improvements. In the aging and capital-intensive wastewater treatment industry, Orbital gets high marks for its ability to help clients finance projects, often without clients needing to utilize their capital.”
Pittsburgh-based LLI Engineering President Jamie White commented: “We are excited to be partnering with Orbital Biocarbon on the design and engineering of these wastewater sludge disposal facilities. In a landscape where disruptive technology often ends up back on the drawing board, PYREG’s proven carbonization technology–deployed in more than 60 commercial-scale operations across three continents – provides valuable operating data. This enables LLI to tailor designs to incorporate specific local details and circumstances, instilling high confidence in clients that our solutions will perform as anticipated.”
Rob Luksis, Chairman of the Canonsburg-Houston Joint Sewer Authority (CHJSA), located outside of Pittsburgh, PA, commented: “When we first met with Orbital Biocarbon, LLI Engineering and PYREG, I was surprised by how much value could be extracted from our wastewater sludge. To think that the only choice that we thought we had at that time was to drive diesel truckload, after diesel truckload of wastewater sludge to the closest landfill, in hopes that the landfill could bury it, and, mind you, charge us a lot to bury it, and then hope that it did not leak out any time soon, was absurd.”
Mr. Luksis added: “What a terrific way to transform our wastewater sludge material, and turn it into clean, useful products that we can sell, receive profit from and reduce our regulatory and PFAS contamination risks.”
To simplify and de-risk these types of wastewater sludge projects, Orbital Biocarbon applies its special expertise in using forward markets for commodities produced from the wastewater sludge to obtain critical upfront project capital. This financing structure mirrors the approach Orbital used at the Pittsburgh’s International Airport full-island microgrid, which was designed by Orbital’s partner, LLI Engineering. The airport project, much like Orbital’s wastewater sludge projects, used expected future payments under long-term service agreements to provide important upfront project capital.
As one established project capital provider stated: “By incorporating modest discounts to established exchange-based market pricing of CO2 removal credits, we are willing to pay for CO2 credits today, even before Orbital’s plants are completed. Such is our level of confidence in this approach to wastewater sludge disposal. It’s good for our carbon capture requirements, and it’s good for climate change mitigation.”
Morgan O’Brien, the CEO of Hope Utilities, headquartered in Morgantown, WV: “I was an early backer and advisor to Orbital Biocarbon. I worked with Orbital’s management to shift its focus from offering a larger suite of services and solutions for its utility and wastewater treatment clients to applying PYREG’s carbonization technology to address the pressing need for safe and environmentally friendly wastewater sludge disposal in the wastewater utility sector.”
Mr. O’Brien emphasized: “The need for safe wastewater sludge disposal is paramount for wastewater utilities. I am committed to facilitating the adoption of Orbital Biocarbon’s innovative PYREG-based solutions in the West Virginia market, where they have already made significant progress. This aligns with the importance of introducing cutting-edge technologies and business practices that spur job creation and enhance business competitiveness, in West Virginia and greater Appalachia.”
Examples of Orbital Biocarbon’s experience in developing infrastructure projects for wastewater, gas and electric utilities include:
– The multi-billion-dollar regionalization and asset bundling initiative for Allegheny County’s wastewater system, including its central wastewater plant upgrade.
– The $500 million water and wastewater treatment project for the Erie, Pennsylvania Water Works, ensuring regulatory compliance and improving wastewater treatment cost-effectiveness.
– The Allegheny County’s district energy system privatization, including the upgrade and decentralization of energy, heat and water/waste services.
– The first and only United States full-island commercial airport microgrid at Pittsburgh International Airport, providing all energy and waste services at the airport.
– Designing, building, owning and operating AK Steel’s wastewater treatment plant at its Middletown, Ohio steel-making facility.
– The building, owning and operating of microgrid energy and waste assets for hospitals in the Allegheny Health Network.
– The development and building of a group of energy and waste assets for Peoples Gas, recently sold to Cordia Energy for over $150 million.
– The integration of Chester Engineers’ wastewater treatment assets into Canada-based Hatch Corporation, a world leader in natural resource-related infrastructure projects.
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About LLI Engineering
Since 1910, LLI Engineering has been recognized for delivering top-quality engineering and architectural design services. With a portfolio of more than 10,000 major projects totaling over $3.5 billion in construction value—and a consistent record of client satisfaction—our firm’s longevity speaks to our commitment to excellence.
LLI Engineering is guided by core values that include clear communication, meticulous contract oversight, cost-effective construction strategies, and business-focused client solutions.
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, we have successfully completed projects in over 20 states. Our areas of specialization include commercial developments, critical facilities, infrastructure upgrades, sustainable building design, energy efficiency improvements, project engineering, and cost estimating.
We offer comprehensive architectural and engineering services across multiple disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, piping, and structural engineering.
About Orbital Biocarbon
Orbital Biocarbon, a leading waste manager and project developer for wastewater utilities, integrates design, engineering, finance and construction to deliver comprehensive wastewater sludge disposal solutions for municipal and privately owned wastewater utilities. Utilizing PYREG’s technology, Orbital addresses the need for sustainable and regulatory-compliant solutions in a market consisting of more than 17,000 treatment plants, generating 30 million tons of wastewater sludge annually.
Through long-term sludge purchase agreements, Orbital guarantees reliable, cost-effective and carbon-negative solutions, emphasizing public health and environmental preservation and financial stability for wastewater utilities.
For more information about Orbital Biocarbon, visit orbitalbiocarbon.com
About PYREG
PYREG is a world-leading manufacturer of machines for carbonizing organic waste (various biomasses, including wood waste, wastewater sludge, etc.) into high-quality biochar, and in the process creating renewable energy, CO2 credits and destroying PFAS contaminants. With more than 60 commercial-scale facilities worldwide, PYREG’s modular high-tech carbonization equipment offers a proven, scalable, and cost-effective solution for safely and permanently binding CO2 in the form of beneficial biochar.
To learn more about PYREG, visit pyreg.com
LLI Engineering Contact
Chris White
Project Manager
Tel: (724) 986-7462
E-mail: cwhite@lliengineering.com
Orbital Biocarbon Contact
Chris Bravacos
Bravo Group
Tel: (717) 214-2200
E-mail: bravacos@thebravogroup.com
PYREG Contact
Henriette zu Dohna
Tel: +49 6747 95388 0
E-mail: h.dohna@pyreg.com