TSX: 'NRG'
OTCQX: 'ANRGF'
CALGARY, Oct. 13, 2011 /CNW/ - Alter NRG Corp. ("Alter NRG" or the "Company") announces that it has successfully completed testing of waste to
ethanol at the Westinghouse Plasma Demonstration Center in Madison,
Pennsylvania. Alter NRG believes that waste to ethanol and other
biofuels (diesel, gasoline, etc.) is a growth market and is working
with several biofuel producers to jointly model waste to biofuel
solutions. The ability to convert waste to biofuels has several market
changing characteristics:
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Versus biomass to liquids plants, waste to biofuels plants benefit from
getting paid to safely dispose of waste instead of paying to procure
biomass. This operating cost difference can be as much as one dollar
per gallon of biofuel.
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Waste to biofuels plants do not consume food based feedstocks, a major
criticism of existing corn based ethanol plants.
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Waste to biofuels plants can be located close to markets that consume
liquid fuels which reduces the amount of transportation required for
the fuels.
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Producing liquid fuels from waste results in fewer emissions than when
waste is incinerated.
Flex Ethanol, a partnership among Australian companies GM Holden, Caltex
and Phoenix Energy, recently completed testing with Alter NRG and
Coskata Inc. ("Coskata"). Waste feedstocks (including simulated
municipal solid waste, sewage sludge and tires) were successfully
gasified by Alter NRG into clean syngas and that syngas was converted
into ethanol by Coskata. This test represented an important step
toward a planned waste to ethanol project in Australia which, if it
goes to construction, would be expected to utilize two of Alter NRG's
large scale Westinghouse Plasma gasifiers.
"Conducting a test at Alter NRG's demonstration plant was a critical
component of Flex Ethanol's project development plan", stated Peter
Dyson from Phoenix Energy. "The successful test results have given us
the confidence to continue the development of our project to be located
near Melbourne - a project that will convert up to 2000 tonnes per day
of waste to ethanol"
Alter NRG is working with customers and biofuel suppliers on several
waste to biofuel opportunities which can produce ethanol in addition to
various other biofuels. Coskata constructed Project Lighthouse, its
semi-commercial scale facility, adjacent to the Company's Westinghouse
Plasma Demonstration Center in 2009. For two years now, Alter NRG has
been converting biomass feedstock and recently waste into clean syngas
which Coskata has successfully converted into fuel-grade ethanol.
"The Westinghouse Plasma technology has shown that it can handle a wide
variety of biomass and waste material, and consistently deliver
synthesis gas that is of the quality and specification that Coskata
needs for the production of cellulosic biofuels," said Bill Roe,
Coskata's CEO, "We look forward to working together with Alter NRG on
commercial opportunities to deliver this industry leading waste to fuel
solution."
Kevin Bolin, Executive Chairman of Alter NRG states that "biofuels are
an important part of the energy landscape and will be an increasing
focus of Alter NRG's future strategy. Converting waste into biofuels
solves two major problems; i) avoiding landfills which create problems
for future generations and ii) reducing the dependence on depleting oil
supplies. Plasma gasification offers the scope for increased
efficiency in releasing the embedded chemical energy within residual
wastes and hence competitive advantages over conventional solutions
like incineration. As the industry leading plasma gasification company,
we are well positioned to play in this space."
The Westinghouse Plasma Demonstration Center was upgraded in 2009 to
have the capability to provide clean syngas for its customers and
potential customers. The Plasma Center has tested multiple feedstocks
including household, commercial, industrial waste as well as many types
of biomass. Mr. Bolin further states: "The Plasma Center provides us
with a strong competitive advantage as our customers, such as Flex
Ethanol, are able to optimize design parameters, simulate commercial
conditions, and assess viability of certain feedstocks. All told, this
enhances Alter NRG's market access." Since 2009, it has successfully
completed over 50 tests for its customers.
ABOUT ALTER NRG
Alter NRG is pursuing alternative energy solutions to meet the growing
demand for environmentally responsible and economically viable energy
in world markets. Alter NRG's primary objective is to further
commercialize the Westinghouse Plasma Gasification Technology, through
its wholly owned subsidiary, to provide renewable and clean energy
solutions from a wide variety of feedstocks, and provide a wide variety
of energy outputs - including liquid fuels like ethanol and diesel,
electrical power, and syngas.
The Toronto Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell Alter NRG
securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy Alter NRG securities,
nor is there to be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which
such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of such
jurisdiction.
Advisory Respecting Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release contains certain "forward-looking information and
statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use
of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate",
"objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe",
"plans", "intends", "confident", "might" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. In
particular, this new release contains forward looking statements
pertaining to: the conversion of waste to biofuels; the timing of
sales; industry trends; the Company's reputation and market position
within the industries in which it operates and the Company's strategy
and competitive advantages. Various assumptions were used in drawing
the conclusions or making the projections contained in the
forward-looking statements throughout this news release.
The forward-looking information and statements included in this news
release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be
unduly relied upon. Forward-looking statements reflect management's
current beliefs and assumptions, based on information currently
available to management. A number of factors could cause actual results
to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking
statements, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Among
the material factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are:
customer determination to not advance the above projects or utilize the
WPC Technology in its projects; changes in government regulation,
including changes to environmental regulations; the effects of
competition; the dependence on senior management and key personnel; and
fluctuations in currency exchange rates and interest rates, as well as
those factors discussed in or referred to under the heading "Risk
Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 29, 2011
available at www.sedar.com. Such information and statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events
to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking
information or statements.
The Company cautions that the foregoing list of assumptions, risks and
uncertainties is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information and
statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of
this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly
update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as
may be required pursuant to applicable securities laws.
