ECOVATION IMPLEMENTS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR COOLBRANDS INTERNATIONAL

Ecovation’s Mobilized Film Technology produces renewable energy from the treatment of
waste byproducts from dairy processing

Ecovation, a provider of wastewater management solutions, today announced the startup of a waste stream pretreatment and renewable energy facility at CoolBrands Dairy in North Lawrence, NY. CoolBrands will benefit from converting its own waste streams to biogas, reducing its dependency on fossil fuels and taking a step towards supporting New York State’s renewable energy initiatives.

Ecovation’s wastewater management system will be fully integrated into existing wastewater treatment processes at CoolBrands. Using Ecovation’s unique, patented Mobilized Film Technology (MFTSM), the addition will work to turn dense cheese whey, a byproduct of cottage cheese production and other high-strength plant waste, into methane gas that will be routed back for the production of steam for use in CoolBrands’ manufacturing facility.

“It’s exciting to be the first diary company in New York State to turn whey byproducts into energy. Even more important is our contribution to supporting initiatives such as Governor Pataki’s and Senator Hilary Clinton’s push for renewable resources,” says Doug Dornbier, Vice President of Dairy Operation for CoolBrands. “It’s a progressive step we’re taking to preserve the environment. Producing our own energy will also help us cut costs and expand our North Lawrence operation.”

MFT is one of the few tangible and practical sources of renewable energy in place today for the treatment of high strength wastewater. Organic wastes are broken down by methanogenic bacteria inside large reactors. Plant operators can monitor the bacteria’s appetite and adjust waste input and pH levels accordingly for the most efficient operation. Methane produced by the anaerobic process is captured at the top of each MFT reactor, and delivered to boilers for steam production, or to cogeneration equipment to produce heat and electricity for use inside the plant. The MFT has the ability to become fully self-sustaining and will reduce production costs for CoolBrands as they rely less on traditional energy sources and fossil fuels. In addition, because the MFT treats these problematic waste byproducts, CoolBrands is no longer constrained by its waste management practices, allowing the facility to increase production of yogurt and cottage cheese.

“CoolBrands is the first of three New York State dairy facilities set to install the MFT treatment and renewable energy technology. Others include a major cheese manufacturer and a large dairy cooperative. We expect all three installations to be completed in 2007,” says Diane Creel, CEO of Ecovation. “Once all are fully operational, Ecovation will produce over 2.5 million therms of energy in New York alone.”

Ecovation offers a number of pricing structures and options to make its technology affordable across all industries. Committed to bringing high quality and reliable wastewater treatment systems, Ecovation uses a Project Execution Plan to organize project requirements, work assignments and progress, strategy, team responsibilities, critical decisions and financing. Ecovation is financing the largest implementation of their technology for CoolBrands Dairy, easing the transition between treatments and reducing the manufacturer’s burden of initial capital outlay. Ecovation offers its systems under design-supply, design-build, design-build-operate, and design-build-finance-operate contracts, making for the most adaptable treatment solutions.

Wastewater treatment facilities by Ecovation can be found in wineries, distilleries, soft drink and juice manufacturers, fruit and dairy processing facilities, and chemical processing plants. Boasting several Fortune 500 companies as clients, Ecovation is beginning to illustrate how effective their technologies are at providing return-on-investment and cleaner waste streams to benefit the environment.


September 29, 2006

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