Projects
Our Current Projects Around the Globe: Preventing Further Toxic CO2 Emissions
Technology Background
Preventing toxic emissions and reducing CO2, 5 Element Energy and Environmental systems is a developer and integrator of technologies and projects that take plant-based waste or trash, captures and converts them before they are sent to landfilled. These materials which make up a major share of municipal land fill waste are converted using the 5E Sun to SAF process into Green Diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel which has a carbon neutral footprint when used. Trash, like waste paper, waste cardboard, green waste, food production waste, shells and hulls, tree and lawn trimmings, old pallets, old timber and nearly every other waste stream that was once part of plant matter can be used to make green fuels and diverted from landfill with biproducts being very clean water and zero soot, SOx and NOx emissions.
The process starts with a sorting facility where usable plant material is separated from stuff that can’t be used. This is usually done at or near a landfill facility. Materials that were previously going to landfill can then be sorted and then only unusable waste continues to the land fill.
The waste plant-based materials are then packed into pellets or billets. These are then fed into long heating pipes that are heated by concentrated sunlight to extremely hot temperatures. This causes the materials to break down from molecules into separate atoms. The atoms are then reassembled using an old and well-known technology and become green diesel and kerosine, the basis for jet fuel. and cooling these processes lets us make steam to generate sustainable power.
Ideal Site Characterisitcs
The Ideal Sun-to-SAF facility location is located close to the “raw material source”. This means they are typically located by or on a route to a municipal landfill or recycling center.
- The site should have access to 20,000 tons of paper/cardboard/green waste or other formerly plant material a year minimum. This may be made up of local municipal waste supplemented by truck or rail delivered shells/pods/chaff/hay or other agricultural or food processing drop materials.
- Located in a County or geographical area with a population greater than 50,000 people.
- Ideally the location is close to rail spur access for receiving biomaterials such as rice hulls or soybean shells by hopper car to make up for low trash material days. And the site ideally has rail access for shipping green diesel or jet fuel by rail tanker.
- Relatively close access to interstate or major throughfares.
- Ideally located within an hour of an international airport with Nonstop flights to Europe or near a US Airforce base.
- Sun-to-SAF sites need a minimum of 50 acres, and for larger sites several times that in a relatively flat full sun location. Ideally Cost of land is lower. Land owned by a county or city for tax default may be ideal, or older agricultural land often works well.
Current Selected Project Areas
Utah North Box Elder
Tremonton Sun-To-SAF Facility
Details
Combined Land Area Facility: 206 acres
Area Served: Box Elder, Weber, Davis, and Cache Counties
Population Basis: 842,561
SAF Customers: Salt Lake International Delta Nonstop Flights to Europe (70 miles), Hill Airforce Base (38.5 miles), Green Diesel by Rail to California
Output Targets: 20,000 tons of product per year 1st Phase, 3x in 2nd Phase
Project Development Status: Sites selected, contract in development, technology selected, contractor initial estimates received, source of materials identified and supply prices set. Working with county on next steps and contracts. In discussions with Inland Port Authority for construction of transloading facilities.
Background and Backstory
After meeting with the Utah Division of Waste Management and presenting the Sun to SAF facility concept, they recommended meeting with Integrated Waste management in Layton. The 5E team did meet with the facility and operations manager and toured this first-class facility. It was originally built to take municipal solid waste and sort it into its distinct types of materials.
We discussed getting the paper cardboard cubes they pack the material into as feed stock for the 5E Sun to SAF and began looking at adjacent land as a possible site for our facility. What we discovered was that the adjacent land was both extremely expensive and very restricted.
Our team started looking West and North and after chasing down several leads we found the properties we are developing in Box Elder County near Tremonton. Ideally located on the main truck route to the Box Elder Landfill, the facility will handle 20,000 tons of plant-based waste a year and produce and convert most of that weight into sustainable aviation fuel and green diesel. With room for expansion the facility could double or triple in size and capacity in coming years.
This site is a candidate for diverting landfill from Logan Valley as well as Ogden and even Layton, the site would benefit communities by reducing the cost of garbage pickup through reducing tipping fees at the landfill and even providing the service providers with payment for delivering to the 5E facility. This in turn reduces the pressure on the cities to raise waste disposal fees. In addition, the project slows the filling of local landfills preserving surrounding areas from being consumed by growing landfills.
While this facility will directly serve the residents of Box Elder County, (population 62,000), it will also draw raw materials from the much larger Weber County, (population 270,000), Cache County (142,000) and Davis County (population 370,000). It will supply SAF to Salt Lake International Airport with multiple international flights to Europe daily as well as to Hill Airforce Base.
Utah Weber Site
West Weber Sun-To-SAF Facility
Details
Combined Land Area Facility: 100 acres
Area Served: Weber and Davis Counties
Population Basis: 271,926
SAF Customers: Salt Lake International Delta Nonstop Flights to Europe (43 miles), Hill Air Force Base (16.3 miles), Green Diesel by Rail to California and Canada
Output Targets: 20,000 tons of product per year 1st Phase, 3x in 2nd Phase
Project Development Status: Sites selected, contract in development, technology selected, contractor initial estimates received, source of materials identified and supply prices set. Working on funding stack and contracts. In discussions with Inland Port Authority for construction of transloading facilities
Background and Backstory
The West Weber facility serves one of the three largest populations in the state of Utah, and is very close to a proposed port authority rail transload facility. It is only a few miles from projected 20,000 plus home developments in West Weber which the county plans to run all municipal and green waste for these new developments to the facility. The land for this facility is currently privately held and the owner wants to use it as a legacy project
Utah Salt Lake Site
Grantsville Sun-To-SAF Facility
Details
Combined Land Area Facility: 100 acres
Area Served: Tooele and Salt Lake Counties
Population Basis: 1,298,325
SAF Customers: Salt Lake International Delta Nonstop Flights to Europe (31.5 miles), Hill Air Force Base (59.1 miles), Green Diesel by Rail to California and Canada
Output Targets: 20,000 tons of product per year 1st Phase, 3x in 2nd Phase
Project Development Status: Sites selected, contract in development, technology selected, contractor initial estimates received, source of materials identified and supply prices set. Working on funding stack and contracts. In discussions with Inland Port Authority for construction of transloading facilities.
Background and Backstory
The Grantsville site will be a cornerstone piece of the Grantsville Industrial Park. Also located adjacent to the new Port Authority Rail Transload site, we are pleased to have commitments from the largest Salt Lake Area recycler for shredded paper which is currently going to land fill in larger quantities than needed in Phase 1. The land owner is pushing hard to have this be the first Sun to SAF facility completed. It located very close to Salt Lake International.
Central Utah Site
Cedar City Sun-to-SAF Facility
Details
Combined Land Area Facility: 100 acres
Area Served: Iron County, Garfield, Piute County Bever County
Population Basis: 78,308
SAF Customers: Las Vegas International with many International Flights (178 miles), Nellis Airforce Base (162 miles), Green Diesel by Rail to California
Output Targets: 20,000 tons of product per year 1st Phase, 1.5 x in 2nd Phase
Project Development Status: Sites under consideration, contract in development, technology selected, contractor initial estimates received, source of materials identified and prices to be negotiated. Discussions with mayor and land developers. Discussions with Inland Port Authority.
Background and Backstory
In meetings with the Cedar City Mayor and some of the land developers in Cedar City, it was realized that Iron County and particularly the Cedar City area has both the population loading, solar profiles, space and rail access to create a highly functional Sun to SAF facility. While not immediately adjacent to an international airport with international flights to Europe, Cedar City is located between the Salt Lake International and the Las Vegas International Airport both of with have numerous nonstops into Europe and elsewhere.
Centrally located in Utah and considered the gateway to five extraordinary national parks as well as the Utah Shakespearean Festival, the 5E Cedar City Sun to SAF site is a great location to show off the environmentally friendly technology to national and international visitors. Approximately 10 million visitors annually pass through this part of Utah on their way to the national and state parks. Cedar City is a world class crossroads and an ideal place to demonstrate the advantages of Sun to SAF, creating hope for a brighter future for and across the planet.
Arizona Site
Arizona Sun-To-SAF Facility
Details
Combined Land Area Facility: 100 acres Phase 1
Area Served: Maricopa County
Population Basis: 4.4 million plus
SAF Customers: More than 4 major airports and nearly 20 minor airports.
Output Targets: 120,000 tons of product per year at completion of all facility phases
Project Development Status: Multiple Sites under consideration, technology selected, contractor initial estimates received, working on sources of materials and prices to be negotiated. Discussions with business and political leaders initiated.
Background and Backstory
Sites around Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe are inconsideration for the Pheonix Sun to SAF facility. Several sites have been identified as strong possibilities, including a potential joint venture with the Salt River Tribal Authority. The Maricopa County of Arizona has a significant population base and three major airports with international flights plus many more potential customers. With no shortage of sun or waste material feed stocks, this area of Arizona has been selected by the 5E team as a site development area.
Las Vegas Site
Las Vegas Sun-To-SAF Facility
Details
Combined Land Area Facility: 100 acres Phase 1
Area Served: Clark County
Population Basis: 2.2 million plus
SAF Customers: Major International airport with approximately 500 jets landing daily
Output Targets: 120,000 tons of product per year at completion of all facility phases
Project Development Status: Site search initiated, technology selected, contractor initial estimates received, working on sources of materials and prices to be negotiated. Discussions with business and political leaders to be initiated.
Background and Backstory
Las Vegas International is one of the busiest airports in the mountain west with many international flights daily. It is also in a sunbaked major basin ideal for Sun-to-SAF. Clark county has a population of over $2 million plus visitors of over 120,000 per day, or 40.8 million per year, producing a significant amount of trash. The potential demand and consumption of SAF by the Las Vegas International Airport is significant and can easily consume all of the SAF produced in Cedar City, St George and Las Vegas without any lack of demand.
Supreme Louisiana Site
Louisiana Sun-to-SAF Facility
Details
Combined Land Area Facility: 50 acres Phase 1
Area Served: Assumption Parish and New Orleans
Population Basis: 20,000 in Assumption
SAF Customers: Major International airport with approximately 300 jets landing daily
Output Targets: 20,000 tons of product per year at completion of facility
Project Development Status: Site is owned, technology is being selected, contractor initial estimates received, sources of plant materials and prices are known. Discussions with business leaders and political leaders are ongoing.
Background and Backstory
Louisiana actually has a similar number of sun days to Utah with roughly the same solar intensity. The Supreme Sun-to-SAF facility actually uses processed plant waste as the feed stock rather than municipal waste, and will create a significant boon to this struggling agricultural area. An hour from a major international airport, the Louis Armstong New Orleans about 60 miles as well as several large regional airports, the Supreme facility is well positioned to provide SAF to international flights. The facility is located in Assumption Parish.
Bay City Site
Bay City Texas Sun-to-SAF Facility
Details
Current Land Area for Facility: 30 acres plus buildings
Area Served: Matagorda County Texas
Population Basis: 36,000 in Matagorda County
SAF Customers: Has three of the largest airports in the US, Dallas Fort Worth, Bush, Houston, and can even supply the Atlanta Hartford Airport, the busiest international airport in the US. Has direct rail siding access an will be able to ship SAF by tank car
Output Targets: 20,000 tons of product per year at retrofit of existing facility
Project Development Status: Site is owned, technology is being selected, contractor initial estimates received, sources of plant materials and prices are known. Discussions on proposals with business leaders are active and actively seeking funding for this facility upgrade.
Background and Backstory
The Bay City Texas site is co-located with an existing facility that has not yet come online. The facility already has several of the key technology elements of a successful Sun to SAF process already built into the facility. This Sun to SAF facility will process post processed food shells as the source of plant fiber for creating Green Diesel and SAF. It has direct rail siding access and will be able to ship by tank car SAF to three of the largest airports in the US, Dallas Fort Worth, Bush Houston and even suppling the Atlanta Hartford Airport, the busiest international airport in the US, is possible from this facility.
Puerto Rico Site
Puerto Rico Sun-to-SAF Facility
Details
Current Land Area for Facility: 30 acres
Area Served: Puerto Rico especially San Jaun
Population Basis: 3.2 million
SAF Customers: 15 minutes from port for shipping SAF and Green Diesel internationally.
Output Targets: 20,000 tons of product per year at completion of phase 1 and 80,000 tons per year at completion of phase 2.
Project Development Status: Site is owned, technology is being selected, contractor initial estimates received, sources of waste materials and prices are known. Discussions on proposals with business leaders who are active and actively seeking funding for this facility.
Background and Backstory
As an island, Puerto Rico has a challenge with both trash disposal and keeping a positive trade deficit. One of the key contributors to negative trade is the cost of fuel. Fuel for not only cars, trucks ships and jets, but fuel for making electricity. Almost all electricity in the Caribbean is generated by diesel generators or fuel oil boilers. A 5E Sun-to-SAF facility could make a major difference in balancing this deficit. Rather than landfilling green waste, cardboard and paper, a Sun-to-SAF facility could convert this into fuel. This reduces the need for imported fuel, thus preserving not only the environment but also island economics. The 5E team has been working with a development team in PR for more than a year to develop a site there for Sun-to-SAF.