On-site innovation and design from Destin Energy are giving the Mars Pet Care U.S. manufacturing plant in Birmingham, Ala. the opportunity to save money earlier as it completes a conversion from natural gas to biomass fuel for steam production. The project includes replacing two gas-fired boilers with a new, single boiler that burns low-cost, wood-based fuel, a move that’s projected to save Mars Pet Care an estimated $300,000 annually in natural gas costs.

          Destin Energy project managers have developed a mobile, trailer-mounted gasifier and boiler that are allowing the facility to begin saving money with biomass fuel sources right now, while the permanent system is being built. The complete portable system includes an adjacent control trailer, live-bottom fuel feeding trailer and infeed and blower systems that are easily configured in a small footprint, allowing uninterrupted construction and ongoing, lower-cost steam production.

          Key to the system is a biomass gasifier that uses gasification technology to fire the temporary boiler by burning organic gases released from a relatively low-temp biomass heating process. The system burns cleaner than traditional single-chamber boiler burners and can handle a wide range of wood-based fuels from 6%-60% moisture content.

The need for such a solution arose due to manufacturing lead time for the permanent boiler system. “Though we developed the portable gasifier solution for this project, we’re able to offer this service to all our natural gas conversion customers,” says Destin Energy Vice President of Finance Brian Roth.

Combining clean-burn technology with a standard multi-cyclone particulate containment device, the portable gasifier system easily meets emissions limits for Jefferson County, which has the strictest pollution regulations in Alabama. Mars Pet Care’s switch to low-cost biomass fuel will consume 14,000 tons of renewable wood-fuel resources annually while reducing fossil fuel usage.

Destin Energy is a Montgomery, Ala.-based energy asset development company that provides self-funding energy cost reduction strategies for businesses, institutions and other organizations seeking to cut energy use and expenses.  On the leading edge of renewable, green energy utilization, Destin Energy offers a full range of services, including development and design, construction, financing and ownership and operation of energy projects. Learn how to save on energy costs through more efficient use of electricity, natural gas and alternative fuels at www.destinenergy.com