A technology that converts sewage into energy in the form of methane could be rolled out across Bermuda in the next few years if tests prove to be successful.The Biogas Energy Systems (BGE) is planned to be used in a feasibility study carried out by alternative energy company Dragonfly Resource Recovery Inc at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort.If the technology works in Bermuda then the company could launch it throughout a number of residential, commercial and municipal applications on the Island.Dragonfly’s aim is to implement and commission several systems, starting with a suitable test site on the Island.Several private, municipal and educational institutions across North America and Canada utilise similar waste-to-energy systems that have been in operation for a number of years now.Dragonfly director and CEO Mohamed Hamza, who recently returned to Bermuda after a research and business trip to Toronto, believes there are opportunities for numerous new projects which will provide big environmental and economic benefits to the Island.These benefits include the creation of 300 to 500 specialised jobs through the formation of a tertiary industry to international business and tourism in Bermuda over the next 10 years.There is also the scope to produce bioenergy using the technology on the Island.Mr Hamza said: “Basically we could potentially create fuel to help supplement the running of public transport if we implement a larger scale municipal facility.“The uses are limitless and it is completely scalable there’s a real chance for change with the use of this technology.”Dragonfly specialises in supplying affordable energy through utilising its clients’ waste stream that would otherwise be discarded.The company is currently conducting a feasibility study with the Grotto Bay Resort to manage its waste stream using a process that creates power using fuel cells, starting with an analysis of the septic volume to determine the amount of energy that can be produced and calculating the resort’s energy needs.By turning a problem into a solution, the system should provide a payback period that is attractive for the proposed on-site energy production for the resort.The company has teamed up with established architects Stafford Haensli Architects Inc (SHA), who are experts in the study of local sanitary sewer systems and green architecture.The partnership aims to deliver energy and additional revenue streams from the by-products of anaerobic bio digestion, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and agricultural organic fibre, as well as water.The same process of nutrient and gas recycling has been happening in nature for millions of years but has only lately been harnessed by humans.“This capability of the BGE systems to solve a broad local community scale sanitary sewer-related problems and pay back for the investment in the span of eight to 12 years is viewed as an attractive vehicle for retirement fund investors and, therefore, provides the locations with proven BGE systems feasibility with a steady supply of economical investment funds,” said Mr Hamza, who also owns and directs Bermuda Biofilters.“It is both Dragonfly’s and our partner’s main focus to utilise Bermuda as our main beta testing ground as the uncontrolled flow of raw sewage that can potentially cause significant damage to the marine environment and other water resources resulting in environmental stressors.”The identification and definition of sewage sources, segregation and constructive processing of the sewage is the main objective of the partnership.“The resulting segregation of the sewer waste from the ocean and groundwater environments through utilising the BGE systems and advanced waste water treatment essentially deals with the environmental health issues,” said Mr Hamza.“However, it also facilitates production of marketable commodities providing the economical engine for the process. By harvesting all of the marketable by-products the return on the investment has a relatively short lifespan for our investors.”The secondary focus of the sewer segregation is to abate the long-term accumulation of sewage-based nutrients that have saturated sub-grade/sub-sea geological layers, progressively leaching nutrients out into the surrounding aquatic systems.Mr Hamza, who has been talking with the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency about his projects, said that Dragonfly was also working closely with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Studies (BIOS), who monitor sewage contamination using a species of bacteria that is specific to human faeces.BIOS has found the presence of this indicator species in enclosed bays around Bermuda and by providing septic waste disposal that treats the sewage Dragonfly’s system will also offer an environmental benefit to the Island.Matthew Bradfield, who runs the Bioenergy Lab at BIOS, has been in discussions with Mr Hamza on the subject of bioenergy and algal use in the treatment of wastewater. According to Mr Bradfield, the potential market for biofuels is in the billions of dollars and Bermuda is in a prime position to lead the way forward for the next phase of energy generation.The BIOS bioenergy lab already grows several species of local algae for the production of biofuels.Having discussed the idea with Mr Hamza, Mr Bradfield said that the wastewater from the BGE system could be ideal for the cultivation of microbes as an energy source in addition to a range of other high value products.Furthermore, these processes would produce clean, potable water that could be reintroduced to the local water table.Additional research by the BIOS Biofuels Lab in conjunction with Mr Hamza’s team could help the waste-to-energy project reach its environmental and economic targets.But investment and research into the correct culturing and processing technology will be key to the success of this combined endeavour.Mr Hamza believes that the widespread use of such technology in Bermuda would potentially lessen the effects of current waste disposal methods on the local marine habitat and groundwater resources.There is also the opportunity for the treated wastewater to be utilised in groundwater or aquifer recharge, particularly as the quality of the treated effluent is extremely high and the volume is quite constant.Mr Hamza said the next step in the process was to gain a detailed understanding of local and municipal sewage sources in terms of quantities and quality in order to tackle the issues associated with the presence of non-segregated sewage disposal and associated nutrients from local environments.So far, he said that the Corporation of Hamilton had provided his team with information on Hamilton City’s raw wastewater that is discharged at the Seabright Outfall.“Our team is to model and confirm the feasibility of the proposed deployment on all levels of septic waste disposal,” he said.“Once the first data-gathering and modelling is completed our team can proceed to the second step, which is modelling of the composite financial feasibility of the deployment including all stakeholders as either contributors and/or benefactors.“Once the financial feasibility modelling is confirmed, our team can proceed with the third part of the analysis and that is the definition of phasing and scalable deployment.”Once all three parts of the initial study are completed, the team will prepare an introductory biogas report for the specific location outlining all the main feasibilities and allowing the interested stakeholders to undertake their due diligence and state their intended investment involvement.Mr Hamza said that once the teams were ready and the finances in place the supporting engineering/testing reports could be prepared using the findings from the first study to draw up the project construction documents and tendering for the projects.The penultimate stage would involve bridge financing and phased construction, with the modules being brought on line as they are commissioned, followed by the final phase of operation and production.Mr Hamza said that once the company had a better grasp of the project’s parameters, it would be able to prepare a more targeted presentation, including outlining the magnitude of cost and project timing expressed in the relationship of the processed unit of raw sewage (one cubic metre) or unit of produced electricity (kilowatts per hour).“Unlike other methods proposed, our systems are completely scalable as we are hoping to complete projects ranging from large-scale municipal projects to residential retrofits of existing septic systems to produce energy on demand for our customers,” he said.“This technology not only provides an economic action plan but an environmental one as well.“It is important to differentiate from our competitors’ technology as we do not burn or incinerate the waste stream but rather utilise it in a manner that is practically carbon neutral and does not release any other harmful pollutants caused by the process of incineration in to the atmosphere.“The other important point that separates us from other energy producers is that Dragonfly’s business strategy is based on long-term, steady returns, leveraged against the current price of oil and ultimately electricity.“With our profits originating in the form of savings for our clients, we generate a steady, stable platform to grow from as a company.“We at Dragonfly believe that affordable power is the civil right of the population of Bermuda.“Bermuda has one of the most expensive rates for electricity in the world and with the demand for power only increasing we are poised to assist this country’s population with these demands.”“The development of these systems has the potential to help the people, environment and economy of Bermuda in a number of ways and now it is simply a matter of waiting to see if the project gains traction as it moves into the next phase of development.”For more information contact Mo Hamza on 732-8369 or e-mail teamdragonfly2011[AT]gmail.com