Editor’s note: Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) is a thermal depolymerization process used to convert wet biomass into crude-like oil–sometimes referred to as bio-oil or biocrude–under moderate temperature and high pressure. The photo, courtesy of WE&RF was published in ScienceDaily. The news source stated, “Biocrude oil, produced from waste water treatment sludge, looks and performs virtually like fossil petroleum.”
Plans are shaping up for a Hydrothermal Liquefaction business to locate in Rock Falls, IL. Green Vision, LLC, presented a glimpse of their plans at the Tuesday, January 24, 2017, City of Rock Falls Committee of the Whole meeting. Mayor Bill Wescott introduced representatives from Green Vision International. He explained, “We’ve got our friends from Green Vision International here tonight, to share with us their plans for a solid waste conversion project, that will bring a sustainable, job-creating business that will help the region solve the problem of handling our bio-waste, produce energy, and help establish our region as a front runner in sustainable and renewable energy projects, and Rock Falls as the front door.”
Green Vision’s COO, Don McFarland, shared a…PowerPoint presentation reviewing…the science behind the Hydrothermal Liquefaction process. [It] will be used to convert bio-mass into bio-crude and various by-products that will be available for sale. “Hydrothermal Liquefaction is the same process that occurs in nature and created the oil beneath the earth’s surface. We’re going to be able to do it here in Rock Falls–above ground and faster–using bio-mass waste products from the City’s Wastewater facility and other sources in the region. We’ll create bio-crude from the input, along with sterile water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and CO2. Those outputs will also be used for algae cultivation for use in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and energy.”
McFarland commented that the plant would involve a $13 million investment, create 108 jobs averaging wages of $42,000 per year, and produce revenues of over $40 million a year.
Mayor Wescott noted, “Rock Falls is a perfect location for Green Vision International. It has the raw materials needed, access to transportation, available land for the facility, and a workforce. In addition to the jobs at the plant, other jobs would be created in the region, including logistics, refining, and processing the raw materials produced at the plant. We welcome this opportunity to bring a ’21st Century Economy business’ to the region.”
Whiteside County Economic Development Director Gary Camarano added, “The City of Rock Falls is moving ahead on so many fronts–the Riverfront Front Revitalization Project, retail recruitment, becoming a ‘Gigabit’ community, and now bringing a cutting-edge sustainable, renewable energy business into the fold. They are making Rock Falls a community that will give talented young people a reason to come and stay.”
The City and Green Vision are preparing to take next steps and move the project along to completion.