VIASPACE Inc. (OTC: VSPC) announced that VIASPACE has been engaged by Clean Energy Solutions Pacific (CES) to provide engineering and design work for a 2 MW biogas power plant fueled by Giant King Grass. CES, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is an independent power producer focused on developing power for frontier and emerging markets. CES has extensive experience in project development and management, engineering and construction of power plants.
The CES project located in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is to own and operate a biogas power plant and Giant King Grass plantation that delivers reliable, 24/7 electricity to the grid to meet the customer demand profile, under a power purchase agreement from the government electricity company.
Previously, CES contracted with VIASPACE for an operations plan including the Giant King Grass plantation. VIASPACE’s current assignment with CES is to produce a design of the entire biogas power plant including Giant King Grass receiving areas, grass storage, fuel feeding, primary and secondary anaerobic digesters, biogas treatment and storage, engine/generators, control equipment and output transformers to the grid. VIASPACE is involved with the selection of equipment suppliers, and providing required specifications and quantities of materials for the project. VIASPACE is also providing operations, maintenance, and staffing requirements.
VIASPACE CEO Dr. Carl Kukkonen stated, “VIASPACE can provide complete turnkey solutions to customers including the Giant King Grass plantation and the power plant. Our project in Nicaragua is 12 MW and utilizes direct combustion of the Giant King Grass to produce electricity. For smaller applications such as for CES, anaerobic digestion of the Giant King Grass to produce methane rich biogas that fuels an engine that turns a generator to produce electricity is the right solution. We are pleased to be supporting Clean Energy Solutions Pacific. Their project development, construction and operations expertise, and on the ground presence in PNG, combined with our specific technical expertise and Giant King Grass make a complete team.”
CES Chief Operations Officer McCabe Cox reports, “Our biogas power plant will provide badly needed base load power for a remote area in Papua New Guinea. It is a clean and renewable alternative to oil-based electricity, and the power plant and Giant King Grass plantation provide needed jobs. We have been working with VIASPACE on the project for more than one year. It makes sense to have our fuel supplier also involved in the design, engineering, and equipment selection for our power plant. Having VIASPACE providing this service for our company has proven to be very efficient, practical, and cost effective.”
VIASPACE Chairman, Dr. Kevin Schewe, commented, “Our project with CES in Papua New Guinea has taken more than a year to materialize. We are pleased to announce that we are now moving forward and playing a key supporting role. This project demonstrates how using Giant King Grass for anaerobic digestion can provide clean, renewable electricity for tropical island locations anywhere there is a need for electricity and a desire not to depend on fossil fuels for power production. In addition, the byproduct of the anaerobic digestion process is organic fertilizer to support local agriculture and the Giant King Grass plantation creates local agriculture jobs/employment. We look forward to working with CES to make this project successful.”
VIASPACE grows renewable Giant King® Grass as a low-carbon fuel for clean electricity generation; for environmentally friendly energy pellets; and as a feedstock for bio-methane production and for green cellulosic biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. Giant King® Grass is a proprietary, high yield, dedicated biomass energy crop. Giant King® Grass when it is cut frequently at 4 to 5 feet tall is also excellent animal feed. The USDA granted approval for planting Giant King® Grass throughout the US and cooperates in exporting by performing the required inspections and issuing the phytosanitary certificate needed for import into foreign countries. Giant King® Grass is being grown in California, Hawaii, St. Croix Virgin Islands, Nicaragua, South Africa, China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines and Guyana.
CES is an energy development company which specializes in all aspects of energy development. Members of CES have a combined work experience of over 110 years and have been involved in over $20 billion worth of energy development projects as a combined group. Members of the CES team are known as some of the best experts in their related fields and have impressive track records in developing energy resources. CES development work includes environmental permitting, civil engineering, project management, power purchase agreements and project finance.
