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About RadGas

ABSL is a UK technology company and project developer dedicated to providing solutions to the challenges of Net Zero in the production of advanced biofuels. RadGas is our proprietary technology.

ABSL owns the RadGas technology which offers a highly efficient, reliable process to convert waste and biomass residues into a synthesis gas free of tars and particulates.

Key challenges in the gasification of waste are:

  • maintaining an even temperature in the gasifier

  • preventing bed agglomeration

  • maintaining conditions that allow tar reformation

  • preventing the build-up of ash that may foul or block equipment

RadGas solves these issues by using a two-stage approach. It combines a conventional gasifier that converts feedstock into a dirty, tar-laden syngas, with a catalytic chamber that breaks down those tars using oxygen free-radicals to catalyse the reformation reactions. The tar-free syngas is then cooled using a waste heat boiler and passed through a filter system to remove any residual particulates.

The RadGas process is omnivorous and will produce a good quality syngas from any biomass waste, fossil waste or biomass feedstock.

The typical scale of a RadGas line is 60MW of thermal input – equivalent to approximately 175,000 tonnes per annum of household waste. Larger demands can be met by multiple lines operating in parallel.

There is a growing demand from governments and consumers for low carbon fuels for heat and transport. RadGas is a key technology in enabling the production of these fuels.

ABSL is developing RadGas plants as owner / operator around the UK, EU and the US and in addition will licence the RadGas technology to third parties.

Advantages of the RadGas Approach

  • It has been demonstrated in pilot plants with more than 3,500 hours of operation
  • The process combines established technologies that are available from large scale, reputable suppliers
  • Tars are reformed into carbon monoxide and hydrogen rather than simply scrubbed from the gas, greatly improving the efficiency of the process

RadGas & Feedstocks

RadGas has been demonstrated to work on the following feedstocks:

  • Dried refuse derived fuel (RDF) produced from household waste in a material recycling facility
  • Dried biomass residues such as corn stover or sugarcane bagasse
  • Shredded wood
  • Auto-shredder residue
  • Tyre crumb
  • Used cooking oil

RadGas versus Incineration

RadGas is a more flexible and environmentally friendly technology for waste processing than incineration. The key differences between RadGas and incineration are:

  • RadGas plants produce fuels as well as electricity. Advanced biofuel plants offer higher revenues than power.
  • RadGas facilities produce no emissions to air. There is no stack, there are no particulate emissions and no dioxins.
  • RadGas plants have minimal visual impact. They are designed to look like a standard industrial unit.
  • RadGas equipment can be fabricated off-site resulting in lower capital costs than incinerators.
  • The RadGas process can produce valuable by-products – recyclates, carbon dioxide and vitrified ash.