Renewed World Energies (RWE) has selected Siemens Industry Inc. to automate its new Georgetown County, S.C., facility. Now in the pilot phase of development, the plant converts cultivated algae into oil used in diesel and jet fuels. RWE expects to attain full capacity by the end of 2010.
The control system includes a Simatic S7-300 controller programmed with Simatic process control system software, as well as Siemens Micromaster drives.
RWE President Richard Armstrong says the automation and control system will help the company meet growing national and international demands for alternative fuels. Additionally, RWE is incorporating a process that captures CO2 and nitrous oxide emissions from industrial smokestacks and then recycles the chemicals to enhance the algae growing process.
“RWE’s work transforming algae into diesel and jet fuels is at the leading edge of alternative fuels production technology,” says Rich Chmielewski, Siemens chemical and biofuels marketing manager. “Our partnership will not only help to bring these biofuels to market faster, but will continue to improve the production processes over time for greater efficiencies and impressive return on investment.”
For more information, visit: www.usa.siemens.com/automation.