ZooShare generates 500 kW of electricity using a containerized combined heat and power (CHP) system. Photo: W. Schroder. but for a different reason. ZooShare’s digester includes contaminant removal systems to sort out things like plastic or – believe it or not – bones and other mate-rials which tend to build up in the digester over time or can end up in the digestate. “This way we don’t end up reducing the available capacity of our digestion tanks with a build-up of contaminants.” The pandemic definitely impacted ZooShare’s operations, but perhaps not in the way you would think. Because the biogas plant relies heavily on commer-cial food waste, all the lockdowns and restrictions on restaurants, conferences, event venues, etc., severely curtailed ZooShare’s anticipated feedstock. “We were negotiating with one waste management company for 10,000 tonnes of food waste per year – about two-thirds of our food waste needs,” Bida recalls. “By the time we got to signing a contract, we were in the middle of the pandemic, and they could only contractually commit to 1,500 tonnes per year.” “I think a lot of what I’m saying here is not unusual for a new biogas plant,” Bida muses. “None of what actually happened over the first six months of operation sur -prises me in the least; every new opera-tion goes through some challenges.” CROSSING THE FINISH LINE Despite the challenges – alongside a very steep learning curve – Bida is very proud of the Toronto Zoo Biogas Project. “We faced a number of delays and an almost endless number of challenges; so I took the lumps, because I really wanted to cross the finish line,” says Bida, who con -tinues to pursue projects that can integrate as much local waste and local capital as possible, so that the overall impact of the project – environmentally and economi-cally – can be maximized. “At the end of the day, it’s very gratify-ing to envision something, put it on your back and cross the finish line with it. Yes, it can be tiring and stressful. And certainly I didn’t count on it taking 10 years!” • Your Solution for Bulk Material Handling. Pellets Woodchips Biomass TRUCK DUMPERS TRAILER TIPPERS RECEIVING HOPPERS airoflex.com [email protected] 563-264-8066 Canadian BIOMASS CB_Hoffman_Spring22_CSA.indd 1 2022-04-14 3:15 PM 21
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