From the Trash Can to the Fuel Tank: A Solution to Europe's Energy Problems

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, November 28 -- Supermarket bags and plastic sheeting, cable sleeves or vehicle components - all materials which can be converted into diesel or heating oil. Instead of being discarded as garbage, such petroleum-based synthetic products can find their way into the fuel tank. This not only contributes towards relieving energy supply shortages, but simultaneously solves a waste disposal problem.

In an era of rising oil prices Switzerland's Biotherm Technologie AG offers a process for producing mineral fuels from waste plastics or waste oil. And it's 25 cents a litre cheaper than current pump prices for diesel - a differential which grows bigger with every rise in the price of oil.

The process was developed by Clyvia Technology GmbH, Germany, and is similar to the cracking of crude oil. At 400(degrees)C it breaks down long hydrocarbon chains, which then vaporize and condense as diesel oil.

Christopher Stampfli, designate CEO of the Schaffhausen company, says of the business model: "This process is attractive not just to public and private waste disposal operators, but many industrial corporations and freight operators can apply it to cut their disposal costs and simultaneously generate energy - either for their own vehicle fleet or to sell at the gas station."

10 million tonnes of plastic waste go unused

Europe produces over 20 million tonnes of plastic waste and 2.5 tonnes of waste oil annually, but currently only half of this is exploited. The rest could be converted into top-quality fuels by the Clyvia process. This would benefit everybody: the plant operator, the environment, and finally drivers and house owners, who can save considerably on their gas or heating bills.

Clyvia Inc

Clyvia Inc. which is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA operates its new energies business through its 100 % participation in the Clyvia Technology GmbH, Wegberg-Wildenrath, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.

Clyvia Technology GmbH produces plants which recuperate diesel/heating oil from organic waste and exploit these substances for further value creation.

The company uses the method of "fractioned depolymerization", which is similar to cracking crude oil. In a thermal treatment process, long hydrocarbon chains are shortened until they are as long as heating oil or diesel. The method was developed and tested at the end of the 1970s and was proved to work even then, although the general conditions at the time were not suitable for profitable operation of the plant. In its own laboratories, Clyvia Technology GmbH has proved that the transformation of used oil, flushing oil and polymers into diesel or heating oil works.

The company's main expertise is in the construction and commissioning of depolymerization plants. The company also offers operator models for these plants. Since the method can be used in any country, plants can be constructed abroad within the context of a licence agreement under the supervision of the on-site licensor.

A pilot system at the headquarters in Wegberg is currently in operation. The Clyvia Technologie GmbH management team has experience in this field, which has been acquired over the past ten years. This experience resulted in a patent, which was granted on 14/9/2006 (No 102005010151).