LISBON, Portugal -- Honeywell (NYSE:HON) announced that its process control technology was selected by Valorly, a division of the French utility Suez Environnement, to help increase the amount of thermal and electrical energy Valorly generates from residential waste. The resulting renewable energy will help meet 2020 European Union (EU) commitments for heat and transport sector requirements. The project involves the migration of Valorly's existing process control system to Honeywell's Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) and will be undertaken at Valorly's Rillieux-la-Pape production plant.
Renewable energy is now high on the European agenda, with the EU's call for 20% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020. The EU has put the spotlight on technology as a means to encourage innovation and create a competitive edge in clean energy and industrial technologies. At the same time, it believes energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy can be profitable investments[i]. Organizations such as Valorly are mobilizing accordingly. According to Frost & Sullivan, Europe now has the largest waste-to-energy market in the world with 429 plants earning revenue of €3.10 billion (2008)[ii].
Honeywell's Experion will be used to control Valorly's incineration system, which transforms waste into both thermal and electrical energy. Incinerating 150,000 tons (2300 kcal/kg for calorific value) per year generates 36,000 MWh of electrical power—enough to supply 16,500 homes; and 94,000 MWh of thermal power—enough for the equivalent of 30,000 inhabitants. Experion will streamline production through the unification of processes, production and business management. The system ties together critical subsystems, including process units and safety systems and delivers relevant information directly to operators for improved decision making in the control room. Experion's flexibility allows operators to modify the system according to process requirements, which enables continuous improvement in overall production efficiency. Honeywell will also provide a five-year service and support package.
"The Honeywell proposition was the ideal solution to the slow performance and instability of our previous process control system but without the need for total re-engineering," said Gérard Pouget, plant director, Valorly. "Experion should make our operations much more efficient overall and is flexible enough to allow periodic technology migrations, which we could not do before. We were also reassured by Honeywell's comprehensive maintenance package which will help safeguard our investment."
"The Valorly plant is a great example of how companies in Europe can meet stringent environmental regulations by generating renewable energy," said Chris Dartnell, regional general manager for Southern Europe, Honeywell Process Solutions. "With the installation of Experion, Valorly can turn waste into a valuable commodity and use it to produce electricity, heat and transportation fuels. We are pleased that Experion can help companies become more energy efficient."
About Honeywell
Honeywell International is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. Honeywell Process Solutions is part of Honeywell's Automation and Control Solutions group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry.