Overview
AST is a cleantech company developing a model to operate a new generation of turnkey, scalable, waste management facilities using proven plasma technologies.
CoPeace Areas of Focus
Cleantech innovation
Climate crisis solutions
What investment did CoPeace make in AST?
In March of 2019, CoPeace committed a majority investment in AST as a majority-owned subsidiary.
What does AST do?
AST’s vision is to provide the safest and most cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution for waste processing. Using plasma gasification — a thermal process — to break down hazardous waste, the AST process converts organic material into synthetic gas. This product is used as a raw gaseous or energetic liquid.
What kind of materials does AST treat?
AST safely and effectively treats coal, sludge, incinerator ash, medical waste, paper, cardboard, plastics, fiberglass insulation, asbestos, wood, glass, ceramics, rubber, tires, asphalt shingles, used roadway asphalt, plastic piping, and paints. The AST system can also handle steel beams, rebar, copper piping, steel, aluminum, copper wire, concrete, stone, and bricks.
What happens once those materials are broken down?
The plasma gasification process produces safe solid waste — called slag — that is used as an aggregate for concrete products. Additionally, the process can produce recyclable materials (depending on the nature of the waste stream). It also recycles and produces the gas that powers the plant.
What makes a plasma gasification plant more sustainable than an incineration plant?
In a word, emissions. Incineration technology burns waste to create energy. Plasma technology uses extreme heat to break down the waste to its molecular constituents, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the two building blocks of syngas. Syngas is cleaned up to a specification similar to natural gas. This is then burned in a gas turbine or reciprocating engine to make power. The emissions from a plasma treatment plant are substantially lower than the traditional waste-to-energy industry’s. Using this technology also diverts waste from landfills, where the potent greenhouse gas — methane — is formed.Overall, this project represents a renewable and sustainable clean energy resource.
Safe, solid waste byproduct called slag.
How are our funds making an impact?
CoPeace funds have allowed AST to move forward in developing and testing its solution for a specific hazardous waste which currently has no recycling solution other than burying it into the ground. We’re proud to be making an impact in this cutting-edge technology — and supporting a company that values renewable, sustainable, clean energy.