case studies - Dresser-Rand

CASE STUDIES
PIG MANURE MANAGEMENT
The Spanish swine herd amounts
to more than 25 million head (20%
of the entire EU), and generates
about 50 million cubic meters of
pig manure each year.
Pig manure (slurry) is used to
fertilize crops because it is high in
nutrients. However, the use of the
nitrate-rich manure in certain rural
areas has resulted in soil and water
contamination. Restrictions have
been imposed in areas designated
“vulnerable,” and the slurry must
be treated to prevent negative
environmental impact. Treatment
costs are high and damaging to the
farming economy.
Dresser-Rand developed a
proprietary slurry treatment
technology. This technology uses
an engine-based process to dry the
pig manure, converting it to a dry
WIND ENERGY
Wind energy is currently one of the
most tested and efficient forms
of all renewable energies. It does
fertilizer. It was first used in a slurry
treatment plant in Catalonia, Spain,
which became operational in 1999.
Today, there are six such plants with
approximately 40 Guascor engines
in operation, treating 100,000 cubic
meters of pig manure per year.
Manure is transported to a slurry
treatment plant, and the organic
fraction is transformed into a fertilizer.
This technology is important because
it stops nitrogen compounds
from contaminating the soil and
groundwater and eliminates odors
and methane emissions from the
slurry. In addition, it creates a dry
fertilizer or degradable sludge with
high agronomic value.
Compliance with the strict
environmental criteria has already
allowed the installations to receive
environmental certification
UNE-EN-ISO-14001.
not pollute, it is inexhaustible and it
reduces use of fossil fuels, helping
to reduce carbon emissions.
The electricity produced by a wind
turbine is void of CO2 emissions
(responsible for the greenhouse
effect), and SO2 and NOX emissions
(responsible for acid rain).
Furthermore, and contrary to what
can happen with conventional
energies, wind power produces no
adverse environmental impacts to
ground water and aquifers.
The wind farms maintained by
Dresser-Rand throughout the Iberian
Peninsula generate approximately
1,060 GWh of electricity per year,
which is equivalent to the power
consumption of 235,000 households.
Compared to conventional power
alternatives, these wind farms
produce significantly lower levels
of emissions. On an annual basis,
the reduction in emissions to the
ENVIRONMENT
atmosphere is estimated to be
approximately 636,333 tons of
CO2, 1,410 tons of SO2 and 1,771
tons of NOX. Wind power represents a great
opportunity for local development
in disadvantaged areas because
remote, off-grid areas can gain
access to electricity and land
owners to economic resources.
Dresser-Rand recruits local
personnel to operate and maintain
(O&M) the wind farms, creating jobs
locally.
Dresser-Rand wind O&M technicians
assist with the maintenance of wind
farms in Mexico, Morocco, Egypt,
Dominican Republic and China,
among others. These technicians
work closely with local technicians
on corrective and preventive
maintenance. They also transfer
skills and know-how to increase
local self-reliance.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 31