Critics reproach Osnabrück Pieswerk pyrolysis project
Environmentalists have criticized Osnabrück's plans for a city pyrolysis plant. The tire pyrolysis facility would assist the city in removing old tires while also producing energy and raw materials for resale. However, the plans for the Pieswerk project are being challenged by a ProPye group.
They claim that the truth about the project is not being communicated. They cast doubt on the assertion that the method produces no CO2 and fear that it would emit harmful gases. They also doubt the resale value of the products manufactured, such as tire pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black.
"We were initially assured that the facility had no chimney," the ProPye project complained. However, it was later discovered that the gas generated during pyrolysis was to be burned in order to generate ener-gy. According to the city, energy generation emits approximately 11,000 tons of CO2 per year.
"We are concerned that the gas combustion could cause hazardous compounds and heavy metals to es-cape into the environment," says Silke Kellermann of ProPye in an interview with Hasepost.
Kellermann claims that the pyrolysis plant is a high-risk venture for the municipal utility: "The municipal utility obviously wants to build the plant because they are financially bankrupt." However, it is a novel plant with a lot of unknowns.
"The public utilities want to spend roughly 35 million euros without knowing if the work is worthwhile." The goal is to make money by selling "carbon black," although it's unknown whether the carbon black produced in the Pieswerk will be of sufficient quality to sell."
Munich, Karlsruhe, Miltzow, and Hoyerswerda were among the plants that failed. Stadtwerke Osnabrück would be responsible for a major portion of the financial risk. "ProPye would welcome an independent examination by external advisors," Kellermann says. Instead of having an open conversation with the city council and the public, they try to make up facts.
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