Business Briefs: desalination, renewable energy, a revolutionary landfill liner, and fuel cells

In this week’s international Business Briefs, the largest seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant in the western hemisphere, a boom for renewable energy companies, a revolutionary self-monitoring landfill liner is launched, and there is a new fuel cell patent.


Trinidad in the Caribbean is now the site of the largest seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant in the western hemisphere, built as a joint venture between Ionics and its local partner, Hafeez Karamath Engineering Services Ltd. The plant will process 109,000 cubic metres of water per day for the Water and Sewerage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago.

In the US, Enstech Inc has launched its new generation of safe landfill containments that can pinpoint leaks in the liner, contain the escaping leachate, and repair the leaks. Enstech CEO, Burt Hampton, has also sent a letter to EPA Administrator Christie Whitman asking for her help in establishing the new system as Best Available Control Technology (BACT).

Meanwhile in Australia, Energetech Australia Pty has announced that three European investment groups have committed to invest US$3.75 million to further the development and commercial application of the company’s proprietary ocean wave-energy technology. The company has also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with BC Hydro in Canada to establish a joint venture for the development of a wave energy demonstration project on Vancouver Island.

Still in the field of renewable energy, Enviro-Energy Corporation has announced its final results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2002. Revenue increased 464.09% in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2001, and totalled US$2,289,676.

Finally, Avista Labs in Spokane, US, has announced that it has been awarded a patent further protecting its claims of modularity in fuel cell system construction. When other fuel cell developers build systems that use fuel cells or balance of plant components in modular configurations they may now require a licensing agreement with Avista.

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