Case Study - Bottom Ash Processing & Marketing
Problem
A large utility company in the Louisville, KY area was nearing capacity for its ash storage pond. With approximately five years of capacity left in the pond, the utility approached Charah looking for options for handling the bottom ash produced daily at the utility. If a viable solution was not found, the utility would be forced to build a new ash pond or to have the existing ash pond cleaned at a great expense to the station.
Solution
First, Charah evaluated the bottom ash that was produced by this particular utility. Charah’s evaluation showed that this would be an excellent material to be used in the construction industry. Next, Charah conducted market research activities and found that this type of material would be needed in high demand for the next several years in the market area. In order to be a usable product in this market, the bottom ash material would need to be processed to meet the tight specifications for its intended use. After spearheading efforts to get the bottom ash material certified by state and local authorities, Charah installed and operated a processing plant that effectively ensured that the processed bottom ash material would meet the required specifications. Since beginning this project, Charah has been able to market and remove more bottom ash from the site than what the utility has produced in the same time period. The utility has gained storage pond space and has saved tremendously on landfill space without constructing new pond storage.
Case Study - Bottom Ash Processing & Marketing
Problem
A large utility company in the Louisville, KY area was nearing capacity for its ash storage pond. With approximately five years of capacity left in the pond, the utility approached Charah looking for options for handling the bottom ash produced daily at the utility. If a viable solution was not found, the utility would be forced to build a new ash pond or to have the existing ash pond cleaned at a great expense to the station.
Solution
First, Charah evaluated the bottom ash that was produced by this particular utility. Charah’s evaluation showed that this would be an excellent material to be used in the construction industry. Next, Charah conducted market research activities and found that this type of material would be needed in high demand for the next several years in the market area. In order to be a usable product in this market, the bottom ash material would need to be processed to meet the tight specifications for its intended use. After spearheading efforts to get the bottom ash material certified by state and local authorities, Charah installed and operated a processing plant that effectively ensured that the processed bottom ash material would meet the required specifications. Since beginning this project, Charah has been able to market and remove more bottom ash from the site than what the utility has produced in the same time period. The utility has gained storage pond space and has saved tremendously on landfill space without constructing new pond storage.