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Ecologia Cleans Up At Innovation Awards
02 October 2009
The groundbreaking work of Ecologia, the environmental consultancy and contractor based at Kent Science Park, near Sittingbourne, has won the equivalent of the remediation industry’s ‘Oscars’ at a major ceremony in London.
Ecologia won the ‘most innovative’ category at the Brownfield Briefing Remediation Innovation Awards for its radiowave technology developed and piloted in Kent.
The award recognised the development of Ecologia’s decontamination technique, which uses its patented Radio Frequency technology to extract volatile chemicals from contaminated land without the cost of removing the soil to landfill.
The technology works by drilling holes into the contaminated soil and then sinking radio antennae into the narrow shafts. Once in place the antennae send out radio waves to heat the soil and stimulate the contaminants, which rise through the soil. These gases are then removed using specially developed vacuum systems, and before the air is released to the atmosphere it is filtered using activated charcoal.
Ecologia successfully developed the new technique in partnership with Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Germany and trialled it with Total UK at a former petrol station in Manston, near Ramsgate.
Giacomo Maini, Managing Director of Ecologia, said: “Winning the award is great news for the business and we are confident it will help us to win contracts to clean up hundreds of disused petrol stations across the country. Once cleaned these sites, many of which are prime locations, can be profitably redeveloped.
“By treating the contamination on site, rather than effectively sweeping the problem under the carpet by removing the contaminated soil and transporting it to a hazardous waste landfill site, the process is environmentally sustainable.” The technology enables the whole process to be completed in only three months which is much quicker than other commercially available in-situ techniques and creates a clean site for future development or sale. The technology is also commercially competitive compared to the traditional method of removal and transportation due to the recent increases in landfill tax and haulage costs.
Ecologia recently secured planning permission to build a £3m international headquarters building of 2,852m2 (30,700ft2) in size from Swale Borough Council, as part of the Park’s expansion.
James Speck, Site Director at Kent Science Park, said: “The success of Ecologia’s technology epitomises the work of many of the 70 companies at the Park. The team has developed a cost-effective environmental solution to a problem faced by many landowners, in this case a problem which is holding back the ability to redevelop land.”
The award’s ceremony was hosted by Naomi Cleaver, the presenter of popular prime-time television series Grand Designs Trade Secrets and Britain’s Best Home.
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