Terragon Environmental Technologies is an award-winning cleantech company innovating sustainable solutions for on-site reuse and conversion of resources otherwise considered waste. Terragon provides the opportunity to convert discarded materials into energy through its MAGS technology, and wastewater into reusable water through its WETT technology.
Unlike conventional waste management methods, Terragon offers an innovative on-site and cost-effective approach to clean energy, reusable water, and waste management. MAGS and WETT enable any habitat, including ships, hospitals and factories, to use byproducts on-site with significant environmental benefits as well as zero-waste and wastewater generation. In this way, Terragon enables Total Resource Utilization (TRU) operations and Zero-Discharge Habitats.
Interview with Dr. Peter Tsantrizos, CEO & President & Cynthia Ayoub, Director of Marketing Strategy at Terragon Environmental Technologies inc.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Peter Tsantrizos & Cynthia Ayoub: Terragon offers technologies and solutions related to clean energy generation, waste management, and wastewater treatment to four main markets:
- Marine market
- Military and security market
- Infectious and hazardous waste market
- Remote habitats and eco-tourism
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
P.T & C.A: Our team has developed unique patented solutions for both solid and liquid waste. Our commercial products include energy and water technologies.
Commercial Energy Product: MAGS is the world’s first commercial appliance certified as a boiler that can use waste as its fuel to produce thermal energy.
Commercial Water Products: WETT products are the most advanced, robust and reliable wastewater treatment systems. WETT-O offers the world’s most effective treatment of oily water. WETT-G enables the reuse of greywater for utilities. WETT-S cleans highly contaminated sewage water to be used for irrigation.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
P.T & C.A: Our team has been busy expanding the capacity of our current products and developing new products, all focused on the on-site conversion of by-products to resources. Here are some of our upcoming products, mainly under development or in prototype stage:
- IMAGS & MAGSV9 are clean appliances which convert most waste including infectious waste to thermal energy and biochar.
- LEAP converts either waste or biomass to a clean gaseous fuel for all the energy needs of a building or a farm.
- MEG converts over 150 kg/h of plastics to 500 kW of electricity & 800 kW of heat.
- TAMAQUA provides potable water from contaminated groundwater.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
P.T & C.A: We are active in four main markets, with the marine industry being our most important market in terms of installations and leadership. We have more than 30,000 cumulative operating hours on ships and multiple repeat clients representing over 70% of the cruise ship industry.
Terragon – and MAGS in particular – is leading the marine industry to new environmental standards. We are recognized globally as the technology leader in marine environmental protection, addressing the needs of 300+ cruise ships, 70,000+ commercial ships, and 2,000+ military and coast guard vessels. A big regulatory change is on the horizon with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). IMO is adopting new rules for thermal waste treatment devices (TWTD) which will meet EU emission regulations. The updated TWTD Guidelines represent an important step toward cleaner shipping operations and Terragon is proud to play a role in this sustainability transition. Today, only MAGS meets the new IMO standard.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
P.T & C.A: The marine market is heading towards cleaner operations. Many cruise ships spend 80% of their time in ports and they need waste management technologies that are clean enough to meet land-based regulations and be allowed to operate in ports. Our products – MAGS, WETT-O and WETT-S – solve the upcoming regulatory and operations challenges and improve the marine market environmental impact.
In the military and security market, our compact, durable, safe and efficient technologies reduce the operational needs of a camp in critical areas, such as water, energy, and waste management. MAGS is the preferred solution for eliminating garbage burn pits used by both the military and remote communities with disastrous consequences to people’s health.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
P.T & C.A: All of our products are innovative, patented and have received numerous prizes and awards. Whether it being waste-to-energy technologies or wastewater treatment solutions, our team has developed proven, world-class appliances that beat the competition in innovation as well as performance.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the rest of 2023?
P.T & C.A: 2023 has brought us its set of challenges and wins. In Q4, we are expecting keys contracts, new installations and probably some big news in the horizon. In August 2023, Terragon was one of three finalists competing in the Pop-Up City Contest. The winner will be announced in October 2023.