Solid Biomass Technology System

Summerhill Biomass Systems plant the seeds of innovation to Syracuse Tech Garden.
Summerhill, is named after the Cayuga County community where the technology is developed, has been pending patents worldwide in systems for the grinding of wood, brush, corn and other crops and turn waste into heat powder.

Dr. James T. McKnight, Summerhill president and co-founder, said he was eager to prove that this solid form of renewable energy is more efficient than ethanol and other types of biomass produced in the world. Central New York will be one of the first witnesses locally produced energy system that has global potential. “Photosynthesis as biomass is the most efficient way to store solar energy, and the excess amount will be saved in this way all the time. Summerhill only provide the most efficient way to use the stored solar energy is” said McKnight, who helped develop products for DuPont and Johnson & Johnson as an organic chemist before the founding of Summerhill with son Kim and Steven in the year 2006. “Conversely, when you grow corn, 95 percent of what you grow (stem) is futile. Then you take the corn down, and it was expensive to convert into ethanol.”

“The consistency of the middle of baking powder and flour confectionery sugar,” added Summerhill Co-Founder Kim McKnight. “The way it burns, we pretend that the gas, without it really becomes a gas.”

Lee McKnight, and James’ son, serving on the board of directors and Summerhill in the hands of an exhibition to display the company’s technology. In previous work with the Wireless Grids Corp., Lee McKnight creates software that allows users to grid with computers, MP3 players, printers and mobile phones so that these devices can share files and hardware in a network. The software will be considered for control of biomass energy in the Urban Farm / Greenhouses, by the SEED project which includes WGC and Summerhill with other innovative businesses in the Syracuse area, to benefit the community, businesses, and students through learning experiences. “Innovative technology for real or virtual my family affairs,” iSchool Associate Professor Lee McKnight said. “I am very proud of the work my father and brothers and sisters have done in the field of renewable energy. I hope people agree with me that Summerhill has tremendous potential.”

“Through SEED, Lee McKnight and his team explore the border where the green and meet information technology,” said Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “Both of their innovation and entrepreneurial spirit they really resonate with longstanding strength Syracuse University and Central New York. In a real sense, then, SEED connects past, present, and future.”

Syracuse University iSchool Dean Elizabeth D. Liddy added, “SEED project shows the new possibilities created through cross-disciplinary work,” said Syracuse University iSchool Dean Elizabeth D. Liddy. “Only through such innovative projects that researchers would have thought to use the wireless grid technologies and agricultural waste corn to improve the lives of the urban population of the city of Syracuse through the greenhouse.”

Dr. James McKnight said the powder would be cheaper than heating oil, including shipping. This can also be used for commercial or institutional heating greenhouses, or in the bin for dry grain farming. Summerhill will be equipped to retrofit the system in your home or business use heating oil or propane.

This concept is on display Thursday, October 15, at Syracuse Tech Garden Fall Tech Expo. Several other companies have booths on display their new innovations, too.

Dr McKnight deliver the technology last year at the World Bank Symposium on Alternative Fuels. Powder burns between 5/100ths and 1/10th seconds, and does not emit smoke or even 1 million BTUs. Summerhill have obtained $ 75,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Agreement # 10,826 for the feasibility study and is currently seeking additional accredited investors. The company is also fighting for the state and federal grants. Funding will be used to further develop the technology McKnight family to the point where can be sold to residential and commercial customers throughout the northeast and beyond. SUNY ESF and Cornell University is a partner in exploring the concept.

“We feel there will be support for this because, with this system, you do not use land cultivation. You’re not using fertilizer. Instead, you use the remaining wood and brush, which potentially cause a fire. We intercepted the process of decay,” Dr. James T. McKnight said.