Waste to Energy Systems is proud to be featured in the Fall 2026 issue of the 10/12 Industry Report. In "The long game for Louisiana energy," writer Sam Barnes highlights how the Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL) program is turning local strengths into new clean technologies, featuring our team in Tickfaw as a prime example.
From a pile of sawdust to a gasification system
Our story began at Albany Woodworks, where founder Richard Woods remills reclaimed heart pine and cypress. Like any sawmill, the operation produced an endless pile of sawdust.
Looking for a sustainable solution, Richard built a small gasification system in 2010. Years of refinement led to our patented bioHearth® downdraft gasification system, which converts organic waste into clean heat and power in a single step: turning local waste into daily fuel.
Taking hydrogen from the lab to the real world
Earlier this year, we received a $200,000 FUEL proof-of-concept award to move our gasification technology from R&D into commercial application.
The objective is straightforward: extract hydrogen directly from biomass producer gas. As COO Alissa Woods Mahoney noted, deriving hydrogen from organic waste avoids consuming precious natural resources like water or natural gas.
More than funding: building a Louisiana energy ecosystem
FUEL's support extends beyond financial awards. Through connections with StartUP Northshore and Scale Up! Louisiana, we've strengthened our business development and strategic growth.
We're part of a growing cohort of 14 early-stage companies receiving $1.2 million collectively from FUEL to bridge the gap between research and market deployment in carbon management and renewable energy.
By pairing emerging tech with major industrial hubs like the Cornerstone Energy Park in Waggaman, FUEL is helping build a commercial energy ecosystem rooted directly in Louisiana's industrial assets.
The long game for Louisiana energy
You can read the full feature, "The long game for Louisiana energy," on pages 85–89 of the 10/12 Industry Report Fall 2026 issue.
We are grateful to the 10/12 Industry Report and Sam Barnes for telling our story, to the FUEL program and the NSF for their continued support, and to our mentors and partners at StartUP Northshore and Scale Up! Louisiana.
From a pile of sawdust to clean hydrogen — and we're just getting started.
BY ALISSA WOODS & JESSY ALFARO / OCT 28, 2026