Pilot for 100% self-sustaining processing of wet biomass at high temperature and pressure into fuel gas, clean water and phosphate rich nutrients
A consortium of partners has investigated for the last 10 years the efficient and sustainable reforming (=transformation) of wet biomass into a rich fuel gas (H2, CH4), “clean” water and phosphate rich nutrients. A variety of wet biomass has been tested: sewage sludge, cattle manure, digester residue, grass and laundry process water. The current pilot is operated at high temperature and pressure and tested, the technology is demonstrated and proven. Commercial introduction is expected within 2 years after finalizing research and implementation program.
The capacity of the pilot is 200 liter slurry per hour with 3-5% dry organic mass. This is equivalent with 6.000 liter fuel gas per hour.
The next step is to build a 1.000 liter installation that can produce 30 m3 fuel gas per hour together with 1 m3 clean water and solids. The initial investment is 2.5 million Euro for this larger unit. A design is set up and important parameters are calculated: total investment with operating expenditure, business plan, user requirement specs, detailed piping and instrumentation design.
This high potential technology opens perspectives and opportunities for Water Boards (sewage sludge), Farmers (cattle manure), Digesters (digestate residue), horticultural waste, waste from the food industry.
Planning: to build a demonstration unit with a capacity of 1 m3 slurry per hour with 5-10% dry organic mass with feed preparation and output handling (gas cleaning and separation, water purification and mineral/phosphate up-grading). The estimated budget: 2.5 million E, duration 2019-2022. A proposal will be submitted in the Dutch RVO.nl program for renewable energy.
