ENK6-2002-30026 Three Step Fermentation of Solid State Biowaste for Biogas Production and Sanitation - 3A-BIOGAS

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Biological Conversion : EESD (Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development) : Liquid Biofuels and Biogas

Proposal No:	ENK6-2002-30026
Date Prepared:	February 2004
Source:	European Bio-Energy Projects (EUR 20808)

Introduction

In conventional aerobic composting plants for treating organic substrates energy has to be added to the process (moving the material). At the same time it is difficult to find a use for the low grade heat produced. High volumes of water are necessary for treatment in conventional anaerobic liquid biogas plants, and subsequently this remains as wastewater. As a consequence, in relation to the quantities of feed material, high plant and process energy costs are incurred for material conveyance and maintaining temperatures.

The 3A-biogas process aims to combine the positive aspects (producing biogas and top quality compost directly from solid state input material) of these two possible treatments and to avoid the disadvantages.

In a first step, the participating SME partners set up end-user requirements for the possible implementation of the technology at the end of the project.

Conclusions have been drawn for the development of the process. The optimised process will be developed using the experience of the partners and a detailed work distribution. For this purpose, intensive investigation on substrate composition, sanitation requirements, and cause-effects of the key parameters will be carried out in close co-operation with SMEs and RTDs. Furthermore, a simulation tool will be developed.

Approaching the detailed planning and an operating control system, two prototype units will be manufactured. During the project's second year, the 3A-biogas prototypes will be tested at two project partner sites in Austria and Spain. In addition, a socio-economic assessment, dissemination, and preparation for exploitation are integrated parts of the project.

Progress

The requirements of potential operators of 3A-biogas plants have to be investigated and the system has to be designed according to the results obtained. To find the information required, a questionnaire was created, and the end-users were asked to fill in their requirements on the system.

The system design for the prototype units will be developed according to the information gathered. At the moment, a control system which observes the whole 3A process is being developed and checked by a simulation program. of the two planned prototype units, the operator of biogas and composting plants were asked to give details concerning their input materials and processing facilities currently in use.

Taking this data into consideration, a preliminary selection was made of the substrates which should be used in the testing phase. Different mixtures of these selected materials and structure material are currently being tested in laboratory-scale tests in Germany.

Based on the results of the laboratory tests, such as on the methane yield or the pH behaviour, the final decision will be made on the material for the testing phase.

In addition, intensive investigations concerning the sanitation standards and requirements in the different Member States and in the EU were carried out. The results of this investigation are the minimum sanitation requirements of the final product. First analyses specified the critical control points of the process.

Impact and exploitation

3A-biogas mainly addresses the communal and agricultural waste-treatment industry where both biodegradable wastes and organic residues are available for the production of biogas. Often, conventional liquid biogas plants are already set up with an existing utilisation for the biogas produced.

The additional installation of a 3A-biogas system as a second treatment line for dry input substrates will lead to several synergies for end-users, and optimal completion. The potential for biogas plants in the agriculture and food sector, for example in Germany, was estimated by Weiland to be 30,000 - 40,000 plants in total with an annual increase of 150-200.

In the year 2000, just 1,000 plants had been installed, although their number is increasing significantly. The estimated potential of energy produced is 753 PJ on the basis of biogas for all EU Member States. Only a small amount of this potential is currently being used. A considerable percentage of today.s unused potential will match the advantages of 3A-biogas.

Spain, as well as the Eastern European countries, can be regarded as promising future markets for biogas plants because of the structure of their agriculture and food industries and the country's need to redevelop the environmental situation. 3A-biogas plants will be able to work as financially viable in small- to medium-scale applications up to 3,000 m³/a.

Potential customers include the agro- and food sectors, the MSW industry, and the biowaste treatment sector.