BIOGASTIGER® system – turning global organic waste streams into smart and clean energy

Project Information

BIOGASTIGER

Grant agreement ID: 783727

DOI

10.3030/783727

Project closed

EC signature date 31 October 2017

Start date 1 November 2017

End date 31 October 2019

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 3 043 375,00

EU contribution

€ 2 130 362,50

Coordinated by

FICKERT & WINTERLING MASCHINENBAU GMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BIOGASTIGER (BIOGASTIGER® system – turning global organic waste streams into smart and clean energy)

Reporting period: 2018-11-01 to 2019-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The production of biogas is one of the most promising forms of energetic use of biomass worldwide. Biogas plants can make a significant contribution to a sustainable energy system, while at the same time significantly reducing the emissions of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in agriculture. However, the conversion of biomass to biogas currently represents a very high technical and financial expense. Today, the predominant plant technology is characterized by customized and on site produced concepts which have a very negative impact on the quality and safety of the biogas plants.
BIOGASTIGER® was conceived by F&W (experience in mechanical engineering, project management) in cooperation with FWE GmbH (highly experienced with energy concepts). With the global problem of not used organic waste streams and our innovative solution to produce safe, clean and carbon neutral energy, we want to make the world cleaner and safer. BIOGASTIGER®-the biogas machine.
The project proved successfully that the completely new innovative modular plant concept enables individual prefabricated fermenter modules to be connected technically (constructional) on site. This enables the farmer / customer to achieve an individually adjustable and variable reactor size and perfor-mance. The individual transportable modules are manufactured under industrial conditions, prefabricated, factory-tested and optimally dimen-sioned for cost-effective road transport. The subsequent efficient recycling of biomass to biogas subsequently supplies the population with permanent and needs-oriented renewable energy under the aspect of reducing CO2 emissions.
The company AVISID S.A. has signed a contract with FWE GmbH to implement the first industrial biogas plant under certification C E (Conformity European) in a co-finance through the HORIZON 2020 project grant. BIOGASTIGER® technology now can be shown to Latin America as a successful example of technology transfer to a rural area with an automated system, highly efficient in internal energy consumption, highly efficient in the biological process and therefore energy delivery expressed in biogas.
The current increase in public awareness towards climate change and social movements among the younger generation to support the development of respective technologies and implementation of environmentally friendly solutions creates a foundation for a long term very positive market perspective and increases the pressure on national governments to improve support schemes and financial subsidies.
With BIOGASTIGER® we address target customers from agriculture, the food industry and energy supplier. It is a continuously growing high-volume market with more than € 300 million turnover per year.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Existing components of BIOGASTIGER® system have been analyzed and optimized and the components have been designed to be capable of series production. The technological concept of separation unit for digestate has been analyzed and optimized and a modification has been tested in field. A web-based layout tool to determine the size and selection of technological components for individual customers has been developed and brought online. Production methods have been planned, Tools for partly-automated assembly of BIOGASTIGER® components have been developed and quality management methods have been improved and implemented into the production process.
The improved production process has been integrated and the production of the BIOGASTIGER® for applications has been started. The first Biogastiger® was set up at the company AVISID S.A. in Ecuador. The biogas generated from the BIOGASTIGER® technology will replace 40% of diesel consumption in boilers of the milling factory, considering that the industry spends about 1 million dollars a year on diesel (price Diesel Ecuador: 1.10 USD/gal). The plant will have a production of 100Nm3 of biogas per hour from 20 tons per day of a mixture of substrates such as: Rice husk with chicken manure, cocoa slime, wastewater from slaughterhouse and water hyacinth.
In the context of development of the business model and marketing and commercialization, diversified Business plan and business models have been elaborated and adjusted to individual project scenarios in Europe, Latin America and even worldwide.
In the field of Internationalization and dissemination of the project results, agreements with strategical partners have been made and developed own dynamics. Various conferences, trade fairs and be-to-be meetings and sales events have been attended. In the context of establishing the BIOGASTIGER system to be recognized by potential partners and customers as an island- and off-grid solution for waste utilization and energy-supply, the activities have been widened on the highly renowned Galápagos islands (Province of the Country of Ecuador) and on Caribbean islands, such as Martinique and Guadeloupe (Oversea departments of France).
Publications in the “BIOENERGY INSIGHT” magazine (EU,UK) and also in the “EKOS SOSTENIBLE” magazine (Ecuador) were made. Besides there have been reports on the magazines and websites of German and European Biogas Association.
The protection of trade mark for BIOGASTIGER® in Ecuador and Colombia have been initiated through a lawyer in Quito, Ecuador.
Through the management of the involved partners, necessary and profound measures for management of the project, the involved risks and innovations have been developed, e.g. a new Sales and Marketing strategy, an updated Business model and mitigation strategies to decrease risks.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The execution of measures within the duration of the project have been leading to a tremendous recognition and reputation in various countries. We have been facing enormous interest for proposals and technical offers by interested potential customers and stakeholders in public institutions, universities and entities, which are already engaged in the field of biogas projects and operation of biogas technology.
There have been achievements in other regions of the world as originally planned. For instance, we were contacted by a strategical sales organization based in Helsinki, Finland, which has numerous projects under contract within the entire region of Scandinavia and even additional countries like Spain and Peru. In terms of societal impacts, there can be highlighted the achievement in Colombia, where biogas projects can play a significant role in the resocialization of population in the region of former civil war. The peace treaty signed between the government and the former FARC organization, foresees to build up alternatives to generate infrastructure, regional value chain and social improvements in the region of former civil war. The Colombian government has clear goal to include renewable energies to that master plan, among which is considered biogas technology as a serious concept.

BIOGASTIGER Trade Fair Nantes with model of BIOGASTIGER

Technical components BIOGASTIGER in production

BIOGASTIGER Meeting demonstration plant Ecuador