Project description
Innovative biogas production from organic waste
Biogas production levels in the EU have risen significantly in the past 10 years. However, several practical problems prevent the wider uptake of biomethane production from organic waste. Although straw waste shows huge potential in this regard, less than 5 % of it is used for biogas production due to the presence of foreign objects in the system causing damage and increasing maintenance costs. In addition, high energy costs and several treatment stages increase CapEx and OpEx. The EU-funded DualMetha project is presenting a solution that turns unexploited organic waste into biogas. The project will investigate the EU market and identify appropriate business models and regional market variations.
Objective
Context Biogas production level in the EU has grown considerably in the past ten years to over 16 Mtoe, with optimistic forecasts predicting that by 2030 Europe will produce over 40 Mtoe. Problem The production of biomethane from organic waste matter faces a series of practical problems which are holding back its growth: - Cannot treat all wastes. Straw waste represents a massive biogas potential, but less than 5% is currently used for Biogas production. - Foreign objects often enter into the system, causing damage and increasing maintenace costs - Have high energy costs - Require several treatment stages, which increase the CAPEX and OPEX. Solution – the DualMetha Plant We have developed and patented a simplified, biomethane production process that: • cuts down some of the waste pre-treatment stages, • allows for the methanation of all types of biomass including straw, • does not break when foreign objects are introduced • and has low OPEX (50% less in maintenance, wear, repairs, electricity costs). DualMetha represents the opportunity to turn unexploited organic waste into biogas. The aim of the phase 1 project is to improve our understanding of the EU market for Biogas, identifying regional market variations in terms of purchase decision makers, appropriate business models, pricing structure and identifying which are the most attractive markets for us to use as a beachhead. We estimate that, only considering crop residual waste (straw) that DualMetha plants could supply 80Mtoe. We aim to install 75 plants by 2025.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybioremediationbioreactors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energynatural gas
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processes
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
75008 PARIS
France
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.