Climate Positive Drying System for Coffee Industries using a highly disruptive Pyrolysis Technology

Project Information

PYROTECH

Grant agreement ID: 836243

DOI

10.3030/836243

Project closed

EC signature date 30 November 2018

Start date 1 December 2018

End date 31 March 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

SOFIES-EMAC AG
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PYROTECH (Climate Positive Drying System for Coffee Industries using a highly disruptive Pyrolysis Technology)

Reporting period: 2018-12-01 to 2019-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The green consciousness paradigm is demanding that the complete agro-food value chain be sustainable, but in coffee and rice sectors, farmers are facing two issues: the progressive soil depletion due to intensive farming and monoculture, and water pollution due to the production left-overs. Moreover, coffee farmers are barely profitable due to the difficulties to get a stable and high-quality drying.
This project is aimed at addressing these three aspects by providing PyroTech a solution that will help transition coffee farmers at their production capacity to a more sustainable, resilient, and profitable practices. PyroTech produces biochar, out of agro-food waste and is a powerful soil enhancer. The excess heat released can then be used for drying purposes.

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

During the reporting period, we determined the technical options to boost the performance and return on investment for the buying farmer, these include ideal pre-drying unit configuration, the automation layout, material changes to reduce Capex and Opex. Thus, we have determined the optimization criteria for PyroTech, particularly the process parameters which has led to the final process specifications.We also determined the best business models as well as key partners for wider PyroTech market adoption. Finally we have analysed the financial viability of PyroTech during commercialisation.

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)

PyroTech will be the first affordable solution in the market able to produce clean heat needed for drying coffee cherries, and making possible the production of biochar to be used as a soil enhancer. The impacts of PyroTech, are:
Reduced machinery cost for the farmer- offering 4-10 times cheaper pyrolysis systems.
Additional income for the farmer - generates additional income 700 €/t from biochar sales.
Increased sustainability and resilience- more than 18,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions reduced within the first three years of use due to the carbon sequestration potential of coffee husk usage as fuel and biochar produced. The biochar will limit the use of chemical fertilizers, providing better resilience to local populations.

PyroTech prototype