Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VALI (Conversion of manure to energy with the VALI solution)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2019-05-01 al 2019-08-31
Animal manure management has become a fundamental problem for farmers along with energy costs. Produced at enormous quantities, manure is a valuable resource but currently treated as waste — it was once used as a fertilizer but today this is limited due to restrictions (e.g. Nitrates Directive). Our objective is to provide farmers with an eco-friendly disposal route that helps them comply with ever stringent regulations and obtain financial benefits. The VALI solution is an innovative system for turning biomass into profitable resources, i.e. usable heat, electrical energy for on-site use or sale, compact P+K ash that form the basis for renewable fertilizer formulations that can be sold. Our innovation stands in the thermal conversion system that treats hard to burn on-farm poultry and horse manure (ashy nature with high acidic content that generates corrosion and pollutants) which also correspond to the by-products of biogas plants, thus VALI can also be used as a downstream technology.
Commercial launch evaluation of the of VALI project from a technical, commercial and financial perspective. We have set upscaling operational specifications to ensure VALI is the most reliable, cost-effective and efficient system catering the needs of farms around 6000m2. We have validated its market fit and devised the commercial plan to reach poultry and horse farmers in EU countries with highest amount of manure and need (e.g. France, Netherlands, Germany). Complete FTO and licensing opportunities have been ensured by patenting the technology. We have communicated the project to key clients in the poultry, horse and biogas industries (mainly in FR and NL) and engaged stakeholders to participate actively in the demo activities, so that we can leverage the project results (track record of operational hours and validation of performance parameters) in further commercialization.
On-farm eco-friendly manure outlet, drastic reduction of farm energy bills, affordable and saleable fertilizer and improvement of animal breeding conditions will be the impact for customers in the short term. In the long term, VALI will contribute to increase significantly the overall fraction of the energy being produced by biomass and so help meet climate goals. VALI successful launch will boost our revenues, with a turnover estimated at €67.6 Million and a ROI of 350% by the 5th year, and will create many new job opportunities, both internally and with our suppliers and industrial partners.