EOSAN - With energy and food production to a healthy soil

MIP Industrial partner Subcontractor Project leader

Synopsis

This study arose from the project MIP1 "Phytoremediation for simultaneous remediation of soils and production of biofuel". It has shown that corn grown on land contaminated with heavy metals, results in these heavy metals being concentrated in the residual plant. The grain itself is hardly contaminated. The study focuses on collection of the rest of the corn plant for fermentation and then for incineration. Important aspects in this study addressed are: the agricultural feasibility, technical feasibility for continuous fermentation (maximum storage of the residual plants), investigation of possible conflicts with the current applicable laws, and finally the financial feasibility.

Objectives

The main objective of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of a renewable energy project involving a longer-term contribution on improving soil quality. It shall be considered if governmental support is necessary to realize EOSAN. Furthermore there are a number of additional questions and problems that will be handled in this MIP project.

  1. Agricultural feasibility:
    From an agricultural perspective, a number of aspects need to be further developed. The potential output per hectare can be optimized by, for example, including other suitable crops in the crop rotation. In addition assistance will be given to include silage in the harvest rotation.
    In collecting the residual part of the plant the standard method of working for the farmer is significantly disrupted. This has an impact on the fertilization ability and fertilization needs, as well as on the nutrient and carbon balance in the soil. Solutions must be developed so that eventually no problems in terms of nutrients and carbon content of soil exist.
    At present, the rest of the corn plant remains on the field during threshing. A solution must be worked out, in cooperation with contractors and manufacturers of threshing machines and choppers to find the most cost-effective harvesting method for collecting the remaining plants.
  2. Technical feasibility:
    A continuous fermentation is only possible if the remaining plants which are collected over a short time period, are stored for long periods without loss of biogas potential. Silage is a suitable method, but will only be possible after some changes are made regarding the traditional silage process.
    Technical feasibility includes confirming the continuous fermentability of the rest of the corn plant. The potential volume loading and biogas production that can be achieved for a dimensioning of the installation can be showed by means of lab tests. Furthermore, the dewatering of the digestate and drying of the presscake should be examined.
    Moreover, a buyer is sought for the presscake. One of the possibilities is processing at Nyrstar and Umicore.
  3. Legal context:
    One of the goals of this MIP project is to list the pertinent elements of the legislation and to highlight possible problem areas.
    Further a solution should be sought in collaboration with the government which will undoubtedly lead to the establishment of a cooperation exceeding different policy domains in order to eliminate conflicts between existing laws.
    Furthermore, in cooperation with the government and interested parties the widest possible public support shall be created. Discussions with various stakeholders such as farmers, contractors, residents, local and provincial governments,... are essential steps in order to realise the implementation of the project.
  4. Financial feasibility: 
    The financial viability has to be evaluated at different levels. The final balance will undoubtedly be negative as a result of the phytoremediation dimension. Collecting the remaining plants and processing the contaminated digestate involves an additional operational cost. The income from electricity generation are insufficient to cover these additional costs. Thanks to the financial support by the government, the project can be made financially viable.


Start

09/04/2010

Duration

24 months

Budget

EUR 492418,14

Partners

Industrial partners

logo ows  logo ecopower   logo nyrstar

Subcontractors

logo uhasselt   logo ilvo

Project leader

Andy Peene (OWS)