BIOWALK4BIOFUELS

Biowaste and Algae Knowledge for the Production of 2nd Generation Biofuels

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The Biowalk4Biofuels Project aims to develop an alternative and innovative system for biowaste energy recovery and use of GHG emissions to produce biofuels, using macroalgae as a catalyser, in a multidisciplinary approach. The objectives of the project are: production of a cost-efficient biogas without using cereal crops; optimise the production of biogas per amount of biowaste and CO2 used, with low land use for plant facilities; and increase and optimize the types of biowastes that can be utilised for biogas production. To achieve the underlined objectives, research activities are to be carried out on the selection of adequate macroalgae species that can reach high output biomass yields and high carbohydrate content. Pre-cultivation of protoplasts will allow to obtain easily available biomass for feeding the cultivation open floating ponds within shorter periods, thanks to the rapid proliferation of germplasm, diminishing the life-cycle of macroalgae. In addition, the relationship between growth and energy potential of selected species with the amounts/characteristic of GHG emissions and biowaste introduced in the cultivation medium is to be studied. . After fermenting the algal biomass and other biowastes, the cycle is closed by producing biogas to be used for electricity and heat generation and as a transport fuel. A high quality biogas is expected, hence a purification step will proceed the final product. Furthermore, organic residues output from the methanation biodigestor are to be used as fertilizer after solid/liquid separation. The liquid fraction of the digestate will be treated in a biological oxidation system .A portion of the unseparated outlet effluent from the oxidation system (solids liquid) will be fed to the macroalgae cultivation (instead of the enrichment with chemical N-P-K fertilizers). Meanwhile, the other portion will be reused as feeding for the AD plant section. This process solution will permit to feed with several critical biowastes the biodigester, transforming them into a resource. The expected impact is to produce a cost-efficient, low energy-intensive, purified biogas, to reduce negative environmental impacts from industry (GHG emissions) and biowaste. The multidisciplinary approach solution to reduce GHG emission and process biowaste, while producing energy, seeking for the future replications in other locations.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

World energy demand is rising and the EU has set ambitious goals for increasing the share of renewable energies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Biogas produced from macroalgae and biowaste could make an important contribution.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Alternative and innovative systems for energy recovery from biowaste and use of GHG emissions are needed, where also excessive nitrogen and phosphate in biowaste is efficiently used. The innovative EU-funded project 'Biowaste and algae knowledge for the production of 2nd generation biofuels' (http://www.biowalk4biofuels.eu/ (BIOWALK4BIOFUELS)) is turning those contaminants to good use as food for macroalgae that turn the biowaste into biogas.

Scientists are exploiting the potential of macroalgae together with carbon dioxide from fuel combustion to produce renewable fuels while reducing emissions and contamination. Green algae can be used directly in codigestion with biowaste for biogas production without the need for cereal crops. This also helps reducing costs and addressing land use issues.

Organic residues from the biodigester could be used as organic fertiliser. The biogas can be used for combined heat and power (CHP) production, or in upgraded form as biofuel for cars and trucks.

As the project moves into the last stretch, scientists are integrating the optimised components of the plant for final delivery and testing.

Preliminary life-cycle analyses (LCAs) confirm the environmental benefits of the biogas production system. A full environmental and energy analysis will follow.

The plant is ready for start-up and the CHP utilities, including their pipelines and controls, have been optimised and are in place to turn biogas into heat and electricity. BIOWALK4BIOFUELS is using macroalgae as an efficient and effective interface between biowaste and biofuels. Proof-of-concept is expected to have important impact on the planning of future biogas plants for codigestion of macroalgae with biowaste and the achievement of EU goals for renewable energy and emissions.