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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MATE (The First Industrial-Scale Commercially Viable & Environmentally Sensitive System For Empty Fruit Bunch Waste Disposal)

Teaser

Summary

MATE is the first industrial-scale, commercially viable, and environmentally sensitive system for the valorisation of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFBs), a waste by-product from palm oil production. The application of this solution to EFBs allows for the monetization of what currently is a waste stream with large environmental impacts, processing EFBs into lignin and second-generation sugars for the biofuel, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.
Our proprietary MATE technology uses cellulases displayed at the surface of Gram-negative bacteria to produce cellulosic sugars using EFBs as a feedstock. Our enzymatic solution is highly efficient and re-usable, reducing costs of current solutions by 50%, and rendering EFBs a feasible and profitable source of sugars for the first time. We want to scale-up MATE into an industrial-scale Process Design Licensing (PDL) Package for the implementation of MATE-based biorefineries.

Work performed

This Feasibility Study Report has proven the viability of developing a PDL Package: a cutting-edge biorefinery concept for industrial-scale manufacturing of cellulosic sugars from EFB, open to customer requirements, and that can be adapted to specific biomass-pretreatment combinations. This FS defines a Roadmap, Execution Plan, and Risk Analysis, comprising all necessary activities to scale MATE up to commercialisation as a PDL package. We have performed an in-depth analysis of the palm oil and biofuel markets, and updated our Stakeholder Engagement, Commercial, Marketing, and IPR (including FTO analysis) Strategies. Finally, we have drafted Financial Forecasts on a 5-year-projection, based on a B2B business model and pricing policies.

Final results

By providing the first solution of its kind, with MATE we aim to become pioneers in the second-generation sugars sector, creating new market opportunities for the palm oil and biofuels industries, and exploiting current market trends in green energy sources to create a whole new market for EFBs.