SPIE Netherlands is participating in the first Dutch modular factory that converts sewage sludge into biofuel. During Maintenance NEXT, the technology and maintenance fair of the Benelux, SPIE and C-Green have just signed a cooperation agreement to possibly realize such a factory.
The innovative installation – developed by C-Green – converts wet biomass (sludge) into the dry product hydrochar in an energy-efficient manner. During the production process, one kilo of hydrochar is made from five kilos of sludge. This organic and environmentally friendly end product is suitable as a biofuel and soil improver. The decomposition process of the by-product sludge normally produces methane gas, which is 30 to 40 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide. Collecting and transporting – wet – sludge is also associated with high costs. The factory offers a good solution for this environmentally harmful processing. Converting sludge into dry matter does not produce methane gas. In addition, the volume is significantly reduced, making transport more efficient, cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
The compact factory, consisting of ready-made modules, can be placed at, for example, a wastewater treatment plant or pulp factory and can convert 25.000 tons of sludge per year. Storage of the product and processing of the waste stream takes place on location.
Pilot installation
C-Green's OxyPower HTC pilot plant is now operational at REYM Rotterdam and will process sludge samples from industrial and municipal wastewater treatment. The Netherlands is a promising market for C-Green given its dense population and key industries such as agriculture and food production. C-Green's technology can provide a sustainable circular solution for processing the enormous amounts of sludge produced there. SPIE can provide expertise and capacity to produce, install and maintain C-Green installations in the Netherlands and possibly other countries in Europe.
Source: Spie.nl
