The Seal of Excellence

The Seal of Excellence is a quality label awarded to innovative projects under the framework of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. It is designed to recognize high-quality proposals that were submitted to the program. They were not selected for funding due to budget constraints. The Seal of Excellence is awarded by a panel of independent experts who assess the proposal against Horizon 2020’s evaluation criteria. The cirterias are for example excellence, impact, and implementation.

Projects that are awarded are eligible for funding from national, regional, or private funding sources, as well as from the European Investment Bank. The Seal of Excellence is intended to provide recognition and visibility to innovative projects. As well as increase their chances of securing funding, and promote the development of a competitive and innovative European economy.

It is important to note that the Seal of Excellence is not a funding instrument in itself. It is rather a quality label that recognizes the superior of a project proposal. Projects awarded the Seal of Excellence must still compete for funding from other sources. The award can improve their chances of securing the funding.

How to receive the award?

To receive the award, a project must first submit a proposal to one of the funding calls under the Horizon 2020 program. The proposal must meet the eligibility criteria specified in the call and must address one or more of the societal challenges or industrial leadership priorities identified by Horizon 2020.

After the proposal has been evaluated by the Horizon 2020 expert panel. The projects that are deemed to be of high quality and meet the evaluation criteria generally. And were not selected for funding due to budget constraints they are therefore eligible for the Seal of Excellence.

The European Commission notifies the project coordinators whose proposals have been awarded the Seal of Excellence. They are then authorized to use the Seal of Excellence logo in their communications and dissemination activities afterwards.

Awarded projects are encouraged to seek alternative sources of funding: national or regional funding programs or private investors. They can use the Seal of Excellence to showcase the quality of their proposal. It is important to note that the award is not a funding instrument in itself and does not guarantee funding.

FimusKraft is a Seal of Excellence company

Bioenergy plant is a facility that generates energy from biomass or organic materials. These plants typically use advanced technology to convert organic materials into a usable form of energy. The produced energy is often electricity and heat.

The organic materials can come from a variety of sources, including agricultural waste, forestry residues, urban waste, and energy crops. These materials are collected, processed, and then converted into energy using various technologies, such as combustion, gasification, or anaerobic digestion.

Different types of bioenergy plants

Combustion-based bioenergy plant. Biomass is burned to generate heat which is then used in a combustion-based bioenergy plant to produce steam to drive a turbine that generates electricity.

Gasification-based bioenergy plant. Organic materials are heated in the absence of oxygen to produce gas that can be burned to generate electricity and heat.

Anaerobic digestion-based bioenergy plant. Organic materials are broken down by bacteria in the absence of oxygen to produce biogas, which can be burned to generate electricity and heat. This type of bioenergy plant is also called a biogas plant. As well it can be called also a biowaste plant, when using AD technology.

The advantages and disadvantages of the bioenergy plant

All these biotechnical methods utilize renewable energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel-based power plants. Anaerobic digestion based bioenergy plants can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and utilizing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. All these methods reduce waste which can help to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills. Anaerobic digestion can produce a nutrient-rich digestate that can be used as a fertilizer, providing a co-benefit for agriculture.

Combustion based bioenergy plant is still polluting the air. The plants can emit particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other air pollutants that can negatively impact air quality and human health.

Gasification based bioenergy plants are more expensive to build and operate than combustion based plants and can require more maintenance. They are also more complex and require specialized equipment and expertise.

Anaerobic digestion, (AD) based bioenergy plant is more environment-friendly and start to be more commonly used method to handle biowaste. Currently anaerobic digestion is the primary method of biogas production, but the traditional AD has also many issues. For example, issues like centralized treatment in linear economy, high investment costs, complex installation, long bio-fermentation process and low energetic efficiency.

Innovative bioenergy plant solution

FimusKraft has developed a solution to all these problems by using their game changing technology, horizontally mounted revolutionary 3-step bio-fermentation process with “Total mixing” patented technology, and FIFO (first in first out) principle.

• Its faster and more efficient than traditional anaerobic digestion.
• Thus, the carbon footprint is lower.
• Because of the modular design, the investment cost is lower, and the payback time is shorter.
• The installation is easy and fast, and it’s fully automated and easy to use remotely.
• No production breaks for maintenance are needed.
• And the plant is easy to scale up as required to the customer´s needs.

Read more on FimusKraft bioenergy plant FKBP here

Conclusion

Biogas is a renewable energy source that can be used for heating, electricity generation and transportation fuel.

FimusKraft´s modular system FKBP is fast to install and can be used locally e.g. in farm or close to food and beverage factory. Bioenergy plants can be integrated with other energy systems, such as wind or solar systems, to provide a more reliable and consistent energy supply. They can also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide economic benefits by creating jobs and supporting local economies.

Overall, bioenergy plants are an important part of the transition to a more sustainable and renewable energy system, helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and promote the use of cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

Biowaste

Biowaste refers to any organic material that is discarded, such as food waste, yard waste, agricultural waste, and sewage sludge. The biowaste is generally biodegradable, meaning that it can break down into simple substances with the help of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or other decomposers.

Examples of biowaste include vegetable and fruit residues, leaves, grass clippings, sawdust, manure, and food processing waste. The organic waste can be a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems when it is not properly managed. However, when managed properly through composting or anaerobic digestion, waste can be transformed into valuable resources such as fertilizer, soil amendments, and renewable energy.

FimusKraft is dedicated in developing and promoting innovative biowaste based solutions and technologies worldwide. We deeply believe that environmentally sustainable products and solutions can also be efficient and economical. “Electrifying Biowaste” and “Poop is not a waste, it’s a source of energy” are two slogans that describe our passion generally.

Is biowaste a problem?

Biowaste can be a problem if it is not properly managed. When biowaste is discarded in landfills or dumped in the environment, it can create several global environmental problems for example:

Greenhouse gas emissions. Biowaste that is left to decompose in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Soil and water pollution. Biowaste that is dumped or improperly managed can leach harmful substances into the soil and water, potentially contaminating them and harming wildlife.

Health hazards. Biowaste that is not properly managed can attract pests, such as rats and flies, which can spread disease and pose a risk to human health.

Biowaste can also be a valuable resource when it is properly managed. By composting biowaste, it can be transformed into a nutrient-rich fertilizer that can be used to enrich soil and grow crops. The organic waste can also be used as a feedstock for biogas production, which can be a source of renewable energy. There is a need to minimize the negative impacts of waste and maximize its potential benefits to ensure that it is properly managed through effective waste management practices. Read more how to benefit from biomass with the products of FimusKraft here

The benefits of biomass

There are several ways to benefit from different kind of biomass for example:

Composting. Biomass can be composted, which is the process of breaking down organic waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Compost can be used to enrich soil and improve plant growth, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Anaerobic digestion. Biomass can also be processed through anaerobic digestion, which is a process that breaks down organic material using microorganisms in the absence of oxygen. This process generates biogas, which can be used as a renewable energy source.

Biomass energy production. Biomass can be burned or gasified to produce heat and electricity, or converted into biofuels such as biodiesel and ethanol.

Animal feed. Biomass, such as food waste and agricultural residues, can be used as animal feed. In this way it reduces the need for traditional feed sources.

All in all, to benefit from biomass is to view it as a valuable resource rather than a waste product. And to implement effective waste management practices to ensure that it is properly collected, processed, and utilized. Learn more about the benefits of FimusKraft bioenergy plant here

Biogas

Biogas is a renewable and sustainable energy source that is produced through the analysis of organic matter such as food waste, animal manure, agricultural waste, and sewage in the absence of oxygen. This process is called anaerobic digestion, (AD) and is carried out by microorganisms, primarily bacteria, that break down the organic matter into a gas mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases.

The methane in the gas is the primary component that makes it a valuable source of energy. It can be used as a fuel for heating, electricity generation, and transportation. Biogas is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels, and it can also be used to replace traditional fuels in cooking and lighting too.

The production of biogas has several environmental benefits, including reducing the amount of organic waste sent to landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and providing a renewable energy source.

The content of biogas

Biogas is primarily composed of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), although it can also contain small amounts of other gases such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), nitrogen (N2), and water vapor (H2O). The exact composition of biogas depends on the type of organic material being used, as well as the conditions under which the anaerobic digestion process is carried out.

Biogas contains basically between 50 % to 70 % methane and 30 % to 50 % carbon dioxide, although this can vary depending on the specific feedstock used in the anaerobic digestion process. Higher methane concentrations are preferable for optimal combustion and energy production. Biogas produced from animal manure and agricultural waste tends to have a lower methane content than producing it from food waste or sewage. FimusKraft Bioenergy Plant produces atleast 32 kW of electricity and 56 kW of heat in a product line with a daily capacity of 5 tons of biowaste per day.  

The presence of hydrogen sulfide in biogas is a concern because it is a toxic gas that can corrode equipment and pipelines. In addition, nitrogen can reduce the energy content of biogas and increase the risk of engine damage. To make the gas usable as a fuel, it is often necessary to remove these impurities through a process called upgrading, which involves removing the carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other contaminants to produce a cleaner, higher-quality gas.

The content of biogas can be measured using a variety of techniques, for example gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. Gas chromatography is a technique that separates the different components of a gas mixture and measures their concentration, while infrared spectroscopy measures the absorption of infrared radiation by the gas molecules to determine their composition.

Applications

Biogas can be utilized in many ways, depending on the needs of the user and the quality of the gas. It is important to first assess the quality of the gas and determine what, if any, treatment or upgrading is needed to make it usable. Basically upgrading means removing impurities such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and moisture to produce a cleaner, higher-quality gas. Once the gas has been treated, it can be used in the needed application, either directly or after being converted to a different form such as electricity or liquid fuel.

FimusKraft Bioenergy Plant can produce bioenergy more effective and much faster than the traditional methods. Read more about our innovative technological solution here

Some common ways to utilize biogas:

Electricity generation. Biogas can be burned in a generator to produce electricity. This is a common small scale use for the gas, particularly in rural areas where grid electricity is unavailable or unreliable.

Heating and cooling. Biogas can be used as a fuel for space heating, water heating, and cooling. Also the gas can be used in place of natural gas for these applications.

Cooking. Biogas can be used as a fuel for cooking, either in stoves specifically designed for the gas or by converting traditional stoves to use it.

Transportation. Biogas can be used as a fuel for vehicles, either by compressing the gas into cylinders for use in compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles or by converting the gas to liquid biogas (LBG) for use in liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles.

Fertilizer production. The solid and liquid byproducts of anaerobic digestion (AD), called digestate, can be used as a fertilizer for crops, which can help to reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.