UUDISED

GOOD PROJECT EXAMPLE: Biosyngas Production from Torrefied Hay

The problem to be solved

It has been estimated that a minimum of 200,000 tons of the mown grass mass is not used because of insufficient demand and is left for biological decomposition every year. In 2017, agricultural producers who applied for Single Area Support left aside from production approximately 125,000 ha of the cultivated agricultural area. Almost half of that land was used by the beneficiaries of support whose agricultural activities were limited to grassland management.

During the project, the best technology was identified to enable small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas to valorise such raw material. Whereas the potential sales volume of the valueadded material would be tens of millions of euros per year. 

On the left: Merike Kissa, a laboratory worker in the Plant and Grassland Cultivation Department of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, is watering the plants in the container for testing the acidic soil enriched with torrefied hay. On the right: Containers of roasted hay pellets stored in the laboratory premises. Photos: Henn Raave

“It was confirmed that the use of SHS torrefying process has a great economic potential for small entrepreneurs.” Tommy Biene, the project representative

Project outcomes

The aim of the project was to test different technologies of thermal processing and estimate the economic potential for co-production. Data was collected on possibilities of producing biosyngas. Relevant literature was reviewed and the potential of producing biosyngas, as well as the potential of using such gas in agricultural machines was assessed. According to research, it can be claimed that technically it is possible to produce biosyngas by means of torrefied hay gasification.

However, the calculations have shown that the net cost of the production of biosyngas based on the available technology and the necessary reconstruction of the machinery is not cost-efficient without state support. Production of biofuel from hay can be profitable and competitive when new technologies are added to the system to produce additional products and provide services according to the principles of circular economy. Superheated Steam (SHS) process was used for the torrefaction of hay and it was possible to condense and separate the volatile components. In addition to producing syngas, such a system can be used for producing different biochemicals, for example methanol, acetic acid, furfurals etc. and for producing solid soil-improving components binding carbon in the soil which altogether would give a positive cash flow.

Tests have confirmed that potential products and additional services could add value to hay unsuitable for animal forage; also, to timber offcut or other biological waste which in monetary terms would approximately be one thousand euros per ton of raw material. 

Tommy Biene, project consultant from BRM TB Ltd. and Siegfried Egner, from Fraunhofner IGB, leader of one of the research groups in the operational group, testing the products in the laboratory in Stuttgart.