Biograda: converting biowaste into energy and biochar
Biograda is a Slovak company specialising in bio-waste treatment, renewable energy production and soil regeneration through biochar.
Their facility uses bio-waste from agriculture, horticulture, forestry, hunting and fishing; municipal bio-waste; and waste from wastewater treatment plants as feedstocks in a cascade system.
The first step is to ferment this waste in order to capture biogas. By means of a cogeneration unit, some of the biogas produces electricity which powers the facility and is fed into the local grid. The rest is separated into methane and carbon dioxide. Biograda is planning to set up a gas purification facility which will produce up to 3 810 000 normal cubic metres of green biomethane and 6 800 tonnes of green carbon dioxide each year.
The second step is to convert the residual material into biochar for use in soil. Biochar improves soil structure and boosts water and nutrient retention. It also stores carbon, which saves on greenhouse gas emissions.
This closed-loop system diverts waste from landfills, addresses soil degradation, supports sustainable agriculture and contributes to climate protection by creating carbon sinks in agricultural soils.
- The facility processes up to 100 000 tonnes of biodegradable waste and 30 000 tonnes of animal manure each year into 20 000 tonnes of biochar substrate called effeco by ZZ.
- It produces up to 42 500 MWh of renewable energy each year from biogas via dry and wet fermentation.