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Description
The main objectives of the project is to ensure the long-term development of Explocom GK and to create specific technical capacity for the manufacturing of value-added products not manufacture in Romania: activated charcoal and other derived organic products and to obtain sustainable business development and offer high quality products at competitive prices and with minimum environmental impact. This investment will allow the company to take advantage of the market demand increase for the products. With the help of the Norwegian partner, they will be able to obtain Intellectual Property Rights recognized at European level.
The technical solution includes acquiring various equipment like a loader for biomass feed stock, drying storages and biochar briquetting equipment. The new equipment will lead to more efficiency in the production line. Key activities include:
- Technical expertise on design.
- Investment activity.
- Internal management.
- Information and publicity.
Expected outcomes includes an estimated annual decrease of CO2 emissions, from 4 620 tonnes (year 2019) to 0 tonnes (year 2023) and an estimated annual decrease of other emissions, from 18.295 CO2kg eq/y (year 2019) to 13.939,2 CO2kg eq/y (year 2023). The project will generate 12 new jobs.
The project will be implemented in partnership with Sintef AS from Norway. Sintef AS is one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations. Based on previous projects and on specific knowledge of the state-of-the-art in certain areas, Sintef AS can distinguish what part of the results obtained in the project could be used for filling patents or which ones can be used for scientific publications. Sintef AS through its technology transfer office (Sintef TTO) is very experienced in delivering patents at a national and European level. This is demonstrated in the large portfolio of patents and spin-offs from Sintef.
Summary of project results
Project aimed at establishing the first industrial production of activated biochar in Romania. To achieve this, the company purchased equipment to produce biochar, activated biochar, and related products such as wood vinegar, wood alcohol, and wood tar oil.
In order to establish the biochar production plant, the following equipment was purchased:
- Drying storage for biomass feedstock;
- Stainless Steel Storage and Retorts for Activation of the Biochar/Biochar/Wood Vinegar/Wood Tar/Wood Tar Oil/Alcohol Production;
- Biochar Briquetting Equipment;
- Automatized Stainless Heat Exchanger System;
- Stainless Storage System for Wood Vinegar.
Equipment which was not procured in the last phase of the project was upstream production line (biomass loader) and downstream production line (granulation line and two forklifts for handling end products). However, even without these machines the plant is able to produce the proposed products and to generate cash-flow, as the company already has forklifts and biomass loader, while the biochar product is granulated through a semi-automated granulation equipment owned by the Promoter.
The consumers for these products include agriculture and metal and silicon production industries. The project''s added value lies in utilizing waste to create new eco-friendly products that can serve as alternatives to, or even replace, traditional non-green products (e.g., using wood vinegar as an organic pesticide).
The existing production line is meeting the project outputs and partially meeting the project outcomes (CO2 emissions decrease was not met due to the equipment which was not purchased).