Description
The project has been developed so as to increase the Slovak-Norwegian cooperation in the field of biomass research. The scope of the project consists of the installation of two laboratories in Slovakia and transfer of two biogas reactors developed in Norway to Slovakia. The project also includes study trips of Slovak experts to Norway and vice versa, and trainings and advisory of the Norwegian project partners. The solid biomass fuel laboratory shall be able to determine the physical, mechanical and chemical criteria for solid biomass fuels from agriculture. This laboratory has been operated by ATTI for past 20 years, and is now significantly outdated and does not correspond with the recent needs and requirements of the state policy in the field of biomass research. In order to improve and expand the operations of ATTI and to establish an excellent biomass research centre, it is necessary to equip the existing laboratories with modern devices. This will enable the development of new methods and studies, high efficiency of tasks in the area of agricultural biomass used for energetic purposes and will employ implementation of new technologies based on research results. The biogas laboratory shall be similar to those installed at the NMBU. Such laboratory is missing in Slovakia, though a biogas research plant is in operation in the premises of one of the Project Parnters, the Slovak Agricultural University. To be able to provide comprehensive research of biomass potential, ATTI and Slovak Agricultural University will continue in their close cooperation. It is expected that the results of the biomass research carried our by ATTI will be further tested in the biogas research plant. It is also expected that the biogas research plant at the Slovak Agricultural University shall be supplemented by research equipment, so as to ensure smooth sharing of knowledge and data between the stakholders.
Summary of project results
The project was needed to build laboratories with technologies that were lacking in Slovakia so far. The newly built biogas laboratory in TSÚP is similar to a laboratory located at the Norwegian partner NMBU. Thanks to the project, a biofilm reactor was installed at the SPU partner in Kolíňany near Nitra. SPU and TSÚP can continue to work closely together and engage in complex research on potential of biomass. The goal of the project was fully achieved because 4 new environmental technologies were introduced, 6 green jobs created and 100 tons of biomass used by the SPU partner. In order to achieve the planned results, it was necessary to acquire and install the biofilm reactor at the SPU partner in Kolíňany, acquiring and installing a solid boiler for biomass at TSÚP Rovinka. The boiler was supplied by the Slovak partner of the project BIOMASA. Furthermore, the introduction of new technologies and procedures needed to work in the newly built biogas laboratory at TSÚP and to work with the granule bioreactor as part of the transfer of knowledge of Norwegian experts to Slovakia. It was planned to introduce 4 new enviromental technologies and their implementation was realized, namely in the form of: 1. technology of pellet boiler processing solid biomass, 2. Biogas reactor technology, 3. Granule bioreactor technology and 4. Biofilm reactor technology. As part of the ambition to increase green jobs creation, 6 jobs were originally created. The planned 100 tons biomass was actually processed by biofilm reactor in Kolíňany, with the processed biomass used for testing and research.
Summary of bilateral results
As part of the successful bilateral cooperation, 6 training courses led by Norwegian partners and experts to transfer knowledge to Slovakia. Two researchers from the Slovak Republic took part in a study trip to Norway, where they learned how to operate granule bioreactor, use a control program, and gained a lot of new knowledge from biogas research. The transfer and exchange of knowledge in the field of research continues to exist thanks to active communication with Norwegian partners and their willingness to share our findings and knowledge with us. The SPU Partner, based on the installed biofilm reactor from Norway, can also explore a substrate with a higher energy content than household waste or food industry waste. Biological waste will have the potential to become a valuable nutritional contribution in agriculture. Bilateral partnership has helped to install high-tech technologies in Slovakia. Although the conditions in Slovakia and Norway are different, both Slovak and Norwegian partners have the same goals and see some promising ideas as well as dry fermentation and biofuels as possible areas for future cooperation.