The Ecopro biowaste facility, located in central Norway treats over 50,000 wet tonnes/yr of both municipal and industrial biological waste fractions (food waste, sewage sludge SS, fish waste, manure) from approximately 63 municipalities, making it the largest municipal collaboration in Norway. The sludge line makes use of advanced anaerobic digestion (AAD), i.e. THP and MAD process. The compressed biogas (CBG) is used as fuel for regional buses, which produces an equivalent of 5 million liters of diesel annually. The biogas is also used for electricity generation in a CHP plant and the production of steam and heat for internal use. Ecopro holds an approval from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority for its biofertilizer products and changes in regulation for biosolids for land application has resulted in shifting their focus to exclusively treat only biowaste (no SS). The 12,000 dry tonnes of biosolids (>25% DS) generated is used as a soil improver and fertilizer product. Additionally, 60,000 m3 of wet fertilizer is nitrogen rich liquid and is used as an additive with manure for direct land application. There are several challenges with handling different types of waste and its effects on processes, presenting uncertainties, which will be presented at the conference.
Tore Fløan, Ecopro AS, Norway