Biorefine Cluster Europe
The competence focus of the Cluster can be subdivided into three categories: sourcing sustainable biomass, improving energy technology and refining and recuperating products from the bio-energy sidestreams.
The Cluster initiative was launched by the NWE Interreg IV.B project BIOREFINE and was already joined by many projects, but the cluster aims to expand with new projects and consortia which are also to be involved in setting the groundwork for the Cluster.
Member projects that focus on P-recovery are for example the Flemish project NutriCycle and the European INTERREG IV.b project BIOREFINE. Within NutriCycle, the possible use of digestate and manure derivatives as green fertilisers in Flanders is investigated. Pilot installations for, among others, struvite recovery and ammononia stripping are built, the products coming from the pilot installations are examined and field trials, in which the agricultural value is evaluated, are performed. Furthermore, the legislation concerning the application of green fertilisers (e.g. struvite) in agriculture or use as resource in chemical industries in and outside of Flanders is assessed. Different sale pathways for green fertilisers are examined and mapped, and the market value is evaluated. In BIOREFINE, the region under investigation is expanded to North Western Europe. The project examines the valorisation of inorganic chemicals recovered from different waste streams from agro- and bio-industries. A strong focus lies on the recovery of phosphorous out of waste.
The final goal of all Research & Development is (or should be) the actual implementation of innovative technologies or strategies into the market. Clustering forces can lead to more concerted actions in taking away constraints, thus leading to an expedited market implementation. Some projects within the Cluster focus more on regulatory roadmaps, whereas others focus more on industrial pilot demonstration or on academic backing towards topics such as nutrient use efficiency or quality assurances of bio fertiliser P.
Data on Nutrients to Support Stewardship DONUTSS
ESPP, with support of the EU (DG GROW), is launching work to identify what data is needed on nutrient stocks and flows by industry, agriculture and decision makers, to support stewardship decisions, circular economy objectives and management actions, and how this data should be monitored.
Read more about the workshop organised jointly by ESPP and Biorefine
Contact
Biorefine Cluster Europe
UGent Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
Coupure Links 653
B-9000 Ghent
Belgium
T: 0032 9 264 93 96