Creating value from waste nutrients by integrating algal and anaerobic digestion technology

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2022-05-02

Description

Description (EN):

ALG-AD addresses reuse of waste to generate products for a sustainable economy, reducing pollution risk and dependence on imported material resources (Challenge 3). NWE, a densely populated intensive agricultural area, contributes disproportionately to food and farm waste produced in the EU each year. To reduce food & farm waste, anaerobic digestion (AD) is used (2000 AD facilities in NWE). AD converts waste to biogas energy and a liquid nutrient rich digestate (NRD). Each AD plant produces 4,000-70,000t/y of NRD (2-6 kg nitrogen/t NRD). Most NRD is returned to land as a biofertiliser. But, strict limits are imposed with Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: NVZs (European Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC) restricting return of NRD to land to prevent eutrophication pollution. Much of NWE land falls within NVZs (58% in UK;100% in Brittany & Flanders) creating an excess NRD. Dealing with excess NRD is an acute worsening issue and solutions are needed. ALG-AD provides a solution combining algal and AD technology to reduce and reuse NRD converting nutrients to create algal biomass for sustainable animal feeds. Technology will be collaboratively implemented and tested in 3 distinct ‘real-life conditions’ in Devon (UK), Brittany (FR) and Flanders (BE). Sites reflect the heterogeneity of NWE from ‘predominantly rural remote’ to ‘predominantly urban’ (OECD 2011) and different types of biodegradable waste and in different regulatory landscapes. Demonstration to stakeholders and Decision Support Tools will enable take-up. Roll-out with AD retrofit would achieve market uptake for treatment of 300,000 t/y of NRD processing after 5 years and 6 million t/y after 10 y, resulting in reduced nitrogen losses to the environment by recovery of resp.1,500->30,000t active N/y which otherwise would pollute NVZs. Retrofitting results in c.300,000 t/y algal product (dry weight) for animal feed, replacing imported protein sources & improving food security.

Description (FR):

ALG-AD traite de la réutilisation des déchets dans le cadre d’une économie durable, réduisant les risques de pollution et la dépendance à l’importation de matières premières (Défi 3). L’ENO est une zone densément peuplée où l’agriculture intensive contribue de manière disproportionnée à la production de déchets alimentaires et agricoles dans l 'UE. Afin de les réduire, la digestion anaérobique (DA) y est utilisée (2000 sites en ENO) en convertissant ces déchets en biogaz et en digestats liquides riches en nutriments (DRN). Chaque site produit entre 4 000-70 000 t/an de DRN (2-6kg d’azote/t NRD) dont la majorité sont épandues (biofertilisant) mais des limites réglementaires strictes sont imposées du fait de Zones Vulnérables au Nitrate: ZVN (Directive Nitrates 91/676/CEE) pour prévenir les risques d’eutrophisation. La majorité de l’ENO est soumise à cette directive (58% UK,100% Bretagne et Flandre), engendrant un excès critique de DRN nécessitant des solutions. ALG-AD en combinant la culture de microalgues à la DA permettrait de recycler les DRN en biomasse pour une production durable d’aliments pour animaux. La technologie sera mise en œuvre et testée in situ de manière collaborative dans 3 sites distincts (Devon,UK; Bretagne,FR; Flandre,BE), choisis pour refléter l 'hétérogénéité de la région ENO : des zones rurales à urbaines (OCDE2011), différents déchets biodégradables et contextes réglementaires. La démonstration aux parties prenantes et le développement d 'outils d’aide à la décision permettront son adoption. Ce procédé sur le marché permettrait le traitement de 300 000t/an de DRN après 5 ans de fonctionnement et 6 m t/an après 10ans. Cela permettrait la valorisation de 1 500 à >30 000t d’azote/an qui, autrement, pollueraient les ZVN mais également de produire près de 300 000t/an de biomasse algale sèche pour l’alimentation du bétail en remplacement de protéines importées en améliorant ainsi la sécurité alimentaire.

Description (DE):

ALG-AD adressiert die Abfallverwertung zur Erzeugung von Produkten für eine nachhaltige Ökonomie mit verringerter Umweltbelastung und Importabhängigkeit. NWE trägt überproportional zum organischen Abfallaufkommen aus Landwirtschaft und Ernährung in der EU bei. Die anaerobe Vergärung (AV) in 2.000 Biogasanlagen verringert das Abfallaufkommen und verwandelt Abfall in Energie (Biogas) und nährstoffreiche Gärrückstände (NGR). Jede Biogasanlage erzeugt ca. 4.000-70.0000t/a NGR mit ca.5 kg Stickstoff/t NGR, der meist als organischer Dünger genutzt wird. Die Ausbringung des NGR ist durch die EU-Richtlinie (European Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC) für Nitratgefährdete Zonen (NGZ) begrenzt, um eine Eutrophierung der Gewässer zu vermeiden. Da ein Großteil der Fläche in NWE zu den NGZ (58% in UK, 100% in der Bretagne und in Flandern) gehört, können des NGR nicht ausgebracht werden. Für den Umgang mit dem überschüssigen NGR werden Lösungen gesucht. ALG-AD bietet durch die Kombination der Algen- und Biogastechnologie eine Lösung zur Nutzung des NGR für die Herstellung algenbasierter Futtermittel. Die Technologie wird im Konsortium gemeinsam umgesetzt und an drei Standorten in Devon (UK), in der Bretagne (FR) und in Flandern (BE) unter Realbedingungen erprobt. Die Standorte spiegeln die Heterogenität von NWE wider, die von eher ländlichen bis überwiegend städtischen Gebieten reicht (OECD 2011) und unterschiedliche Arten von Bioabfällen und rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen umfasst. Die Demonstration der Technologie ggb. Akteuren und Entscheidungshilfen sollen die Markteinführung ermöglichen. Die Nachrüstung von Biogasanlagen AD würde zu einer Verwertung von rd. 300.000t/a NGR nach 5 Jahren und rd. 6 Millionen t/a NGR nach 10 Jahren, einer Stickstoffrückgewinnung von ca. 1.500 bis über 30.000t N/a und der Herstellung von rd. 300.000t/a an algenbasiertem Tierfutter, das Proteinimporte substituieren kann, führen.

Website: http://www.nweurope.eu/

Expected Outputs (EN):

Zero AD plants use ALG-AD technology in NWE. AD facility size is highly variable with c.4,000->70,000t of NRD/yr. Approx. 2000 AD plants across NWE with c. 60 million tonnes NRD (4-7 kg nitrogen/t). Most NRD is returned to land but c.10% is excess = c. 6 million t NRD/yr (c.24,000t N) across NWE. Currently this waste nutrient creates pollution risk and is costly to dispose. This waste is not currently being reused to create products. There are no Decision Support Tools merging algae & AD.

Thematic information

Sustainable management of natural resources Waste and pollution

Specific Objective: To optimise (re)use of material and natural resources in NWE

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06f) promoting innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and resource efficiency in the waste sector, water sector and with regard to soil, or to reduce air pollution

Partners (13)

Lead Partner: Swansea University

Department: Department of Biosciences

Address: Singleton Park, SA28PP Swansea, United Kingdom

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.swansea.ac.uk

Total budget: EUR 2 291 054.67

ERDF budget: EUR 1 374 632.80

Langage AD

Name: Langage AD

Address: Higher Challonsleigh, PL7 5AY Plymouth, United Kingdom

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.langagead.com/

Total budget: EUR 121 029.89

ERDF budget: EUR 72 617.93

Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail

Name: Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail

Department: Department of Animal Health and Welfare

Address: -1.0, 22440 Ploufragan, France

Legal status: public

Website: https://www.anses.fr/

Total budget: EUR 185 200.00

ERDF budget: EUR 111 120.00

Cooperl Innovation

Name: Cooperl Innovation

Address: Rue de la Jeannaie Maroue 7, 22400 Lambelle, France

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.cooperl.com/en/

Total budget: EUR 200 087.45

ERDF budget: EUR 120 052.47

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

Name: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

Department: Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)

Address: P.O. Box 3640, 76131 Karlsruhe 12, Germany

Legal status: public

Website: https://www.kit.edu/kit/english/index.php

Total budget: EUR 303 740.80

ERDF budget: EUR 182 244.48

Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Name: Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Department: Laboratoire des sciences de l’environnement marin

Address: Rue Dumont d'Urville 1, 29280 Plouzané, France

Legal status: public

Website: https://www-iuem.univ-brest.fr/LEMAR

Total budget: EUR 744 828.33

ERDF budget: EUR 446 897.00

Ghent University

Name: Ghent University

Department: Laboratory of Applied Environmental Chemistry

Address: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.cms.ugent.be/research

Total budget: EUR 1 063 629.60

ERDF budget: EUR 638 177.76

INNOLAB

Name: INNOLAB

Address: Marechalstraat 70, 8020 Oostkamp, Belgium

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.innolab.be/en

Total budget: EUR 135 577.99

ERDF budget: EUR 81 346.79

NNFCC Limited

Name: NNFCC Limited

Address: Biocentre, York Science Park,, YO10 5DG York, United Kingdom

Legal status: private

Website: https://www.nnfcc.co.uk/

Total budget: EUR 24 550.62

ERDF budget: EUR 14 730.37

Denitral (Subpartner of PP11 – GBER Art. 25)

Name: Denitral (Subpartner of PP11 – GBER Art. 25)

Department: Côtes-d'Armor

Address: Rue des Blossières 7, 22400 Lamballe, France

Legal status: private

Website: https://www.cooperl.com/en/denitral

Total budget: EUR 81 884.42

ERDF budget: EUR 49 130.65

Association des Chambres d'Agriculture de l'Arc Atlantique

Name: Association des Chambres d'Agriculture de l'Arc Atlantique

Address: Rue P.A Bobierre – La Géraudière, 44939 Cedex 9 NANTES, France

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ac3a.fr/AC3A.php

Total budget: EUR 254 039.40

ERDF budget: EUR 152 423.64

Universite de Bretagne Occidentale

Name: Universite de Bretagne Occidentale

Department: Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM)

Address: rue des Archives 3, 29238 Brest, France

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.univ-brest.fr/menu/universite/Contacts/

Total budget: EUR 530 895.12

ERDF budget: EUR 318 537.07

Birmingham City University

Name: Birmingham City University

Department: Centre for Resilient Environments Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment

Address: Curzon Street, B4 7XG Birmingham, United Kingdom

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.bcu.ac.uk

Total budget: EUR 560 631.61

ERDF budget: EUR 336 378.97

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Creating value from waste nutrients by integrating algal and anaerobic digestion technology

Project acronym: ALG-AD

Project start date: 2017-09-20

Project end date: 2022-07-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 6 497 149.90

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 3 898 289.94

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 3 898 289.94.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Reports

A regulatory review on the use of digestate to cultivate algal biomass for animal feed

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2020-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Policy recommendations for the commercialisation of ALG-AD technology

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2020-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Studies / surveys

Animal Feed from Microalgae Grown on Biogas Digestate as Sustainable Alternative to Imported Soybean Meal

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2022-02-04

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Best practices guideline for cultivation of microalgae on nutrient rich digestate

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2020-03-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Microalgae Cultivation on Nutrient Rich Digestate: The Importance of Strain and Digestate Tailoring under PH Control

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2022-05-27

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Valorising nutrient-rich digestate: Dilution, settlement and membrane filtration processing for optimisation as a waste-based media for microalgal cultivation

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Study / survey

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2020-09-03

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Videos / films

[WEBINAR | UK] Challenges and results, after 2 years of microalgae production using digestate

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2021-06-04

Languages: en

ALG-AD

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2019-07-29

Languages: en

ALG-AD exhibition installed at the Derval experimental farm, France

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2021-03-08

Languages: en

Carole Llewellyn on Lamballe

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2019-09-27

Languages: en

Cooperl Reactor - an introduction

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2019-08-01

Languages: en, fr

Engineering visit Sept 2018 1

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2018-10-23

Languages: en

French colleagues inoculate their reactor at Lamballe, Brittany.

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2019-12-02

Languages: en

Langage AD Site visit July 2018

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2018-07-26

Languages: en

Langage Inoculation Day

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2019-03-16

Languages: en

Philippe Soudant on regulation

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2019-10-01

Languages: en

Training with Claudio Swansea June 2018

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2018-06-22

Languages: en

Water test on Langage Pilot

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2018-12-03

Languages: en

Workshop Swansea Jan 2020 with vo and subtitles

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://vb.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/alg-ad-creating-value-from-waste-nutrients-by-integrating-algal-and-anaerobic-digestion-technology/

Publication date: 2023-11-10

Document date: 2020-02-24

Languages: en

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB North West Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2022-05-02

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

102 / 102 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 142 / 1 142 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.nweurope.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-12-12 and 2023-01-03.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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Creating value from waste nutrients by integrating algal and anaerobic digestion technology

Description

Thematic information

Partners (13)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer