An interview with Carsten Steentjes, Head of Special Sales at PlanET Biogas

we designed a narrow and long building rather than a square structure.”

This approach to design extended to looking at the best solutions for maintenance, “in order to ensure a reliable and safe sorting facility for the future,” says.

“The layout is designed for easy maintenance, with almost every motor being accessible from walkways and maintenance platforms. The layout groups similar equipment together where possible and allows future possibility of extension. The dedusting system with multiple suction points across the whole plant and two large filter units installed outside the building further adds to the plant’s cleanliness,” he says.

Remeo’s MRF project is unique in Europe as it uses the latest technology and, thanks to its operation, material recovery will play a much greater role than energy recovery for the first time. The plant will cover more than 30 percent of all waste recycling needs in the Helsinki region in Finland.

In doing so, this facility also removes the need to export the waste from Finland as the capacity to recycle waste domestically increases.

Remeo’s facility offers effective recycling close to the place of origin of the waste, cutting transport emissions because of the short distances.

Due to efficient recycling capabilities, Remeo is also helping its customers to meet the minimum 70 percent recycling rate required by law in Finland.

www.remeo.fi www.zenrobotics.com www.w-stadler.de

PlanET Biogas ia a specialist in engineering, approval, plant construction, technical plant service and CHP service and is a leading provider of biogas plants. The company also has an inhouse laboratory for biological service and process optimisation.

How small are your small-scale digesters?

Our VALENTIN biogas plant is our smallest digester with a volume between 580 m3 and 891 m3. A few years earlier, we had developed this product for the international agricultural market, but quickly realised that it could also be used very well in other industries.

What is the minimum in-put your small digesters needs? How much output do they produce?

Each substrate behaves differently and takes more or less time to convert from organic to methane. For pure manure, the flow capacity per year ranges from 7,000 m3 to 12,000 m3 with an average residence time of about 30 days. The output also depends on the substrate but can range from 40 to 150 kW.

What sets your product apart from others?

I would call it a “plug-and-play”-plant, that the competition does not have. It fits into two containers and can be shipped and installed worldwide. Through its modular design, it’s easily adaptable for individual needs. A PlanET Biogas supervisor helps with the set-up which is usually done within two weeks.

Who is your target group?

Wherever there are low currents of substrates, our digesters can be used. From farms to industrial plants or even municipal sewage treatment plants. One of our clients, for example, is a sugar mill in Brazil.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of small-scale digesters?

The advantages are that even small farms and settlements are able to produce their own energy. A disadvantage is, that it is not very flexible with regard to the substrate. It must be clarified in advance which substrate is to be processed, and the system is adapted to this. This cannot simply be changed again.

Where do you see your biggest market growth?

It's hard to say because demand is actually high worldwide. We have inquiries from South America as well as from the Asian region.

Do you think small-scale and micro digesters will play an important role in the future?

I think so. Small-scale digesters might be very interesting in regions where the infrastructure for other renewables is already saturated. Subsidies and legal provisions of course also play a role.

Produced by Helena Nageler-Petritz for Waste Management World