Ecogas operates New Zealand’s first commercial scale anaerobic digestion bioenergy plant near Reporoa, representing a milestone in the transition to a circular bioeconomy.
Scion scientists were involved in de-risking the key technologies used in the facility during its early planning and development phase several years ago, and they continue to explore further research opportunities with them to enhance bioenergy production.
The BPA provided funding to enable them to take what was a pilot scale project to the next level.
At the state-of-the-art processing facility, anaerobic digestion is used to break down waste into valuable resources, including electricity, biogas and nutrients.
Biogas is used to produce electricity and heat to keep the Ecogas plant self-sufficient. It’s also used to heat local commercial tomato glasshouses and there are plans underway to upgrade it into bio-methane and bio-CO2.
Fully operational, the $30 million plant can turn 75,000 tonnes of organic food waste collected from households and businesses around the North Island into renewable clean energy and biofertiliser.
It partners with the Auckland City Council in providing a long-term solution for the processing of kerbside organic waste, and has recently announced a partnership with the Christchurch City Council to expand its processing into garden waste. An organics processing facility is planned for South Hornby, evolving the Reporoa organics processing facility design and operations for the needs of Christchurch and wider Canterbury.
Ecogas, whose two founding partners are Pioneer Energy and EcoStock Supplies, won the Low Carbon Future award at the NZ Energy Excellence awards 2023 for its transformation of food waste into energy and liquid fertiliser.
For further information on applying for funding from the BPA, please visit our website https://www.bioresourceprocessing.co.nz or contact Nicky Solomon, general manager on email nicky.solomon@bioresourceprocessing.co.nz
For further information on Scion, please visit https://www.scionresearch.com/
For further information on Ecogas, please visit https://www.ecogas.co.nz/
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