Converting manure into green gas and Bio-Based Carbon without any harmful emissions. The Drenthe-based company STERCORE B.V. is breaking the deadlock on the nitrogen issue with its innovative techniques. Last Thursday, the Province of Drenthe granted the final permit for the construction of an innovative manure gasification plant in Emmen.

Director Hans Jansen: “Manure is not a problem, it is a solution”.

Good for the climate, good for livestock farmers, good for the vegetable sector, good for our sustainable energy production and good for local employment. The technique developed and put together by Richard Kusters to extract green gas and Bio-Based Carbon from manure without any harmful emissions has many advantages. The technique devised by the technical director of STERCORE seems to be the egg of Columbus in the nitrogen impasse.

Sustainability pioneer

Despite the purely positive effects, the Province of Drenthe did not rush to grant the sustainability pioneer a permit. Why did the permit take so long? Director Hans Jansen: “Our innovative way of working is so new that our initiative cannot be tested. Existing calculation models only used data from fermentation installations and natural gas-fired installations. A sustainable electrical installation simply doesn’t exist yet.”

Final permit

Positive, that was the verdict of the Province of Drenthe after extensive research into the company’s innovative manure processing techniques: on Thursday 6 February 2021, STERCORE received the green light to build the first green gas factory in Emmen. The factory, which will employ around forty people, will run mainly on sustainably generated electrical power and, on the factory’s own initiative, will be equipped with a nitrogen measurement plant.

More sustainable agriculture and horticulture

With its innovative techniques and products, STERCORE is contributing to more sustainable agriculture and horticulture, explains Hans Jansen. “In the medium term, we foresee the manure market changing from a supply market to a demand market. In our business model, we have already calculated that in the future we will have to pay for manure. This is a positive development, which means that manure fraud will disappear and livestock farmers can implement emission-reducing measures on the farm with manure as a new source of income.”

High-quality organic fertiliser substitute

STERCORE also contributes to the sustainability of agriculture and horticulture by producing Bio-Based Carbon on an industrial scale. A high-grade organic fertiliser substitute and soil improver. Jansen: “It is now also feasible for deregulated farmers and horticulturists to opt for sustainable initiatives. For the supply of the manure, STERCORE works closely with contracting firm Meilofin Smilde.

Green gas for 24,000 households

This year, the construction of the first green gas plant in Emmen will start; production will commence after about two years. In the future, over 24,000 households will be able to benefit from the green gas produced by STERCORE. Hans Jansen: “Obtaining the necessary permits recognises that we are making a super-clean contribution to the major challenges. Think of green gas for regional households, less artificial fertiliser and the pure processing of natural minerals. In other words, a benefit for households, cattle farmers and the environment!

STERCORE hopes to be able to put the first shovel in the ground this spring for the construction of a manure gasifier on the Emmtec site in Emmen.

A court case is still pending, but Hans Jansen of STERCORE hopes that a decision will be made this spring. Press release RTVDrenthe.nl SCREENED BY Rien Kort

Last year in January, Milieudefensie took the matter to court because of the arrival of the manure gasifier. According to Milieudefensie, the nitrogen calculations that were submitted are incorrect. It was expected that the legal wrangling would be settled last autumn. But the case is still ongoing, says Jansen. “The appeal is still before the judge. There have been many delays and postponements. Jansen expects that the case will finally be heard within six weeks. “Everything Milieudefensie has questioned, we can refute,” he says. According to Jansen, the manure gasifier will remain within all norms. The opening of the gasifier in autumn 2022 is therefore still feasible, he says.

First in Drenthe

If given the green light, the manure gasifier would be the first in Drenthe. The initiative involves an investment of 45 million euros. On an annual basis, the plant should process almost two hundred thousand tonnes of dry manure into natural soil improvers and 25 to 30 million cubic metres of green gas. An agreement for the delivery of the manure has already been made with contracting firm Meilof in Smilde, which also arranges the delivery.

Emmtec, households or fuel

Depending on whether STERCORE can get SDE subsidies, the gas will be pumped into the regular grid or the Emmtec site will become a customer. “Should Stercore fail to receive the subsidies, the company will consider converting the gas into a high-grade fuel: Bio-LNG. “We can go anywhere with that product. Every oil and petrol company will benefit from it. Like green gas, this is a market that cannot be saturated.”

Second factory in Hoogeveen

Jansen expects the plant in Emmen to create 35 to 40 jobs. As soon as Emmen is up and running, a second plant will be set up near Hoogeveen. That will create another 25 to 30 jobs, according to Jansen. “We may even open a third plant within five years, but then in the middle of the country. A gasifier is not a manure digester. “Moreover, odour nuisance is not permitted by law in an installation like this. Even if you stand with your nose against the building, you will not smell anything, Jansen says. “The manure is unloaded inside the building. There is nothing outside. So people who live in the neighbourhood will not notice anything.”

Peanuts

The building of the manure gasifier covers an area of 70 by 120 metres. The height is 11 metres. “So we will not be bigger than an average Intratuin. Compared to other buildings on the Emmtec site, it is peanuts.”