Technical solution for a biogas plant’s feedstock pretreatment and operating model for a multi-feedstock biogas plant

Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto Oy (LSJH) is participating in a project that explores the possibilities of implementing a biogas plant in the Salo region. The goal of this request for information is to investigate solutions for the pretreatment of components used as feedstock in a biogas plant as well as solutions for biogas production. The first part of the request for information is focused on the pretreatment of feedstock in a biogas plant. The aim is to investigate whether material suitable for biogas production can be separated from municipal solid waste and biowaste components collected from LSJH’s operating area through facility-level processing. The amount and quality of the separated biowaste have an effect on the potential biogas plant’s financial profitability and operational effectiveness. A plot of land has been reserved for this pretreatment process at LSJH’s Korvenmäki waste treatment centre in Salo. The second part of the request for information concerns a multi-feedstock biogas plant operating model. In the Salo region, source-separated biowaste, biowaste separated from municipal solid waste, septic tank and cesspool sludge, and various agricultural side streams have been identified as potential feedstocks in biogas process. The composition and the amount of potential feedstocks under the responsibility of LSJH are specified in Appendix 1. The aim is to investigate what kind of plant solution and processing system would enable effective use of these feedstocks in biogas production and optimal use of digestate as soil amendment or industrial raw material, for example. The request for information is intended for companies that provide solutions for these processes and are interested in participating in future market dialogue and a potential invitation to tender.

Content of the request for information PART 1 SEPARATING BIOWASTE FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE Please provide solutions to the following questions: (a) Description of the process/equipment for separating biowaste from municipal solid waste. (b) What percentage of the biowaste contained in municipal solid waste can be separated? (c) What is the quality of the separated biowaste (considering the potential biogas process; for example, particle size, typical impurities, moisture content)? (d) Is the process/equipment suitable for separating other waste components (such as plastic and metal) for material recycling? How is the separation carried out? (e) Is the same process or equipment capable of treating other waste fractions besides mixed waste? If so, which ones? (f) Do you have experience of or references from similar projects? PART 2 MULTI-FEEDSTOCK BIOGAS PLANT Please provide solutions to the following questions: (a) Which of the components presented in Appendix 1 are suitable for the process/processes you provide? (b) What kind of process or processes are used to turn the components mentioned in section a) into feedstock for biogas production? (c) What kind of pretreatment processes or equipment are included in the solution (for example, screening or other impurity removal)? (d) What kind of quality criteria do the processes have in terms of feedstock characteristics? (e) In what ways can the digestates be reused or repurposed? (f) Do you have experience of or references from similar projects? We hope to receive responses to either part 1, separating biowaste from mixed waste, or part 2, multi-feedstock biogas plant, or both.