Renewable Energies References
Energy is increasingly becoming a precious commodity. In order to lead a company or a community into a secure future today, energy optimisation must therefore always remain in the focus of all strategic considerations.
EnviCare ® has been working for years in the field of energy consulting as well as in the planning of plants for energy and gas generation from renewable sources. For instance since the year 2000 numerous clients have been supported in the implementation of plant approvals, constructive or functional tenders, as well as in the preparation of concepts and plans for agricultural, waste management and municipal biogas plants.
Application for approval, construction and commissioning support for a power-to-gas plant with methanisation
Client : Electricity and gas service provider
Period : 2020-2022
Services : Preparation of the approval documents under construction and commercial law incl. the fire and explosion protection concept and construction supervision
The company plans to construct and operate a power-to-gas plant to produce hydrogen with renewable energies by means of electrolysis using load-flexible methanation. This project also includes storage and distribution of renewable hydrogen and synthetically produced natural gas.
The hydrogen is generated, compressed and stored on-site, as well deliverd to the end user via a H 2-trailer filling station. The system is supplied with electrical energy on the one hand via a local PV system and on the other hand via the electrical grid since the planned 24/7 operation of the electrolyser is not possible with pure PV electricity. From the grid only certified green electricity is obtained. The biogas for methanisation is supplied by the nearby existing biogas plant (BGA).
For the submission project, extensive planning documents, a fire and explosion protection concept, a waste management concept and a detailed technical description of the plant were prepared.
- The plant is being built as part of a ” Renewable Gasfield ” research project.
- Article in Standard, 6./7. November 2021: ” Green light for green hydrogen “
- Conference contribution to ISEC 2022 (05-07 April 2022) in Graz: “Renewable gasfield – a holistic power-to-gas approach with PEM electrolysis and catalytic methanation ” (Mayr et al., 2022)
Small-scale biogas plant with food waste processing in a correctional facility
Client : Public Administration
Period : 2012-2014
Services : Planning of the modernization, approval, construction supervision, commissioning
For the Maria Lankowitz prison and for the public administration, the adaptation of the first Styrian biogas plant, which was built in 1984, was planned and the renewal of the official permit obtained. Particular importance was attached to the continued use of existing system parts and the sanitation system for leftovers, which was newly installed.
Detailed planning and execution documents were drawn up and the technical and commercial construction supervision and commissioning were carried out. The character of the penal institution and the fact that the neighborhood had moved closer in the meantime made the project particularly demanding.
Lecture at the “biogas13” in St. Pölten, 2013: “Particularities in the approval process for small biogas plants”
Concept for the anaerobic fermentation of industrial residues produced in the pharmaceutical industry
Client : International engineering office
Period : 2012
Services : Concept development
In 2012, an innovative concept for the anaerobic processing of industrial, commercial and municipal organic residues was developed on behalf of a large northern European engineering company, with a focus on the processing of large quantities of organic residues from pharmaceutical production.
Around 7.4 million Nm³ of methane are to be extracted annually from 270,000 tons of sludge-like waste.
Energy concept for a municipal wastewater treatment plant with co-fermentation
Client : Public Administration
Period : 2012
Services : Creation of an energy concept
The implementation of co-digestion in wastewater treatment plants, including the potential raw materials, was investigated using the example of a municipal wastewater treatment plant.. The potential for energy optimisation, the free digester capacity, the technical implementation and the economic efficiency were analysed. Regional conditions and green electricity grid supply were also taken into account
Lecture, 2013: ” Co-fermentation in wastewater treatment plants – raw material potential and implementation options”
ECO Refinery featuring gas production and biomethane processing
Client : Austrian engineering office
Period : 2011-2012
Services : concept development, planning
In 2011, a concept aimed at increasing the recycling rates of household waste was developed for a leading Finnish waste management company in response to the new EU requirements.
Rising raw material and energy prices and the Finnish paper and metal goods industry’s great interest in secondary raw materials are leading to a new path away from landfills through modern processing technology and anaerobic treatment of the organic contents.
An essential aspect of the project was the planning of the refinement of the biogas produced into biomethane.
Biogas plant for organic waste
Client : Austrian engineering office
Period : 2010-2011
Services : Approval planning
The approval planning included the construction of an additional fermentation line to the existing dry fermentation.
Newly planned were an intermediate bunker, a separation plant for biowaste, a CSTR fermenter, a manure separation, hygienisation and final storage, an exhaust air purification plant and a digestate drying plant instead of the composting plant. The additional fermentation line is suitable for the treatment of structureless biogenic waste and residues and thus complements the existing dry fermentation.
Energy analysis of an industrial company
Client : Austrian industrial company
Period : 2007-2008
Services : Energy flow analysis and optimization
The company has a high demand for cooling power due to its processes. Furthermore, due to the prevailing climate conditions in summer, there is an additional need for cooling in order to air-condition the company’s buildings. Due to the special characteristics of the receiving water, there are additional requirements in terms of meeting demand depending on the location.
Energy self-sufficient wastewater treatment plant
Client : Wastewater Association
Period : 2006-2008
Services : Planning, waste management permit, implementation support, commissioning
At a municipal wastewater treatment plant, after adaptation to the state of the art, a co-digestion system for the transfer of liquid waste and a solar sewage sludge drying system were planned, approved according to waste legislation and implemented. Since then, the sewage treatment plant has been operated in an energy-balanced manner.
In summary, the positive effects are as follows:
- CO 2 savings totaling 1,790 t CO 2 /a
- Energy self-sufficiency of the wastewater treatment plant
- Massive reduction in CO 2 , methane and odor emissions
- Relieving the burden on the soil by ending the spreading of sewage sludge
- Relief of the sewage system and reduction of maintenance costs through direct transfer of liquids with a high organic content to the digestion system
- Reduction of the energy requirement of the aerobic stage through direct transfer of liquids with high organic content into the digestion process
- Reduced odor and methane emissions
This project was awarded the 2006 environmental protection prize by the Styrian provincial government.
Large agricultural biogas plants - 2 x 1,500 kW electric
Client : Austrian industrial company
Period : 2006-2008
Services : Basic engineering, approval, detailed engineering, construction supervision, commissioning, operational support
This project, which we were in charge of planning, had a volume of € 15 million and generates an output of 2 x 1.5 MW el from the fermentation of renewable raw materials at two locations in Lower Austria.
Due to its high methane content, biogas is a valuable source of energy. Biogas can be converted into heat and electrical energy in a CHP thanks to the high energetic potential of methane. Since the biogas in the plants in question is produced from renewable resources, the carbon balance is neutral.
Large agricultural biogas plant - 1,000 kW electric
Client : Austrian industrial company
Period : 2002-2004
Services : Basic engineering, approval, construction supervision, commissioning support
In 2002, Europe’s largest biogas plant based on renewable resources was built here with an electrical output of 1,000 kW. We were responsible for the basic approval, construction supervision and commissioning supervision.