In Spring 2012, INBIOM contacted the company C.F. Nielsen in order to start a project regarding straw-logistics in cooperation with Maabjerg Energy Concept, Aarhus University and the Knowledge Centre for Agriculture (today named SEGES). There was a specific challenge of sourcing 400.000 tonnes straw to Maabjerg - could briquetted straw be a part of the solution? This became the beginning of a project where straw briquettes played a very central role. A couple of years later a new concept developed from the project: C.F. Nielsen started a new company under the name Kinetic Biofuel together with Biofuel Technology.
Briquetted straw was not a well-known concept, when INBIOM in Spring 2012 contacted Mogens Sloth Knudsen, CEO at C.F. Nielsen, which produces machines for briquetting straw, regarding a new logistics projects with funding from the Central Denmark Region. Mogens had just started a project about straw briquetting in cooperation with Aarhus University, which was going to be used to document the biogas production in an EUDP project together with Biofuel Technology.
- The project was a natural further development of the research project, we had just started and there was a potential large buyer of straw briquettes. The logistic calculations in the project would make it possible to show another advantage of the briquette in a Danish context, so it was really interesting, Mogens S. Knudsen says.
The project changed however, as Maabjerg Energy Concept still stands some distance from the market. On the other hand, C.F. Nielsen has in the meantime delivered briquettes for tests for bioethanol production in Crescentino in Italy. Therefore, the project started focusing more on logistics in relation to straw and other biomasses - also for biogas. Results in the EUDP-project showed promising biogas production and the idea with Kinetic Biofuel began to take shape.
- INBIOM helped to adjust the project to be able to demonstrate the concept for straw to biogas at a farm in Havndal. It was a great event, where companies, researchers and decision-makers heard about our idea, Mogens says. Later on, a leaflet regarding the concept has been published with funding from the Central Denmark Region and INBIOM, which can take us to the Danish market.
After the project has ended, Kinetic Biofuel has translated the leaflet into English and the company has big expectations for a European market for straw briquettes for biogas and bioethanol.
The cooperation is a good example of how projects can develop in unknown directions, which requires close dialogue with the donors in order to achieve good results that can create growth and employment.
Mogens Slot Knudsen is very satisfied with the collaboration with INBIOM and recommends the network to other people working within the agriculture and energy sector, who are starting a new development, demonstration or market introduction. C.F. Nielsen has participated in several projects with INBIOM, for example exhibitions in China and Spain, as well as demonstration and development projects.
- INBIOM is an objective partner that understands how to create collaboration with several players from the industry and public knowledge institutions, Mogens says. Today, Mogens is also CEO at Kinetic Biofuel.
Download the folder from the project here:
Briquetted straw more than doubles biogas production
Further information
Network Manager Jacob Mogensen, jm@agropark.dk, +45 6171 8162