Project objectives
The aim of the project BioRist is to develop an innovative and technically feasible procedure of microbiological degradation of rice straw in order to facilitate the fermentation and conversion of cellulose into biogas. The establishment of a pilot plant in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam will prove that the procedure is able to produce climate neutral energy, to reduce methane emissions, which are formed in the paddies due to combustion or anaerobic degradation and to produce fertilizers. The technical components and the products will be integrated into the regional value-added chain under consideration of the local actors and the specific preconditions.
Project implementation
In the frame of the project a technical procedure will be up-scaled and adapted to the local conditions. The plant will be in operation over two years in order to optimize the retention time in the reactor and the addition of different co-substrates. The pilot plant will be located in a typical village in the province of Tien Giang. Local partners are involved into the project to develop, built, operate and to market the plant together with the company of Herbst Umwelttechnik GmbH (Berlin).
In addition to the technical optimization of the plant the procedure will be studied under consideration of the regional material flow management. Further the procedure will be implemented in the current system in order to support the sustainable development and climate protection.
An important pillar of the project is the experimental prove of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions over the value-added chain. This comprises analyses of the emissions in the paddies with and without the application of the residues from the anaerobic reactor, as well as the assessment of the fertilizing efficiency.
During the operation of the pilot plant the production of biogas and fertilizer from rice straw will be optimized and the practical suitability for the local markets will be proved.
Thus in future it will be possible to utilize large quantities of rice straw providing CO2-neutral electricity and process heat and to considerably reduce the climate relevant emissions from the paddies. The development of climate protection projects under NAMA and CDM will support the financing of the planned biogas plants after the project run-time. The feasibility of the financing tools will be assessed during the project.
Different scientific investigations regarding the emissions from the paddies will contribute for a better understanding of the processes and thus will reduce the emissions by developing a targeted material flow management. Moreover improved monitoring and assessment procedures shall be developed which will be used for research and service purposes.
The results of the material flow and the biogas potential und the concept of the transport logistics will be the base for the development of further projects in similar regions.
