The project
Background
The effects of climate change all around us, and the need to take action to counteract its negative impacts is more urgent than ever before. With 80% of the EU’s territory covered by forests and agricultural land, addressing climate change in rural areas is crucial.
In this context, integrating renewable energy solutions into agriculture and forestry systems is key to meeting future needs for electricity, heating and cooling, transport and as well as waste and land management in rural areas, especially in times when there is a significant increase in energy prices.
By doing so, Europe can advance efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance the resilience of farmers, foresters, and related enterprises. Simultaneously, it contributes to goals such as gender equality, youth employment, and the establishment of a circular economy in rural regions. In line with this, the newly recast Renewable Energy Directive offers citizens and communities across Europe a number of guarantees that provide a safer environment to invest in renewables. This legislation opens horizons for rural communities to make a major contribution to the European Green Deal.
Goals of the Project
Following this strategic approach, ECOLOOP aims to achieve the following objectives:
Optimising biogas production: By focusing on the efficient conversion of agricultural and forestry wastes into biogas, ECOLOOP aims to harness renewable energy sources effectively. This not only reduces waste but also provides a sustainable energy source that can be utilized locally.
- Optimising biogas production: By focusing on the efficient conversion of agricultural and forestry wastes into biogas, ECOLOOP aims to harness renewable energy sources effectively. This not only reduces waste but also provides a sustainable energy source that can be utilized locally.
- Integrating various renewable energy sources: ECOLOOP recognizes the importance of diversifying energy sources to meet local demands comprehensively. By integrating biogas, biomass, agri-PV, and geothermal energy, the initiative ensures a reliable and sustainable energy supply for electricity, heating, cooling, transport, and other needs in rural areas.
- Developing innovative agricultural protocols and bioproducts: ECOLOOP’s focus on enhancing sustainability and circularity in agriculture is crucial for long-term environmental health. By developing renewable-based agricultural protocols and advancing bioproducts, the initiative aims to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity, soil health, and groundwater pollution while maximizing agricultural productivity.
- Promoting regional development through innovative business models: Empowering farmers and foresters with innovative business models, financial instruments, and policy recommendations is essential for fostering economic growth and stability in rural areas. ECOLOOP’s emphasis on regional development ensures that sustainability efforts also contribute to social and economic progress.
Developing innovative agricultural protocols and bioproducts: ECOLOOP’s focus on enhancing sustainability and circularity in agriculture is crucial for long-term environmental health. By developing renewable-based agricultural protocols and advancing bioproducts, the initiative aims to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity, soil health, and groundwater pollution while maximizing agricultural productivity.
Integrating various renewable energy sources: ECOLOOP recognizes the importance of diversifying energy sources to meet local demands comprehensively. By integrating biogas, biomass, agri-PV, and geothermal energy, the initiative ensures a reliable and sustainable energy supply for electricity, heating, cooling, transport, and other needs in rural areas.
Promoting regional development through innovative business models: Empowering farmers and foresters with innovative business models, financial instruments, and policy recommendations is essential for fostering economic growth and stability in rural areas. ECOLOOP’s emphasis on regional development ensures that sustainability efforts also contribute to social and economic progress.
ECOLOOP holistic view enables the cross-integration of the three pillars: energy, biodiversity and social.
Innovations
To address this 3-pillar approach, ECOLOOP provides and demonstrates a set of 7 innovations represented by 3 products and 4 processes.
ECOLOOP PROJECT
Pilot Sites
All the benefits offered by ECOLOOP solutions are demonstrated in four pilot sites located in Spain, Estonia, Bulgaria and Slovenia. These sites showcase a diverse spectrum of natural conditions, encompassing varying climates, soils, forest and agriculture settings, sizes and types of crop trees, management techniques, degrees of mechanization, geographic locations, and socioeconomic considerations. Furthermore, ECOLOOP demonstrations meticulously take into account various energy sources, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of its solutions.
The Spanish pilot site is situated in Picassent, a municipality in the Valencian administrative region of L’Horta Sud within the Valencia Region (Spain). It is part of the Valencian metropolitan area and is located 17 km from the city of Valencia. Currently, there are approximately 25,000 hectares of cultivated land in the Valencia Region, used for citrus, vegetables, tiger nuts, rice, other fruit trees, and non-irrigated crops such as carob and olives trees, and vineyards, alongside the western mountains. The ongoing process of abandonment in the primary sector, gradual urbanization, and consequent destruction of agricultural land have been exacerbated by increasing competition at both national and international levels, resulting in a decline in sales and exports.
Partners involved: ETRA, INDEREN, Genia Bioenergy, UPV, Fertinagro Biotech, and AVA-ASAJA
Innovations of ECOLOOP tested: ECOLOOP – Biogas production, ECOLOOP – RES integration, ECOLOOP – Soil health, ECOLOOP – Decision Support System , ECOLOOP – Farmers support , and ECOLOOP – Soil Living Lab.
Benefits from ECOLOOP:
- Implementation of a hybrid system that combines Agri-PV and geothermal energy, utilising solar-generated energy to power heat pumps for extracting heat from the subsoil. This heat is used for heating, air conditioning, and hot water in Agri-PV structures and mushroom cultivation chambers.
- Demonstration of the technical and economic viability of Agri-PV and biogas production from agricultural waste.
- Evaluation of the potential of a new bioproduct derived from agricultural residues to enhance the productivity of low-quality or degraded soils within the pilot’s sphere of influence.
- Alignment of conventional agriculture with emerging trends in circular and sustainable agriculture, aiming to enhance the biological, chemical, and physical qualities of soil while minimizing input usage.
- Conducting a living lab to assess the benefits of returning harvest residues to fields, thereby validating proposed formulations for improved digestate.
The Estonian pilot area comprises a network of pilot sites featuring short-rotation forestry plantations of hybrid aspen, silver birch, and black alder. These sites serve as pilot and demonstration areas to assess the suitability of short-rotation forestry for Estonian conditions. Deciduous species are deemed more resilient to climate change and hold potential to replace climate-sensitive Norway spruce monocultures. The plantations are established on abandoned agricultural lands, thus utilising marginal lands. The network of pilot sites consists of 70 individual sites covering various soil types, forest management practices, and fertilisation methods. The findings from these pilot sites are applied to the broader Estonian pilot area, considering available land area and soil type classification. The pilot plantations are the basis for analysing the potential of utilising biomass as a renewable source for the production of renewable woody biomaterials. The tests take place at a biorefinery located in Imavere, Estonia. ECOLOOP demonstration activities allow for the first time an in-depth analysis of how the wood composition from novel fast-growing short-rotation forest plantations in Estonia will affect the properties of new high-value, low-carbon biomaterials (lignin, wood sugars, and specialty cellulose) and its production with minimal environmental impact. The produced biomaterials will replace fossil-based sources in various industry fields such as energy-saving (storage) systems, biochemicals, bio-based plastics, construction materials, food packages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Partners involved: Estonian University of Life Sciences and FIBENOL
Innovations of ECOLOOP tested: ECOLOOP – Biogas production, ECOLOOP – Decision Support System, ECOLOOP – CO2 sequestration, ECOLOOP – Farmers support, and ECOLOOP – Soil Living Lab.
Benefits from ECOLOOP:
- Development of wood ash recycling for forest plantations to effectively utilise bioenergy waste.
- Creation of a unique carbon sequestration tool/calculator for landowners and companies to estimate potential profits from CO2 sequestration on marginal lands through wood production and carbon credits.
- Implementation of new environmentally friendly biostimulants and fertilisers to enhance forest plantation productivity.
- Monitoring and modelling of the full rotation cycle across various soil types to determine the potential wood production of different deciduous tree species.
- Valorisation of residues and low-quality wood from forest plantations.
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by substituting fossil-based materials and energy sources with wood and biomaterials.
Albena is the largest hotel company in Bulgaria. The resort is located on the northern Bulgarian Black Sea coast, in Dobrich district. The Dobrich district is the number one cultivated region in the country. The area spans 4,720 km², with 81% of all the land in the Dobrich region being agricultural. The major crops grown include wheat, barley, sunflower, rape, and corn. Bulgaria is also the world’s biggest producer and exporter of lavender, lavender oil and rose oil. The population of Dobrich district is 167,314 people. Albena aims to continue its development with a focus on the local circular economy within the company and its subsidiaries, which operate in various sectors such as agriculture, bioenergy, real estate, tour operating, medical services, transportation, construction, and others.
Partners involved: ALBENA and TRAKIA University.
Innovations of ECOLOOP tested: ECOLOOP – Biogas production, ECOLOOP – RES integration, ECOLOOP – Soil health, ECOLOOP – Decision Support System, ECOLOOP – Farmers support and ECOLOOP – Soil Living Lab.
Benefits from ECOLOOP:
- Smart Agri-PV conversion with remote thermal regulation, provided by the owned Biogas Power Plant for optimal yield.
- Regional agricultural and other waste analysis and potential for biogas production.
- Implementation of national and regional regulations and business models to foster rural development.
The Slovenian pilot site consists of two locations. The first one is situated within the Biomass Centre Nazarje, positioned within an industrial zone. The primary function of the Biomass Centre Nazarje is the processing of wood waste, including waste from wood industries and sawmilling, into woody biomass. This processed biomass serves as a valuable resource for generating power and heat, as well as for the production of wood fuels. The existing infrastructure consists of 12 modular CHP units, collectively providing a total power output of 550 kWe and 1,200 kWth. Additionally, there is a wood chips boiler with a capacity of 4,900 kWth and a facility for woody biomass storage. Biomasa is poised for strategic investments in its infrastructure, including a CHP unit with a capacity of 500 kWe, another CHP unit with a capacity of 300 kWe, two wood chips boilers with a combined thermal power of 5,500 kWth, the establishment of a new wood chip storage facility, installation of EV charging station(s), deployment of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant, and integration of a battery energy storage system (BESS).
The second location is in the Jablje Infrastructure Centre, owned by the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia. KIS operates a modular micro biogas plant, which is upgraded with a biomethane production unit (biogas cleaning and upgrading to biomethane) and a biomethane filling station for filling biomethane of a tractor (converted to run on biomethane). The micro biogas plant in Jablje has a nominal electrical power of 7 kW and a nominal thermal power of 16 kW. The horizontal reactor, where anaerobic fermentation takes place, has a volume of 24 m³, and the size of the gas storage is up to 18 m³. Daily, 1.2 m³ of slurry and by-products (waste organic matter) produced at the Jablje Infrastructure Centre are added. In the anaerobic fermentation process, up to 50 m³ of biogas is produced daily, from which up to 60 kWh of electrical energy is generated daily. For the operation of the biogas plant itself (own consumption), 5.7 kWh of electrical energy is used.
Partners involved: BIOMASA, IRI UL, KOLEKTOR SETUP, and KIS.
Innovations of ECOLOOP tested: ECOLOOP – Biogas production and flexibility management, ECOLOOP – RES integration, ECOLOOP – Farmers support and ECOLOOP – Soil Living Lab.
Benefits from ECOLOOP:
- Optimising the operation and improving the security of supply at the Biomass Centre Nazarje.
- Utilising the flexibility offered by a modular biomass slow pyrolysis system solution.
- Designing a modular biomass slow pyrolysis system solution.
- Analysing opportunities for utilising biochar as a byproduct of the wood pyrolysis process.
- Analysing the utilization of biomethane from a biogas power plant for agricultural machinery.
- Developing models for financial support schemes, subsidies, and policy changes to facilitate the rapid expansion of woody biomass pyrolysis, with a focus on leveraging the benefits of its modular design and offering flexibility services to the grid operator.
ECOLOOP PROJECT
Results & Impact
In ECOLOOP, innovative solutions are implemented to drive the adoption of various decentralised renewable energy sources in rural areas. This entails the harmonious integration of solar and geothermal sources with diverse forms of bioenergy, including biogas and biofuel. The project pioneer’s novel processes, such as slow modular pyrolysis, to enhance the efficiency of biogas production from agricultural and forestry wastes, seamlessly integrating it with geothermal and solar energy.
ECOLOOP’s primary focus is on optimising bioenergy production and generating biobased products from agricultural and forest waste management, ultimately reducing global reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing the carbon footprint. This comprehensive approach encompasses the management and treatment of digestate for organic crop fertilization. Additionally, the project formulates agriculture protocols and carbon sequestration strategies to further mitigate the carbon footprint.
The ECOLOOP project is dedicated to advancing circular and sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and innovative business models. A key aspect involves optimizing the management of agroforestry wastes to produce biofertilizers, not only reducing global CO2 emissions but also fostering positive impacts on biodiversity, soils, and groundwater.
To foster the regional development in rural areas, ECOLOOP presents a holistic framework comprising policies, technologies, and business models. Furthermore, the project introduces new policies and financial incentives to encourage smallholder farmers and foresters to embrace innovative technologies, thereby increasing renewable energy generation and consumption, while simultaneously reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Through the anticipated outcomes, the project contributes to achieve by 2030, 35 bcm of biogas and biomethane production, representing 10% of the total EU gas demand, and by 2050 95 bcm, which could cover 30-40% of the total 2050 gas demand. Such growth represents 420,000 jobs by 2030 and over 1 million jobs by 2050 in Europe.
