CENER is developing technologies for the future urban biorefineries

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

According to a recent press release, the Biomass Department of CENER (National Renewable Energy Centre) is working on 4 specific initiatives related to technologies for the valorisation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). This portfolio of technologies will make it possible to lay the foundations for future integrated urban biorefineries within the framework of the circular bioeconomy.
Press release: “CENER desarrolla tecnología aplicable a futuras biorrefinerías urbanas, para avanzar hacia una bioeconomía circular”, 4/3/2019.

Figure 1. Biochemical module of the Biorefinery and Bioenergy Centre (BIO2C) of CENER

Initiative
Funded by
Initiative aim
CENER actitvity
"Biorrefinería Urbana Circular en Navarra"
 Government of Navarre
To design a new concept of integral and cascade valorisation of the different fractions that comprise OFMSW.
- Development of fractionation processes of the OFMSW.
- Valorisation of the fractions of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and lignin.
PERCAL project (Chemical Building Blocks from Versatile MSW Biorefinery)
Post: “URBIOFIN and PERCAL projects – The urban biorefinery model in action”
H2020-EU.3.2.6. - Bio-based Industries Joint Technology Initiative (BBI-JTI)
To exploit OFMSW as feedstock to develop intermediate chemical products of industrial interest.
Production of biosurfactants from the fermentation by-product that remains after the production of bioethanol, succinic acid and lactic acid.
SCALIBUR project (Scalable Technologies for Bio-urban Waste Recovery)
H2020-EU.3.2.4.1. - Fostering the bio-economy for bio-based industries
H2020-EU.3.2.2.1. - Informed consumer choices
To minimize the existing gap between technological feasibility and industrial applications for the valuation of urban waste.
Enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation in the BIO2C demonstration plant (TRL7) for the subsequent production of biopesticides and biopolyesters.
NextGenRoadFuels project (Sustainable Drop-In Transport fuels from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Low Value Urban Feedstocks)
H2020-EU.3.3.3. - Alternative fuels and mobile energy sources
To demonstrate that hydrothermal liquefaction is a feasible and sustainable technology for the production of fuels for road transport using urban waste.
Valorisation of feedstocks with high content of organic nitrogen, such as sewage sludge.

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