Evolving cleantech and gold mine development company Minnova Corp. is pleased to announce positive biomass gasification test results and other business development opportunities.
It reported positive gasification test results for corn stover from Romania and Pineapple waste from Costa Rica, with over 50% H2 content in syngas achieved. Following on from that, it has identified opportunites to further increase the H2 content of syngas. It reported discussions with major equipment manufacturers (power generation) for direct syngas to power generation. Its gasification technology has also been selected to participate in the Canadian Technology Accelerator programme to address South East Asia's climate target of net-zero carbon emissions
Positive Biomass Gasification Test Results
Test work was conducted at the University of Teramo, Italy, Department of Biosciences and Agri-Food and Environmental Technologies under the supervision of Professor Ing. Sergio Rapagnà. Corn and pineapple waste samples were dried and pelletised in a commercial pellet plant to approximate future industrial scale operations.
Pelletised samples were fed into the DUMA designed fluidised bed reactor and gasified under controlled conditions. The resulting syngas flow rates and H2 content exceeded expectations (minimum target of 50% H2) for both corn and pineapple samples.
Concentration of tar in the syngas for both samples were in line with test results of comparable biomasses. Observations during testing suggested an opportunity exists to further improve the quality (% H2 content) and volume (gas yield Nm3/kg daf) of the resulting syngas by adjusting some of the operating parameters.
With positive gasification results in hand the company is now in a position to start detailed techno- economic studies on project initiatives in Costa Rica and Romania.
In-country work will include soliciting biomass supply agreements, commercial offtake agreements for either green H2, electrical power or byproduct thermal energy, and definitive commercial site selection.
The results demonstrate continued progress towards the goal of producing a high H2 content syngas from biomass gasification that can be; i) purified to a green H2, ii) utilised for direct power generation, or iii) further processed to produce other valuable biofuels.
Southeast Asia: Decarbonizing the energy sector - CTA Program 2022-2023
The company announced it has been selected to participate in the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) programme with a specific goal of addressing South East Asia's climate target of net-zero carbon emissions between 2050 and 2065.
Selected companies have demonstrated marketable, innovative technologies at a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of six or higher. The selection of its 3rd generation biomass gasification technology presents an opportunity to take a leading role in decarbonising South East Asia's power generation infrastructure by incorporating its technology which can produce green H2, electrical power and a variety of other valuable biofuels. The CTA program of Global Affairs Canada assists high-potential, technology focused, Canadian SMEs to accelerate their growth.
South East Asia's carbon emission reduction target is ambitious, with current energy supply dominated by fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). Biomass may represent the only viable, carbon neutral, sustainable and secure replacement for current base load electrical power production.
The region's diverse supply of biomass waste (e.g., agricultural residues, woody biomass, animal wastes, and municipal solid waste) combined with its high growth, industrialised economy, and commitment to reducing carbon emissions meet Minnova's general site selection criteria.
Gorden Glenn, president and CEO of Minnova, commented: "These are impressive test results that affirm our belief in our technology, and that gasification of biomass can be a technically viable and economical route for large scale green hydrogen production.
"The results not only exceeded our expectations, but there is also potential to further increase hydrogen content in the syngas. On our selection to participate in the Southeast Asia CTA programme it is another confirmation that our 3rd generation biomass gasification technology is a marketable technology that offers a real carbon neutral solution to produce green hydrogen and power from locally available waste biomass around the world.
"The market opportunity that Southeast Asia represents is extremely attractive and adds to our existing global business development pipeline consisting of Canada, Europe, Central America and Africa.
"Our transition to an operating, cleantech company is accelerating and we will continue to innovate and acquire or develop intellectual property associated with green hydrogen, renewable power generation and other carbon emission reduction technologies worldwide."
Cleantech company Minnova announces positive biomass gasification test results
