Hydrochar enhanced biogasproduction

With new technology, we aim to investigate the possibility of significantly increasing methane production during the anaerobic digestion of organic materials. Completely new studies show that hydrochar can induce biogas production when mixed with the substrate before the digester.

In a study conducted during spring 2023 at Karlstad University in collaboration with C-Green and Karlskoga Energi & Miljö, the results showed that methane gas potential increased by 90 percent when hydrochar produced from municipal digested sludge was mixed with the substrate. This new technology now needs to be explored with different types of substrates and hydrochar to gain understanding of the process. In addition to regular methane gas potential tests in batch reactors, continuous trials are planned.

In this collaborative project between academia, municipality, converting companies, and the forest industry, a new constellation of actors is created with the opportunity to investigate the possibilities and limitations of the new technology.

Project Information

Participants
Karlstad University
C-Green AB
Stora Enso Skoghall AB
Karlstad Municipality

Project Leader
Maria Sandberg

Project Duration
December 2023 - December 2025