KSW BIOENERGY

KSW Bioenergie is a company that focuses on environmentally friendly energy production from biofuels. In collaboration with Solenia SA and Frichs, KSW Bioenergie has initiated a development project aimed at producing electricity and heat using a conventional motor/generator setup optimized to run on various biofuels.

Solenia SA specializes in gasification technology and has accumulated considerable knowledge about thermal gasification of biofuels over the years. KSW Bioenergie has worked with numerous types of liquid biofuels for years and possesses expertise in handling them. They hold a patent for a treatment plant that makes palm oil more suitable for engine operation.

The goal of the project is to develop a modular system ranging between 500-750 kW, driven by a combination of gasification gas and liquid biofuel. This dual-fuel solution offers the advantage of not requiring conventional spark plugs, as the gas (primary fuel) is ignited by the liquid fuel.

Initial tests conducted by Frichs in Horsens, Denmark, in March 2009, have shown promising results when running on palm oil, a challenging biofuel due to its high temperature requirement for sufficient liquidity for injection into the engine. Approximately 5,000 liters of oil were consumed during a 100-hour test run on their test stand, yielding excellent results.

In Italy, the first gasification plant is being prepared, where various waste materials, including slaughterhouse waste, wood, and poultry manure, can be converted into a combustible gas suitable for engine operation. The first dual-fuel engine is expected to be delivered to the demonstration plant in Italy in 2009, after which the actual operating experience will drive further development.