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Turning unexploited food waste into biomethane supplied through local filling stations network

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Bin2Grid (Turning unexploited food waste into biomethane supplied through local filling stations network)

Berichtszeitraum: 2016-07-01 bis 2017-12-31

Total generation of municipal waste in EU-27 (Eurostat 2000 and 2010) is presented in Figure 1. In the EU alone, 90 million tonnes of food waste is produced every year or around 180 kg per person. The EU waste composition is presented in Figure 2. Biowaste is by definition biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises and comparable waste from food processing plants. The largest producers of biowaste by percentage are presented in the Figure 3 (EUROSTAT 2006).
It is estimated that about one-third of Europe`s 2020 goal for renewable energy in transport could be met by using biogas produced from biowaste and around 2% of the EU`s overall renewable energy target could be met if all biowaste were turned into energy. There were around 1.6 million CNG vehicles in Europe at the end of 2011 representing 0.38% of European market share. Also, there are around 3,000 refuelling CNG stations in the EU.
The aim of the project is to combine the potential of two different sectors: waste management and renewable energy production, where project activities are covering all chains of the proposed Food Waste to Biofeuel (FWtB) concept: supply (waste producers, waste management, and biofuel production), and demand (biofuel distribution through filling stations networks). The FWtB value chain of the Bin2Grid project is presented in Figure 4.
The overall objective of Bin2Grid project is to promote segregated collection of food waste as energy source, its conversion to biogas and upgrade to biomethane. Within Bin2Grid 4 European target cities are supported for the production and distribution of biomethane and its usage as a biofuel for transport:
• City of Zagreb (Croatia),
• City of Skopje (MK FYR),
• City of Malaga (Spain),
• City of Paris (France);

During the implementation of the project more than 100 events, including workshops, working group meetings, study tours and other dissemination activities will be implemented in order to elaborate four FoodWaste-to-Biofuel (FWtB) concepts for the target cities. The objectives of the Bin2Grid project are:
• 4 Feasibility studies on sustainable food waste management in the target cities
• 3 study tours in the WtB chain for representatives of the cities
• 24 Food Waste Working group meetings
• 4 Concepts on food waste management in target cities
• 4 Case-studies on filling stations network in target cities
• Organisation of 4 training courses on food and beverage waste management as energy source
• In each target city a dedicated training course will be organised to train the stakeholders about opportunities to produce biogas/biomethane from food and beverage waste
• Implementation of 4 promotional campaigns in the target cities
• Organisation of 4 pilot projects in cooperation with restaurants associations and municipal companies
• 8 awareness campaigns (2 in each target city) will be implemented to increase the awareness on the benefits of separate waste collection: one among catering services the other one among residents
• Reduction in CO2 emissions associated with current fossil fuel consumption by increase in biofuel consumption in transportation vehicles by 30% in target cities
• 100 key players from 7 member states trained via an intensive training program
• 120 policy makers on local, national and European level reached with relevant amendments to current regional and national legislation on a enhancing biogas plants fed with industrial and household wastes in 7 target countries
• 250 target group members out of 6 member states and FYR Macedonia sensitised and informed about technical and non-technical barriers and the way to overcome them
The 2nd Periodic Report of the Bin2Grid project covers activities from Month 19-36 (1 July 2016 – 31 December 2017). The objective of this period is to develop and present the FWtB concept for the Bin2Grid target cities. Specific objectives are listed below:
• Organisation of the three project meetings (WP1),
o The 3rd Progress Meeting (WP1) was held on 17-18.02.2015 in Malaga, Spain.
o The 4th Progress Meeting (WP1) was held on 20-21.10.2015 in Vienna, Austria.
o The Final Meeting (WP1) was held on 17-18.03.2016 in Brussels, Belgium
• Organisation of the final Bin2Grid conference in Brussels (WP1),
• Organisation of two study tours in Spain and Austria (WP2),
• Organisation of the several Food Waste Working Group in target cities (WP2),
• Promotion campaign and training on sustainable food beverage waste management (WP3),
• Awareness campaigns on sustainable food waste management (WP4),
• Public survey on sustainable waste management (WP4),
• Creation of prefeasibility study for pilot plants in target cities (WP5),
• Promotion of good practice in biogas/biomethane production in target cities (WP5),
• Development of the concept of satellite filling stations network (WP6),
• Promotion of Bin2Grid concept on different social networks (WP7),
• Successful cooperation with other projects and initiatives (WP8),
• Continuous project presentation and dissemination (WP8);
The main impact of the Bin2Grid project is the increase of the renewable energy production through sustainable management of food waste in target cities. The novel concept of this project is focused on organic waste management, involving all waste producers (food and beverage industry, catering service, and citizens), as well as a waste management companies.
The project aims to combine the experience of parties involved and investigate the potential of a renewable energy production in different EU countries.
In this sense, potential impact of the project is on:
• Improvements in urban waste management practice
• Job creation in the waste management and energy sector
• Improvement in innovation capacity and integration of new knowledge
• Effect on EU legislation

This concept of the Bin2Grid project has a high social-economic impact. This innovative approach will include all stakeholders that are integrated in current waste collecting and energy production (e.g. citizens, waste management companies, gas operators and distributors, etc.).
The project activities are going beyond current practices with citizens and waste producers through the implementation of pilot project in each target city, where key actors at city level were also included.
The ambition of the project is to develop new environmental solution which will enhance green economy in urban areas. The implementation of new management schemes for urban biowaste will create a market for the biowaste and have positive impact on local economy.
The significant impact on municipal waste management in EU is also from non-economic incentives (awareness and promotion campaigns) in order to encourage citizens and communities on source-separation of waste.

The project also promotes technologies for environmental-friendly food waste management practices, enabling biogas production and creating awareness and trust in the technology, as well as the sensibility on biogas/biomethane as a reliable energy source.
Biomethane utilisation as a transportation fuel will have one of the crucial impact due to its significance and large number of benefits it provides.
The FWtB value chain of the Bin2Grid project
The EU waste composition (Biowaste workshop, Brussels 2006).
The largest producers of biowaste by percentage (EUROSTAT 2006).
Total generation of municipal waste in EU-27 (Eurostat 2000 and 2010)