Greenhouse growers in the far north of North Holland are going to grow their crops with BIO-CO2 which is being collected from the smoke fumes of the bio-energy plant of HVC in Alkmaar. Chris Kuijten, director HVC: "Collection of BIO-CO2 from smoke fumes and selling it as plant food to growers seemed like a dream, but after four years of preparation it is now a reality. At the moment HVC is installing a collection installation as a test at the bio-energy plant in Alkmaar; the heat source that provides green energy to more than 4,800 residences in the region of Alkmaar. The installation will be operational this year, and we are going to test the utilization of BIO-CO2 together with the greenhouse growers in North Holland."
"Robert Kielstra, director of Energy Combination Wieringermeer and representative of the greenhouse horticultural companies at Agriport in North Holland. "Collecting CO2 is a good example of circular business. Now it is a test installation, but this step means - especially after scaling up - a significant step toward sustainability, because it reduces the use of gas in the horticulture."
Scoop
The BIO-CO2 from smoke fumes are being usefully reused by the greenhouse growers who do not have to use fossil fuels. One ton of BIO-CO2 means saving half a ton of CO2 from gas. Kuijten: "HVC is the first company to realize CO2-collection from a bio-energy plant in The Netherlands and turns it into liquid CO2 for growers in the region."
HVC directly gains BIO-CO2 back from the smoke fumes and thereby reduces the direct CO2-emission. Coupled with the bio-energy plant the collection installation prevents emission of 4 kilotons of CO2 annually. Greenhouse growers now use CO2 from fossil gas installations to speed up the growth of their tomatoes and other crops (vegetables, fruit, flowers, and plants). Particularly on sunny days there is a need for this. One ton BIO-CO2 saves half a ton fossil CO2 from gas. The CO2 must first be made liquid for transport in tank trucks, which takes the 'plant food' to large storage tanks near the greenhouses.
North Holland Green Deal CO2 horticulture
The construction of the CO2 test installation is an intermediate step towards realizing a larger collection installation as a regional source of BIO-CO2 and achieving the North Holland Green Deal CO2 for horticultural companies. The external supply of CO2 is an important prerequisite for making the energy supply sustainable in the greenhouse horticulture. Many horticultural companies add extra CO2 to the greenhouses.
The construction of the CO2 test installation is an intermediate step towards realizing a larger collection installation as a regional source of BIO-CO2 and achieving the North Holland Green Deal CO2 for horticultural companies. The external supply of CO2 is an important prerequisite for making the energy supply sustainable in the greenhouse horticulture. Many horticultural companies add extra CO2 to the greenhouses.
The HVC bio-energy plant supplies, besides BIO-CO2 to greenhouse horticulture, also heat to, 4,800 customers in Alkmaar, Heerhugowaard and Langedijk. Ultimately it is the intention to supply sustainable heat to more than 15,000 residences and companies. The bio-energy plant which burns wood waste, is in fact a large boiler for the region. The burning of wood releases steam which heats water that is channelled through tubing to residences and companies in the region. Customers can heat their houses and companies sustainably. The cooled down water is returned to HVC, which reheats the water and returns it to the customers.
Source: HVC Groep