GICON® sending biogas testing unit to Colombia

As part of the development of a waste management concept, a test unit based on the GICON® Biogas Process will be installed.

Since 2017, GICON® has been developing a waste management concept for the Colombian city of Santander de Quilichao. As a new project step, a biogas testing unit is now being installed at our partner CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture). This will be used to investigate the composition of the organic component of household waste produced and the conclusions that can be drawn for the dimensioning of a future commercial-scale biogas plant. "With this project approach, we are pursuing two goals: on the one hand, to solve the waste problem on site in a sustainable manner and, on the other hand, to make a contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using the waste as a renewable energy source," says GICON Managing Director Dr. Hagen Hilse about GICON's commitment in Colombia.

Testing unit constructed in Cottbus

The biogas testing plant was constructed at GICON®’s large-scale biogas research facility in Cottbus, which is responsible for such units. With a footprint of 450 m², the research facility offers ideal conditions for the individual development of all biogas plant types at large-scale demonstration in order to prepare them for later commercial use. After construction and documentation, the testing plant was packed into several boxes and sent by courier to Colombia.

Know-how transfer and local training of specialists by GICON®

GICON is already working closely with local administrations and companies in Colombia on the project. Numerous consultations have taken place with local waste handling companies, the regional university (Unicomfacauca), the international research institute CIAT, the Fundacion Univalle and the regional environmental authority (CRC). For the partners, the cooperation is an opportunity to benefit from GICON's extensive know-how. After construction of the first biogas testing unit, extensive training and further education projects are planned. In this way, local specialists can be trained for the subsequent operation of large-scale biogas plants at an early stage.

GICON was granted a proportionate project grant from DEG's "International Climate Protection Initiative - Climate Partnership in Industry" program for the preparation of the waste management concept and the construction of the biogas testing unit (forwarding contract E9802).