Coega Biomass Centre Partners for Innovation

Coega Biomass Centre

Project

Coega Biomass Centre

Clean energy from alien invasive trees

In Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Coega Biomass Centre – a plant for the production of pellets from solid biomass residues – has been put into operation again in March 2024. iLive (SA), Partners for Innovation (NL) and FincoEnergies have teamed up to uprooting alien invasive trees, provide the industry and local community with clean energy and create jobs. On April 19th, 2023 the status of Financial Close was reached. In 2022 FSC and SBP certification were received, and in 2023 REDII was included in our SBP scope.

Coega Biomass Centre The project is in one of South Africa’s Special Economic Zones, which are designed to attract foreign investment to boost local economic growth. The project aims to demonstrate the feasibility and sustainability of biomass supply chains, and hoping to unlock more biomass sources and end-uses in the South African market. First the production of wood chips has started and in March 2024, after the refurbishment, white pellets. White pellets are perfectly suited to be burned as a substitute for coal to produce electricity or biofuels, in clean cooking devices, in industrial furnaces for steam and power production. The factory is (partly) operational since late 2022.

Feedstock secured

The refurbishment of the pellet factory has started early 2022. The maximum production capacity of the factory is 120.000 tons of white pellets. The feedstock will consist of about 70% alien invasive plants (AIP) and 30% sawmill residues. The proven availability of feedstock for at least 10 years and the feedstock supply contracts for the first 2,5 years, reduce the risks. The product meets the international Quality and European Sustainability requirements.

Substantial impact

South African Stellenbosch University and the Dutch Utrecht University investigated the local socio-economic and environmental impact of the CBC. They conclude that the factory will create hundreds of jobs in harvesting, logistics and the pellet factory itself. The removal of AIP saves up to 3600 m³/ha water annually, over 5 million m³ in total. Substituting coal by pellets could reduce CO₂ emissions by 70-80%.

Beneficiate from biomass residues

When operational, Coega Biomass Centre will provide jobs directly and indirectly, related to the collection, pre-processing and transportation of biomass residues. In total the pellet factory requires 160 thousand tons of feedstock each year. There are several biomass residual flows in South Africa that are ideally suited for the production of sustainable pellets. First of all, the biomass plant will be fed by local invasive species that threaten the water supply and wreaked havoc on the local environment and economy. In addition, residual material from forestry and sawdust from sawmills. To guarantee sustainability, a system for the certification of individual biobased raw materials has been set up.

First-rate pellets

Test results indicate that Coega Biomass Centre is primed to produce first-rate pellets from biomass residue streams. The tests were conducted on two mixed batches of pellets made up of the most common woody residue streams in the area. Both mixes were treated by a press similar to the one used at Coega Biomass Centre. The quality conforms to the highest industrial standards required for co-firing in power plants. Click here for more information.

Small and large customers

White pellets are perfectly suited to be burned as a substitute for coal to produce electricity or biofuels. For large customers, partnerships on biofuel are being developed. The potential impact of these partnerships is significant: the production of biofuel and biochemical in South Africa, creating additionally 22.000 jobs and avoiding 17 Mton of CO₂ emissions.

On the customer side, partnership and alliance on clean cooking has been established. With white pellets, households can save 50% on their household energy bills. In addition, soot and other air emissions would be lower than WHO standards, decreasing respiratory diseases. Pellets will reduce 1 ton of CO₂ per cookstove, per year and create local employment in stove and pellet sales and distribution.

Partners in International Business

This project is a major spin off of the Partners for International Business project ‘Solid biomass opportunities in South Africa’, in which six Dutch companies, supported by the Dutch government, worked together with South Africa to develop successful business cases for sustainable biomass value chains.