Integrated management and exploitation of multi-dispersed agricultural residues – application to energy production

The main objective of the project proposed herein is to pave the way for the environmentally friendly useful exploitation of the residues of the Chinese and Greek agricultural sectors for the generation of high value bio-products and/or energy. This is to be accomplished by designing and developing an innovative pyrolysis - anaerobic digestion processing plant for the conversion of agricultural wastes initially into useful bio-products, such as bio-char, bio-oil, syngas and biogas, and then into hydrogen and/or electrical energy. Research will focus on the experimental and/or theoretical design and optimization of each process, on the design and optimization of the overall processing plant, on the development of innovative catalytic systems for the pyrolysis and the biogas and bio-oil reforming for hydrogen (H2) production reactions, and on the utilization of the gaseous products of the processing plant for highly efficient generation of electricity in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). Through these technological advances the project aims at the optimal exploitation of every available biodegradable and non-biodegradable agricultural residue depending on the needs of the end users (farmers, enterprises, etc.) for specific bio-products and/or energy. It is the first time that such a holistic research project and energy policy for the exploitation of the agricultural residues is proposed.