End uses

Fish wastes onsite valorisation

The purpose of ENERFISH is to valorise fish wastes onsite through biodiesel production, and eventually for energy end uses. As well, sales of valuable BY-PRODUCTS on external markets are envisaged.

Overview on the valorisation pathways

A fish processing factory equipped with some biodiesel production and a modern cooling/freezing system is very flexible in terms of energy management. Moreover, the conversion process steps generate some interesting energetic products.

Figure 2: Overall energy conversion system, showing outputs and markets

Possible uses of cold, heat and power

Thermal energy can be used for many different applications:

-          Industrial use of low pressure steam

Industrial steam is widely used in the industrial processes, especially in the chemical, the pharmaceutical and the agro food industries for sterilisation purpose.

-          Sea water desalination to produce potable water

Some desalination processes include at least one evaporation step, which needs heat supply. In combination with some power output, a whole desalination plant can be run with the biodiesel cogenerator.

-          Absorption cooling system to produce comfort ventilation

The principle of the absorption cooling system is that it converts heat into cooling. The higher the input temperature, the higher is the yield.

-          Heat exchanger for cold production

The conversion of heat to cold eligible to application in a freezing storage (like it is demonstrated within the ENERFISH project) requires the introduction of compressor(s) and of high efficiency heat exchanger(s) (see BIODIESEL TO HEAT & POWER).

-          Drying processes

For industrial use, heat is not necessarily used for producing steam. It can also be used to heat up an air flow from drying purpose through a heat exchanger located at the generator output.

-          Heating network for industrial or residential area

Heating a steam boiler can also serve a heating network, either at residential scale or at district scale depending on the available energy output (see BY-PRODUCTS). In addition, this heat can also be directed to some sanitary hot water storage.

Electrical energy end uses are numerous as well:

-          Electrical equipment feed

Electrical power output can be partially re-injected to run the pumps, electro-valves and other automated equipment of the wastes-to-energy transformation chain itself, but also to feed other factory electrical devices.

-          Lighting

Part of the electrical output can substitute to the lighting energy purchased at the local electrical network operator, provided that the substitution is cost effective (depends on the price of the local electricity).

-          Injection to the local electrical network

Extra electricity produced which is not consumed onsite can be injected in the local electricity network as green electricity. Of course, the advantage of this BY-PRODUCT generation will depend on the local regulation specifying the feed-in tariff.

The benefits of an onsite biodiesel production

General advantages:

-          The factory can become energy self-sufficient

-          Relying on a renewable energy source enables utilisation of possible national/world financial support schemes  such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

-          Efficient valorisation of wastes has a huge marketing potential by working on the green image and innovator reputation

-          The factory can be located in remote regions without risk of energy service disruptions

Advantages for the electricity system, depending on the tariff available:

-          The peak demand of electricity by the factory can be cut

-          Electricity purchase during high price hours can be avoided

-          Feed-in tariff can achieve a significant income source for the company owners

-          Own reserve capacity in case of blackout from the electricity supply by the distribution network

Advantages from the point of view of smart grids / Demand side management

-          Emergency power reserve capacity is available for grid management

-          Emergency reserve capacity as a form of consumption shift in cold stores is available

Demand response for factory's purposes

-          Cold energy capacity in cold stores enables a shift of electricity consumption

Example of application at Hiep Thanh Seafood in vietnam.

Hiep Thanh Seafood JSC is breeding pangasius fish for filleting and is cultivating rice. They have developed an interlinked breeding process, in which fishes are fed with some local rice blended with some other outsourced components.

Figure 1. Fish biodiesel production at HT Food in Thot Not, Vietnam