Largest digester counts on best switch boxes

Energy transition involves more than just solar panels and wind turbines. In Grobbendonk, the finishing touches are currently being put on an impressive biogas plant that can offset the annual electrical consumption of 25,000 families. The largest of its kind in the world. For builder and operator BiogasTec, continuous operation is crucial. For the electrical part, it is therefore counting on Rittal's high-quality materials and flexible service.

BiogasTec is the brainchild of Wouter Platteau. Eager to make the world a little nicer with green technology, he specialized in biogas plants. First in R&D, but when the microbe started itching to build and operate himself, he found the perfect partner in Trevi. "I knew what needed to be done, they knew how to put my idea together. BiogasTec was born." The first plant in 2008 was still limited in number of MW but with the most recent project, Albertstroom, the bar is already much higher. "When the biogas plant in Grobbendonk will be running at full load it will produce 80,000 MWh of green energy per year from 250,000 tons of waste, the equivalent of the annual consumption of 25,000 families. This will make it the largest digester of its kind. Moreover, it is very flexible: incoming streams can be delivered in different forms," Platteau says.

Fortunately, Trevi can count on a flexible partner when it comes to switchboards: Rittal.

Synergy

To better close the loop, BiogasTec sought synergy with other nearby companies. Didak's nearby injection molding plant will use a quarter of Albertstroom's generated energy. In addition, Kerkstoel's concrete plant can make good use of the heat and water released during the process. For example, the heat will serve to dry out concrete precast walls. Finally, the 70,000 tons of soil improver left as a byproduct will also have a new life as compost for agriculture. Platteau: "Surely the biggest challenge lies in the scale of this project. It is not easy to fit all the pieces of such a large puzzle together, no matter how well we have mastered the fermentation process. Surely the necessary engineering work has crept in."

In order to be future proof and continue subsequent expansions in the same range, Trevi swapped the familiar TS8 cabinets for Albertstroom for the new TX25.

Standard on Rittal

As always, BiogasTec was able to call on sister company Trevi for the electrical part. Senior Electrical Designer Dimitry Van Mulders was responsible for the project together with his team: "The aim is to have everything operational by the end of the year and to be running at full load in the second quarter of 2020. The fact that engineering, construction and startup run interchangeably makes communication all the more important. Everything has to be well coordinated." Fortunately, Trevi can count on a flexible partner when it comes to switchboards: Rittal. Trevi has been working with the brand as standard for years and is experiencing its added value in this project as well. "Due to the size of the project, for example, we needed fairly large cabinets. With one phone call to Philippe De Wulf (account manager for Rittal), we then got the right technical support on how best to connect them together. Simple and efficient."

"That's what you look for in a partner: quality equipment, high availability and the right service always and everywhere."

VTX25 makes future proof

In order to be future proof and to be able to continue subsequent expansions in the same range, Trevi exchanged the familiar TS 8 cabinets for Albertstroom for the new VX25. "Naturally, it takes some getting used to, but it has to be said that the transition was digested particularly smoothly," Van Mulders points out. "If we did bump into something, it was immediately addressed expertly by Rittal. That is what you look for in a partner: high-quality material, high availability and always and everywhere the right service. Rittal meets this requirement perfectly." No special requirements were placed on the cabinets in the technical rooms. It is different when they have to be set up in ATEX zones on site or certain rooms where corrosive vapors are released. "In the field, we therefore chose cabinets in stainless steel and hot galvanized cable ducts. That way, reliable operation is guaranteed." Furthermore, Trevi chose RiLine, Rittal's smart power distribution system. "Just because we can save a lot of time with this. Power components are already tested in advance by Rittal. So we can always build our installations according to the rules of the art," Van Mulders concludes.