PHA2USE project: Our first step in scaling up our technology
In the last four years, we have cooperated with 5 Dutch Water boards in building and operating the PHA biomass demo plant in Dordrecht, our first step in scaling up our technology. The feedstock was focused on microbes from municipal wastewater. The demonstration plant in Dordrecht, where PHA biomass was produced, tested and optimised on a demonstration scale, had been running from September 2022 – May 2024. Production was performed in close cooperation with all partners of the PHA2USE project. Initially, the demonstration plant was supposed to run for a year to make enough material to test different applications. The partners jointly decided to extend the project for another year. The market prospects for the material are remarkably positive. With this demonstration plant, the cooperation partners wanted to build a bridge to commercial production.
What did we do in this project?
In this project, we developed applications with three brand owners. With Maan Group, we worked on a plant plug; with Basilik, we developed self-healing concrete; and with Foamplant, the focus was on biodegradable foam for agricultural applications.
For application development, we needed not only the PHA biomass but also the pure biopolymer Caleyda. Fraunhofer performed the extraction for us. Part of this project was to perform conceptual design for full-scale plants (production and extraction) and consider potential barriers to implementation.
Project partners
The demonstration plant was developed and realised by the water authorities Brabantse Delta, De Dommel, Hollandse Delta, Scheldestromen, Wetterskip Fryslân, knowledge centre STOWA, Paques Biomaterials and HVC.
The sludge processing company Noord-Brabant (SNB), AquaMinerals, TU Delft, and Wetsus (a knowledge centre for sustainable water technology) supported this initiative by helping us generate knowledge.
Time frame
The project started in September 2020 and ended in September 2024.
The PHA2USE project won two governmental circularity awards, one in the Netherlands and one in Europe.
