28 January 2025
Seeking to balance ecology, economy and society, STERCORE turns waste into high-quality organic fertilisers and green energy. With expert guidance from Green Assist, STERCORE plans to bring to market a new solution to combat waste.
STERCORE’s project aims to transform raw materials (animal manure and digestate) into high-quality sustainable end products through pyrolysis, ensuring no waste is left behind. The pyrolysis process produces Bio-Based Carbon (Biochar), which serves as organic substitute for chemical fertilisers and soil improvers, as well as green gas (biomethane). Other products include residual heat and liquid CO2. Liquid CO2 is produced after syngas (e.g. carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, sulphur) is cleaned first by removing the sulphur, then processing it through a methanation system. Finally, any remaining CO2 can be turned into liquid form.
The Bio-Based Carbon meets the highest standards of the EU Regulation 2019/1009 and can be certified with the ‘end of waste’ status and be used as a ‘new’ raw material for agricultural purposes. Additionally, STERCORE generates CO2 removal certificates (CORC).
The market for high-quality carbon-based organic fertilisers is growing worldwide. As such, STERCORE sees strong opportunities to become a key player in this market, partly due to local production capabilities. In Emmen (the Netherlands), STERCORE will build their first plant and plans to expand further in the Netherlands and internationally.
In a bid to strengthen its position in the market, STERCORE’s project team contacted Green Assist to receive dedicated and specialised support. Through the Green Assist Roster of Experts, an experienced and highly skilled technical expert was selected to provide free tailored advisory services from May to June 2024.
Green Assist’s advisory assignment involved a comprehensive review of STERCORE’s business plan, with a particular focus on technical documentation. The review was requested by of one of the company’s equity suppliers. To meet their needs, the Green Assist expert validated the business plan’s feasibility and effectiveness by assessing the technical documentation, analysing project structure, eligibility criteria and project financing structure.
Because of Green Assist’s support, the project investment decision is on track for a positive final investment decision. This means more green products will be produced and supplied to the Bio-Based Carbon product market faster.
Green Assist also assessed the biochar and compost markets in Europe, making sure that the project adhered to the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle. The project team received assistance in identifying market segments with high potential, thus increasing the value-added of the analysis. The financial feasibility of the different EU markets, including available incentives, and leading sales channels were also considered.
Hans Jansen, CEO of STERCORE, was pleased with Green Assist’s support, noting:
Thanks to the professional and independent efforts of CINEA and Green Assist, STERCORE now has an up-to-date review of its economic and technical business plan, which is essential for potential investors.
Green Assist aims to build a pipeline for high-impact green investment projects in sectors related to biodiversity, natural capital and circular economy, as well as in non-environmental sectors.
Learn more about how Green Assist can help you get free tailored support for your green project or contact us at cinea-green-assist@ec.europa.eu. To request advisory services from Green Assist, simply fill out this short form.
Source – European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency