News
Current affairs
On this page we inform you about current affairs at agriKomp. You can access older news by clicking on archive.
16th to 19th of November 2010 - Hannover!
agriKomp Biogas Plants – the most economical electricity consumers!
14 April 2010
The Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LFL) (Bavarian State Institute for Agriculture) conducted a long-term measurement program for Biogas plants. Over the course of up to two years, the power consumption of ten plants from various manufacturers was recorded.
The winner of the tests in this comparison, and the most economical plant from the point of view of power consumption is the agriKomp Biogas plant.
During the LFL test, the agriKomp plant consumed just 15.5 kWh of power in order to process one tonne of fresh feed. This is only a quarter of that which the “power guzzler” among those tested devoured: 56.4 kWh per tonne of substrate.
The portion of own-use energy in power generation by a Biogas plant should at no time exceed ten percent. In comparison: the bottom-ranked plant in the series of tests used 17.4 percent, or almost one-fifth of the power yield, for its generation – the agriKomp plant used only 4.5 percent of the total output!
This result did not surprise us. We stick to the same guiding principles for energy consumption as we use for building our complete plants!
Happy Easter! |
We exhibit:
21. - 25.3.2010 Techagro Brno, Both PAV P-011
250 customers met for a large operators' get together!
27. February 2010
On the 27. February, around 250 agriKomp customers from all over Germany met in Merkendorf for a large operators’ get together.
The spectrum of topics of the symposium was wide-reaching: it ranged from tax-related and legal questions, through energy-related issues right up to technical details.
First to speak were the deputy chief editor of the DLG Mitteilungen magazine, Dr. Christian Bickert, and Dr. Helmut Loibl, specialist in administrative law in Regensburg. In his talk, Dr. Bickert demonstrated that the widespread idea that “China and India are emptying our plates and stables” is not sustainable and that, through breeding progress in plant growing, there is enough potential to feed the growing world population and for gaining energy from renewable raw materials.
Dr. Loibl expanded upon current legal issues and decisions on the subject of Biogas and also topics such as Satellite CHPs, Clearing House decisions or the problem of privileged status for plants over 500 kW and had many questions to answer afterwards.
After lunch, many operators used the time for an extensive tour. The works premises in Merkendorf and the buildings themselves were open for the numerous visitors and specialists in all departments were available to give advice.
In the afternoon, experts from the College of Technology were also on the list of speakers: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Herbert Ströbel from the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf CoTech. put forward the idea that the increase in CO² in the atmosphere presents even more of a problem that the dwindling fossil fuels. He presented calculation models with which the net energy gain and the costs per tonne CO² saved could be evaluated. Norbert Bleisteiner, head of the agricultural machine school in Triesdorf, elaborated on the subject of value-added potential by means of heat sales.
After that, Jann Uphoff - the head of the agrogen GmbH company – presented the current range of agrogen gas motor products as well as their service portfolio in the area of microgas networks.
Hans Schnell, CEO of the pilot injection motor manufacturer Schnell AG in Amtzell, presented the comparative CO² savings potentials of various Biogas utilisation models and reach the conclusion that CHP projects achieve the highest CO² savings.
At the end of the series of talks, Tax Advisor Dieter Roth from Ansbach gave the operators valuable tips for tax savings and retention of profits.
After the meeting, the energy managers had the opportunity to inspect the new Biomass heat and power station at the nearby agricultural school in Triesdorf. The agriKomp Biogas plant, in combination with a wood-chipping heater, has been providing all the school buildings with heat since last year. Triesdorf is thus the first European High-School location that is totally – heat and electricity – supplied with renewable energy.
Innovationprice for agriKomp
22. December 2009
MERKENDORF - Every two years, the Rural District of Ansbach awards its “Innovation Prize”, endowed with 10,000 Euro, to especially creative and successful companies. This year, the Biogas plant manufacturer agriKomp GmbH, based in Merkendorf, was awarded the Innovation Prize. District Administrator Rudolf Schwemmbauer awarded the prize to the company’s founders Robert Bugar and Michael Engelhardt last Monday.
The Innovation Prize was awarded for the third time this year. District Administrator Rudolf Schwemmbauer explained that the jury, who had placed ten candidates on the short list, were very decisive in their choice of agriKomp. “We are proud to have the company here”, said District Administrator Schwemmbauer.
The owners passed on the prize money immediately. One third was used as a donation to the town of Merkendorf for social purposes, one third went to the renewable energy agency (Agentur für Erneuerbare Energien) (http://www.unendlich-viel-energie.de/) and a further third to the Biogas Trade Association www.biogas.org.
Around 250 staff are employed by agriKomp throughout Europe. Along with its headquarters in the mid-franconian town of Merkendorf, agriKomp has branch offices in Schleswig-Holstein, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Wurttemberg. The company, founded in 2000, is also successfully represented in Europe in the Czech-Republic, France, Poland, Italy, Great Britain and in Slovakia.
The District Administrator congratulated the two Managing Directors on their success and, along with Director of Economic Affairs, Ekkehard Schwarz presented them with the Innovation Prize.
The unrelenting and successful efforts to further the development of the booming Biogas technology were acknowledged by the District Administrator through his Innovation Prize.
From left to the right: Members of business developement for Ansbach county Thomas Merkel und Ekkehard Schwarz, Hans Popp (Mayor of Merkendorf), Michael Engelhardt, Elisabeth Lehmann und Robert Bugar (CEOs agriKomp), Chief administrative officer of Ansbach County Mr. Rudolf Schwemmbauer
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See you at the AGRITECHNICA from 10.-14.11.09 in Hall 26 Booth E20! |
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Pilot plant successfully commissioned!
10. September 2009
It’s been in operation for weeks now – the new mobile slurry plant.
Numerous farmers yesterday took the opportunity of carefully examining the first slurry plant at its Allgäu location and were able to convince themselves that it is possible to accommodate a complete Biogas plant in a 22 metre long, 3.2 metre wide and 3.2 metre high container.
The first slurry plant receives several visitors!
The slurry plant is delivered to the farm just like any other machine.
The Biogas plant on the hook!
Simply lower the slurry plant – the Biogas plant.
A complete Biogas plant in and on just one container
The slurry plant - compact Biogas High Tech!
With this slurry plant you can maximise the specially high Renewable Energies Act slurry bonus and stabilise your operational profits – from just 100 GV onwards!
Our in-house sales person Ms. Jasmin Mielchen will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. You can reach her by E-mail: j.mielchen@agrikomp.de , or phone +49 9826-65959-181.
Bavarian Minister President Horst Seehofer lays the foundation stone for the construction of an agriKomp Biogas plant in Triesdorf!
23rd of April 2009
from left to right: Joachim Herrmann -Bavarian Interior Minister, Mr. Gerhard Siegler - Mayor of Weidenbach, the Bavarian Minister President Horst Seehofer, Richard Bartsch - President of Bezirkstag of Central Franconia
from left to right: the Bavarian Minister President Horst Seehofer, Mr. Michael Engelhardt und Mr Robert Bugar - directors of agriKomp GmbH, Richard Bartsch - President of Central Franconia, (photo: Altmühlbote)
Triesdorf backs Bio-Energy
MERKENDORF / TRIESDORF – A combination of a Biogas plant and a wood-chip furnace will be heating the approximately 50 buildings in the Triesdorf Agricultural College complex in the future.
Alongside the practical application of this innovative system, it will also serve as a demonstration model for training and research. The Bavarian Minister President, Horst Seehofer, laid the foundation stone for the Biogas plant himself on the 23. April 2009.
A Biogas plant with an electrical power of 160 kW will provide the year-round basic heat, two wood-chip furnaces with a total power of 2,150 kW will cover the rest of the load during the heating period. A large buffer water storage tank with 120 cubic metre capacity will balance out the daily peak loads.
Apart from the heating effect, the Biogas plant will feed as much electricity into the public grid as would meet the requirements of 388 households. The “fodder” for the Biogas plant and the wood-chip furnace will be provided by the organic material that is produced by the various colleges: for instance liquid manure, dung and hedge-cuttings.
Alongside the wood-chip plant, the regenerative energy supply is provided by the new, especially efficient Biogas plant series agriKOMPAKT.
With this regenerative heat supply, the Triesdorf education centre has become 100% independent of fossil fuel. Around 650,000 m³ of natural gas will be saved annually according to the forecasts. The amount of carbon monoxide (CO2) in the atmosphere will be reduced by around 1,300 tonnes. The regenerative electricity generation by the Biogas plant will save an additional 765 tonnes of CO2.
The Biogas plant will be commissioned on the traditional Midsummer’s day (Johannistag) in Triesdorf on 28. June. From 1. September onwards, the wood-chip furnace and the Biogas plant together will guarantee the heat supply to the Colleges.
The Vielfraß®-Family has grown!
26. March 2009
Vielfraß® Top with 25 m³ separator sump
We have extended our proven solid material feeder technology with a new variant. In locations where, during the construction of a Biogas plant the digester cannot be built underground, or this is not desired, the Vielfraß® Top can be deployed.
The Vielfraß® Top feeds re-growth raw materials such as firm dung, grass or silage by means of a plugging screw through the wall in the upper area of the fermenter tank. The difference in height is overcome by means of a robust sloping screw-conveyor.
The Vielfraß® Top is deployed as standard to the new modular Biogas plants of the agriKOMPAKT series. However, all other agriKomp Biogas plants with vertical tanks can also be equipped with the Vielfraß® Top.
The Vielfraß® Top is characterised by the massive, large-scale conveyor screw. Robust direct drives provide fault-free operation and guarantee the longevity of the engineering. The manufacture of all corrosion-endangered components in V2A stainless steel offers additional safety. Just like his “brothers”, he saves energy and working hours and guarantees long service life.
Vielfraß® Top comes in four sizes – for Biogas plants from 100 to 500 kW electrical capacity:
Vielfraß® Top - 7 m³ storage volume and 2 counter-rotating separating screws
Vielfraß® Top - 25-40 m³ storage volume with separator sump and 3 direct-drive tiller screws
The advantages of the Vielfraß® Top at a glance:
- Proven agriKomp quality
- Even, automatic feeding with interval control
- Low energy requirements
- Savings in working hours
- Minimum of maintenance
- Robust, direct drives with long life
- Massive conveyor screw construction
- Corrosion-prone components in V2A stainless steel
- Front ducting in V2A with plastic inserts to prevent wear and tear
- Odour trap by means of plug formation
- Also available with scales as option.
Technical data of the Vielfraß® Top:
- Feed discharge ca. 150 to 400 kg of silage per minute (depending on model)
- Power consumption: ca. 0.1 – 0.3 kWh per cubic metre
agriKomp: Number 1 in customer satisfaction
December 2008
agriKomp is top! The agricultural magazine "Profi“ came to this result after a survey of Biogas plant users. According to the study, 94 percent of the customers would choose an agriKomp plant again. We are thereby top of the list of notable German manufacturers. Service, maintenance and workmanship also achieved top ratings.
“The most satisfied participants were those who had chosen agriKomp” – the experts from “Profi” came to this conclusion after evaluating 631 questionnaires altogether. As regards to customer satisfaction, we head the list of the 8 manufacturers who were considered in the test. 94 out of 100 customers would choose a plant from our company again – it would be difficult to find a clearer sign of confidence!
However, agriKomp was just as successful in the other categories as well. “Manufacturers Service is what the users valued in hindsight as decisive” is what the “Profi” Edition of November 2008 wrote. According to the experts, the rating – only 17 percent total criticism – speaks for “a high continuity and reliability of the company over a period of many years”. No abnormalities of note as far as service was concerned were registered in the individual ratings.
The testers wanted to find out from the users in detail how satisfied they were with the workmanship of the plant, its construction and assembly, the electrical and electronic functionality, operational safety and the amount of maintenance necessary on a day-to-day basis. With just 11 % total criticism, agriKomp came out as one of the best here as well.
Grand agriKomp user get-together at the Birkhof!
Last Friday, 18th April, more than 170 energy farmers met for an info-day at the biogas plant Birkhof in the Franconian village of Meinheim,. In sunny spring weather, the farmers, the agriKomp team and the speakers equally used the congenial surroundings for an exchange of information and for discussions.
The biogas plant Birkhof was commissioned in 2007. It is equipped, alongside the tried and tested agriKomp components, with state-of-the-art dual-fuel and gas motor technology as well as technical new and further developments:
the GAM - gas cooling, and heated active charcoal filter for gas processing, the Quetschprofi -separator for liquid manure and fermentation residue, the “Kocher” - a substrate heater for higher gas output with shorter delay times, as well as the new gas motor from agrogen GmbH.
In the framework of the lecture program, Managing Director Robert Bugar also informed the meeting participants about trends in the biogas trade and the current political situation.
The focus of attention of the meeting was, however, on the increase in efficiency by means of utilisation concepts such as heat- or gas networks, the application of trace elements and further developments in motor technology.
The technology and the commitment are there …… and the EEG (Renewable Energy Law) soon will be!
Thanks go to our users for showing up in such large numbers!
TECHAGRO 2008 - International Fair of Agricultural Technology from 6th ot 10th of April in Brno,
Czech Republic.
See you in Hall 7 Booth 81
See you at the new energy in Husum (Germany)
from 13th to 16th of March
in Hall 2 Booth 2A02!
Farmers supply heat and electricity to communities
31. Januar 2008
On the occasion of the congress of the Biogas Association in Nürnberg, a field study trip to some exemplary Biogas plants in the region took place.
On January 18th, a large group of operators and interested parties visited the Biogas plant at Birkenhof, south-west of Gunzenhausen in middle Franconia, which was commissioned in October 2007.
The key data for the plant, which produces electricity for 1000 households:
| 2 CHPSs | each with an electrical rating of 210 kW |
| 2 digesters | each net 1,500 m³ |
| 1 post-digester | net 1,500 m³ |
| 1 permanent storage pit | 2,800 m³ covered |
| 1 permanent storage pit | 2,800 m³ uncovered |
| 2 transportable silos | total ca. 10,000 m³ |
The plant is fed with re-growth raw material and liquid manure.
The exhaust heat from the 2 CHPSs is used to heat an adjacent pigsty as well as 4 single family houses.
Extension of the plant:
It is planned to build a 1.5 km long gas pipeline to the neighbouring community of Meinheim. Here, the Biogas will be used to drive a 150 kW CHPS, set up in a container. The electricity generated will be fed into the local grid.
The heat will be used to heat the Kindergarten, the school, the multipurpose hall, the premises of the agricultural machinery dealer, a farm and a housing estate.
The development of so-called “microgas-networks” brings agricultural Biogas plants closer to the consumers and gives their operators better marketing opportunities for the heat generated. In this way, complete communities can be supplied directly from the farmers, even over long distances– with few losses – due to short heat supply lengths.
We wish the dedicated operator team continued success!
See you at Booth 12-651 !
www.biogastagung.org
agriKomp biogasplant for Kenya's energy supply!
20. December 2007
Biogas can make a significant contribution towards satisfying the rapidly growing energy demands. It thereby contributes to energy security both in areas with and without grid connection. And: Biogas reduces dependence on oil importation and the fluctuations of oil prices.
Now at Kililfi Plantations in Kenya, a biogasplant from agriKomp GmbH uses animal waste from stables and waste from agricultural processing for producing electricity.
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| agriKomp Biogasanlage 100 kW Kilifi, Kenia | Sisalverarbeitung |
Sustainable energy to fuel Kenya's growing energy needs (PDF)
Biogas plant keeps soldiers warm
November 2007
The Biogas plant Alflen in der Eifel has been providing the Air Base at Büchel with heat since November 22nd 2007, when Christian Schmidt, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, officially handed over the 550 metre long district heating supply pipeline.
The agriKomp-Biogas plant was built in 2006 and is fed with liquid cattle manure as well as maize-, grass- and full-plant silage. The three gas injection motors, with a total electrical power of 750 kW supply around 1700 households with electricity. The surplus warmth produced by the CHPs during the generation of electricity is now heating the offices and halls of the air base – in an environmentally friendly and inexpensive fashion!
Defence State Secretary Christian Schmidt praised the new source of income for farmers. “The farmer is becoming more and more an energy manager”. And: “I hope this won’t be the only co-operation of this kind with the Federal Armed Forces”.
From the Rhein Zeitung Newspaper of 22.11.2007: “This plant is not unique, but original. It can, and should, become the fashion in the whole of Germany”, were the words of District Administrator Manfred Schnur. He said this in the context of the price of oil, which had just broken through the 100 dollar per barrel sound-barrier. Through the use of a Biogas plant, 375 000 litres of heating oil and almost 1200 tonnes of CO2 can be saved per year.
The Quetschprofi - the new agriKomp-Separator technology impresses visitors to the Agritechnica.
November 2007
Once again, numerous home and overseas trade visitors from all sides of the industry - consultants, politicians and practitioners – came to the Agritechnica from 13th to 17th November 2007 to inform themselves on the current progress in agricultural technology.
Interested parties on the agriKomp stand were able to inform themselves about the performance, service, further developments and innovations. Hosts and guests alike used the opportunity for intensive discussions and to exchange ideas. As in years gone by, many operators of agriKomp plants met on the stand for a personal chat.
Also present was the ‘newcomer’ from the agriKomp think-tank – the Quetschprofi.
The Quetschprofi is a screw-feeder separator, specially developed for Biogas plants, which separates fermentation residue into solid and liquid form. The new separator proved to be a crowd-puller and was a hit with all the trade visitors.
“We could not have wished for a better platform than the Agritechnica to introduce our new product to the market”, were the words of Michael Engelhardt, CEO of agriKomp. The record numbers this year again proved this. According to the German Agricultural Society (DLG), the number of exhibitors rose by 40%, and the number of visitors by around 30%. “The Agritechnica is thus a unique meeting place for agricultural technology” said the CEO of the DLG, Dr. Reinhard Grandke.
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See you at the AGRITECHNICA from 13.-17.11.07 -
Hall 27 Booth L26!
60.000 poinsettias and a Biogas plant
August 07
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| Biogas plant Grossaich | Housewarming party |
On 31. August, the Biogas plant BGP Grossaich was inaugurated during the opening ceremony by the Administrator of the District of Straubing and the Mayor of the town of Geiselhöring.
60.000 Poinsettias are growing in a greenhouse of 5.000 m² in a neighbouring Garden Centre which is heated to a large extent by the waste heat from the CHPs. In summer, the citizens of Grossaich provide the surplus heat energy to a company for wood-drying purposes.
Both six-cylinder gas injection run at a continuous power of 420 kW and generate electricity for around 1000 households. The plant is fed with liquid cattle manure and various types of energy plant silage.
Here some key data:
| 1 digester | 18 x 6 m |
| 1 post fermenter | 20 x 6 m |
| 1 ferment residue store | 23 x 6 m with cover |
| 1 ferment residue store | 20 x 7 m with cover |
| 1 portable silo | 15.000 m³ |
We wish the operators that they remain full of gas!
16.-20.8.2007 - AGROKOMPLEX - Nitra, Slovakia
August 07
See you - at the AGROKOMPLEX in Nitra, Slovakia, Booth vpM4-10a!
Further information under: www.agrokomplex.sk
Archive
New fermentation-testing and research laboratory in operation
Do you wish to know how high the methane output of the substrate you are feeding into your digester is, the residual gas potential in your final disposal site, or whether an inhibiting effect exists? A fermentation test can give you the facts and thus contribute significantly to an increase in the efficiency of your biogas plant.
We have therefore extended our laboratory services to include a fermentation-testing and research laboratory. Competent supervision of our new laboratory has been taken over by graduate biologist Petra Zigldrum, email:.zigldrum@agrikomp.de
Linus Aschenbach, Josef Schober and Susanne Weinbeer continue to be at your disposal for questions on laboratory results and for advice in the field of process biology.
Opening of the Biogas Plant in Steyregg
Oberösterreich (Austria)
Sunday, Mai 20th at 11:00 pm will be the opening of the biogasplant with a traditional brunch. The plant is constructed under our general direction with our reliable components. Local approval and construction was organized by Ingenieurbüro Minichshofer, Enns. The project is supported by the European Union. Most interesting is the volume of the plant: 90 kW is a good sample for the change of a middle sized farm to an energy farm.The plant is fed with gras- und maizesilage, complete plant silage , bruised wheat und solid manure. Developed heat from the Combined Heat and Power Station is used to heat the house and to dry wood.
address: TR Biogas OEG Holzwinden 49 A-4221 Steyregg
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