Grass Refinery for Sustainability & Shared value

Introduction

Waste products such as verge grass and natural grass can make a major contribution to the reduction of GHG emissions and the development of a sustainable economy. This can be achieved by focusing not only on biomethane production but also considering the entire cascade of high-value renewable products.

To that end, an overarching plan is to develop the Grass Refinery for Sustainability & Shared Value (GR4SS), the world’s first commercial mono grass fermentation demonstration plant. This plant is based on a combination of new innovative and existing technologies that have not been integrated before. The demonstration plant will accelerate knowledge development and deployment of low carbon technologies, bringing together industries, research communities, and public-private partnerships. The demonstration realizes 109,326 tonnes CO2eq within the first 10 years of its operation.

Project Objectives

The main objectives of the project are as follows:

1. Creation of 4 new sustainable products from verge grass and grass from nature reserves, including:

   • Biomethane
   • High-quality peat substitute for potting soil
   • Biogenic CO2 plant fertiliser for sustainable greenhouse farming
   • Organic fertiliser for the agriculture sector

2. Development of a strong business model for grass processing, adding value to a biomass that until recently was considered a waste product.

Environmental Impact

GR4SS thereby facilitates the shift towards a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral, and resilient local economy. Additionally, GR4SS protects, restores, and improves the quality of the environment, including the air and soil. Moreover, GR4SS halts and reverses biodiversity loss and tackles the degradation of ecosystems, especially peatlands, roadsides, and nature reserves.

Validation and Next Steps

The concept has been tested and validated extensively on a small scale during the past few years. In addition, market studies show that the demand for these products will increase in the coming years. The next crucial step is the demonstration of the GR4SS concept.