Demonstration of dry fermentation and optimization of biogas technology for rural communities in the MENA region

The project BIOGASMENA follows an innovative, integrated and multi-disciplinary approach for the development of biogas technology and know-how in the ERA and the MENA region, combining technology transfer and laboratory research with academic exchanges, communication and training activities directed to both the general public, especially small farmers from the MENA region, and the academic community, with a particular focus on young researchers.

 The project includes the following tasks: building dry fermentation biogas plant at pilot scale, building a hybrid energy system at pilot scale, combining biogas, solar and wind energies for autonomous electricity supply, equipping biogas laboratories in Algeria and Tunisia, investigating biogas production in the MENA region, in particular via dry fermentation in lab-scale and bench-scale experiments, including results into an online database for modelling of bioconversion kinetics, optimizing digestate treatment, characterization and utilization, investigating the combination of biogas production with microalgae cultivation, LCA and techno-economic analyses of designs for biogas production in the MENA region, training young researchers from the MENA region in EU, in particular by following CIHEAM courses, informing of the research community, farmers, and the general public about biogas technology.