The innovative company Stercore constructs a very promising gasification plant

Press Release
Hoogeveen, 10 February 2020

Stercore, the greenest production company in the Netherlands, has been granted a licence for a very promising green gas plant

Turning manure into green gas and bio-based carbon without harmful emissions. The Drenthe-based company Stercore B.V. is making a breakthrough in dealing with the nitrogen problem thanks to its innovative technologies. Last Thursday the Province of Drenthe granted a definitive licence for the construction of an innovative manure gasification plant in Emmen. According to the CEO Hans Jansen: ‘Manure is not a problem but a solution.’

Good for the climate, good for livestock farmers, good for the plant-based sector, good for our sustainable energy production and good for local employment opportunities. The method devised by Richard Kusters to produce green gas and bio-based carbon from manure without harmful emissions has many benefits. The technique thought up by Stercore’s technical director seems to be a brilliant solution to the nitrogen problem.

Despite the purely positive effects, the Province of Drenthe was not exactly hasty when it came to granting the licence to the sustainability pioneer. Why did the company have to wait so long? CEO Hans Jansen: ‘Our innovative approach is so new that our initiative can’t be tested. Existing calculation models operated only on the basis of data from fermentation plants and plants running on natural gas, there really isn’t yet any such thing as a sustainable power plant.’

After extensive examination of the company’s innovative manure processing techniques, the Province of Drenthe finally decided in its favour: on Thursday the 6th of February Stercore was given the green light to construct the first green gas plant in Emmen. The plant, which will employ around forty people, will run mainly on sustainably generated electricity and will, at the plant’s own initiative, be fitted with a nitrogen meter.

Stercore’s innovative techniques and products are contributing to more sustainable agriculture and horticulture, explains Hans Jansen. ‘In the medium to long term we expect the manure market to change into a demand market. Our business model already reflects our view that in future manure will have to be paid for. That is a positive development because it will do away with manure fraud, and livestock farmers will be able to pay for emission-cutting measures on their farms from the money that manure brings in.’

Stercore is also producing bio-based carbon, a valuable organic replacement for artificial fertiliser and soil improver, on an industrial scale and so is helping make agriculture and horticulture more sustainable. Jansen: ‘Even ordinary farmers and horticulture operators will now be able to opt for sustainable initiatives.’ Stercore is working with the contractor Meilof in Smilde for the transport of the manure.

Work on building the first green gas plant in Emmen will start this year, and it should enter production in about two years. In future over 24,000 households will be able to benefit from the green gas produced by Stercore. Hans Jansen: ‘The granting of the licences we needed is a recognition of our super-clean contribution to the major challenges. For example, green gas for regional households, less artificial fertiliser and clean processing of natural minerals. So a win-win situation for households, farmers and the environment!’

Stercore would like to express its thanks for their support to the parties involved (in the project): GasTerra, Gasunie New Energy, DNV-GL, Tauw, Rendo|N-TRA, Meilof, Emmen council, New Energy Coalition, Emmtec Services, the Province of Drenthe, SNN and EnTranCe.