Inagro, the West Flemish research centre for agriculture and horticulture, has put a new 1,000-litre pilot digester into operation at its biogas site in Roeselare to study how biogas can be upgraded into biomethane, reports Bioenergy Insight.
The pilot unit is significantly larger than typical laboratory systems, which usually handle only a few dozen litres. The increased size allows researchers to carry out tests under conditions that more closely resemble those found on working farms.
Reindert Devlamynck, research leader for Energy and Circular Economy at Inagro, said the centre focuses on applied research that helps move new ideas into everyday agricultural use more quickly and with lower risk. He noted that this approach allows innovation to reach farmers in a practical and reliable way.
At the facility, researchers will examine the impact of adding hydrogen directly into the biogas process. This method increases methane production and raises the energy content of the gas.
The upgraded biogas could be used to power tractors and other farm machinery. Additional studies will look at whether certain additives could make it possible to inject the gas into the natural gas network over the longer term.
Bart Naeyaert, a member of the provincial executive with responsibility for agriculture and horticulture, said the project supports circular farming and the shift to cleaner energy in rural areas. He said testing technologies at pilot scale helps lower the risks for businesses and brings sustainable energy solutions closer to everyday use.
