OVERVIEW 

Rajas is a PhD student in MaREI and part of Expanding the Alternative Use and Circularity Potential of Crops (EXPECT) project of Teagasc to create a framework for grass-based biorefining in Ireland.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Experimental trials on a two-stage anaerobic digestion reactor system to produce biochemicals and biogas from grass in a demand-driven manner.

BACKGROUND

The EXPECT project aims to expand the alternative uses and circularity potential of crops in Ireland by putting them through cascading use in a biorefinery approach. It will achieve this by a holistic consideration of socio-political, technical and economic aspects involved. Grass, being the most important crop in Ireland, is the primary focus in the project. A two-stage anaerobic digestion technology producing valuable biochemicals (VFAs) and biogas in a demand-driven manner will be validated. The Delphi method will be used to identify the potential value chains, socio-political enablers and barriers involved in grass-based biorefining. This will be followed by bio-economic modelling and techno-economic assessment to investigate the feasibility of biorefineries at a range of scales. Using this multi-disciplinary approach, a framework for green biorefinery development in Ireland will be co-designed.