The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), in collaboration with the Biorefinery Industry Development Facility (BIDF) at the CSIR, has established a programme to demonstrate waste beneficiation biorefinery technologies to bridge the gap between pre-commercialisation instruments for technology development and full entry into commercial scale. In addition, the intention is to provide sound technical advice from a trusted independent source (i.e., the CSIR) on available alternative waste biomass technologies. Through the specialised CSIR expertise and infrastructure available at the BIDF, the project aims to reduce the barriers for developing, testing and adapting biorefinery technologies applied to South African biomass sources. This avoids the need for new and existing players to individually invest in R&D infrastructure and specialised R&D staff to demonstrate new technologies for implementation in South Africa.
The objective of the project is to:
• Implement technologies to maximise use of valuable natural resources by minimising generation of waste;
• Implement technologies for beneficiation of waste biomass to avoid landfilling the waste via production of high value materials and products from the waste;
• Demonstrate the validity of technologies and their potential to increase revenues in the sector;
• Enable demonstrable technology transfer to SMMEs/municipalities/large industry to build sustainable businesses;
• Increase industry competitiveness through local technology development and localisation of technology.
The call seeks to identify high impact technologies and practices in the following categories:
A. Beneficiation of waste organic biomass to avoid landfilling of the waste
B. Beneficiation of waste organic biomass to enable maximum utilisation of biomass resources
C. Implementation of technologies for development of new value chains from organic waste
D. Development of new value chains from clearing of alien invasive species
E. Implementation of technologies for development of new value chains from biomass resources
Examples of waste organic biomass include lignocellulosic biomass (woody and non-woody materials), agro-processing wastes.
Submissions should provide sustainable biorefinery and organic waste beneficiation solutions to urban, peri-urban and/or rural areas and take into account operational effectiveness, social preferences, biomass resource availability, affordability, economies of scale, and cost reductions. Projects that require localisation of technologies developed or used outside of South Africa are also eligible for consideration.
The BIDF offers:
- Technology support in:
- Chemical fractionation of biomass
- Beneficiation of waste organic biomass
- Development of new value chains from biomass
- Biofractionation and bioprocessing of biomass
- Advisory support on:
- Biorefinery technologies
- beneficiation of waste biomass
- development of new value chains from biomass
- analysis and characterisation of biomass and products
- Biorefinery technologies
The expertise at the BIDF excludes the processing of sewage sludge.
REQUIREMENTS
Respondents should provide the following:
- The application document must be completed electronically and is supplied in Word format to allow for this.
- A clear definition of the goal of the project, together with the scope of the project and time frame.
- A clear understanding of the market of the intended technology: e.g., how big is the market segment that can feasibly be accessed? Provide proof of ability to access said market in the form of off take agreements or letters of interest from clients
- A description of the technology accompanied by a photo or evidence of a product prototype, e.g., key features, impact, competitive advantage, etc. Technologies considered under this programme must already be at prototype stage, evidence of which must be provided.
- For in-licensed technology proof of the granted license is required.
- The type of biomass/feedstock that will be used should be specified; proof of access to the biomass should be provided.
- A clear indication of the (intended) socio-economic impact resulting from implementation of the solution.
- The application document must be completed in its entirety and reference cannot just be made to attached business plans without providing complete information in the application document itself. Business plans may be attached as supporting information only.
- If co-funding for the project is being requested, it needs to be captured under section 11, clearly highlighting the amount requested and the intended purpose thereof.
Selection of projects will be based on criteria that include high impact in terms of improved competitiveness, SMME development, and socio-economic impact. Additionally, projects that include women and young people as beneficiaries will be prioritised.
FUNDING
Funds will NOT be available for:
- Enterprise start-up costs
- Enterprise operational costs
- Equipment without a component of product and process development to be done by the BIDF
The equipment and expertise available at the BIDF and other CSIR facilities will be used to develop, validate, or evaluate proposed technologies. Where applicable, the CSIR will purchase equipment for evaluation either at the BIDF or at the intended location of the proposed technology.
The thresholds or limits, in Rand value, for what may be supported/covered will depend on the need of the project and the funds available in the programme.
For more information on this call please contact:
Email Subject Title: Accelerated Implementation of Biorefinery Technologies Proposal
Email Submissions: BIDF@csir.co.za
Queries: Prof. Bruce Sithole Phone: 031 242 2325; Cell: 076 382 6337