Nitrogen enrichment of manure in Rogaland County, Norway

N2 Agri aims to reduce the loss of nitrogen and thereby increase the farmers profit in an R&D project financed by N2 and the Regional Research Foundation West (RFFVEST).

The Region of Jæren in Norway has a surplus of manure with a concentrated production of about 1 mill tons of manure within a radius of 20 km (outer circle) as shown in Figure 1.

Manure has a low fertilizer value because of a substantial loss of nitrogen during storage and application. Hence, it has been the object to determine nitrogen activity and conversion during the enrichment process using plasma technology, and the effects of enriched fertilizer on crop and its quality for a variety of plants. The R&D project started in May 2017 and ends in February 2018 (phase 1).

Dr Tomas Persson at NIBIO Særheim has performed the pot-trials on a variety of combinations of soil and fertilizers. The trials are successful, and its results will be presented in the final report to RFFVEST at the end of March 2018. Figure 2 shows the early stage pot-trials presented by Dr. Tomas Persson.

A plasma reactor has been installed and operated at Jæren Biogass AS (www.jaerenbiogass.no) with very good cooperation and facilitation from its owner Olav Røysland and N2 associate Odd Kjetil Bore. The full-scale pilot installation has given valuable operational experience from enrichment of manure from pigs and cattle, as well as from bio residue based on pig manure.

A reference group of 12 farmers has been involved in discussions to gain knowledge on issues concerning use of enriched fertilizer from N2 plasma technology. Jofrid Torland Mjåtveit coordinates the group of farmers, which has given valuable feedback to N2.

Jæren has a vast potential for combined production of enriched fertilizer and biogas. It could potentially release as much as 120 GWh biogas distributed amongst 15 clusters of farms, which has annual production of 30 000 tons manure in each cluster. Total GHG footprint reduction is 900.000 CO₂-eq. Although, this potential is obvious and N2 has the technology to serve farmers ability to make their own fertilizer for precision farming, it must be set necessary frame conditions in combination with engagement from the local industry to achieve such goal.

N2 has been in very positive and constructive dialog with Lyse Neo, Magnar Bolme, and IVAR, Oddvar Tornes, about the potential for combined production of enriched fertilizer and biogas at Jæren. We look forward to maintaining the positive dialog and potentially find a common business opportunity.

Felleskjøpet RA, Ola Bekken, gave us the opportunity to present and discuss our business case, which gave us valuable feedback.

Wiig Gartneri, Frode Ringsevjen, has given us valuable feedback toward a potential Industrial Green House market. They have received nitrogen enriched biofertilizer which will be tried out in small scale tests at given opportunity. N2 look forward to the results from the small-scale tests and a further collaboration with Wiig Gartneri in identifying new opportunities.

N2 will follow up the potential at Jæren in the coming future and will be ready to engage and deliver plasma technology for nitrogen enrichment of bio residue in a coming market. Moreover, we are ready to engage in phase 2 of a R&D project at Jæren as soon as the local industry find suitable incentives to co-finance.

N2 will use the opportunity to thank all the participants in the project and our business associates for making this project possible and giving us the opportunity to identify and point out the large potential at Jæren.