Vision and mission statements

BIONERGY, a.s. is a modern, progressive and forward-looking company, environmentally and socially responsible, with the ambition to become the market leader in the field of recovery of biodegradable waste in the territory of the Bratislava Region.

In addition to providing treatment and recovery of unstabilized mixed sludge (as the main role), the Company identifies its development opportunities in new ways of applying the existing technologies and other opportunities in the area of:

• production of electricity and heat from renewable energy sources;
• processing of biodegradable waste;
• material and energy recovery of sludge solids;
• or restoration of trade with energies (electricity, gas).

Electricity and heat production

In 2010, the existing facilities have been upgraded and the output of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Vrakuňa was increased with a new CGU (cogeneration unit) with the electrical output of 977 kW and the thermal output of 1,010 kW. Further expansion of the production capacity depends on the increased production of sewage gas or long-term provision of other suitable fuel at economically favourable conditions (e.g. fuel produced from mechanically drained sludge). Increase in the production of sewage gas is possible through intensification of extraction of the unstabilized mixed sludge or by adding other biodegradable substances with a higher content of hydrocarbons into the technological processes. From the technological point of view, these are the simplest ways to increase production of sewage gas.

Processing of biodegradable waste

Currently, there is no any biogas plant in Bratislava or its surroundings that would allow recovery of kitchen and catering waste in accordance with applicable legislation. The Company owns a part of the technology, which can be used for recovery of kitchen and catering waste, assuming that it would be adapted and completed (modifications of the unused part of the technology).

Conditions for successful recovery of kitchen and catering waste can be summarised in the following points:

• Long-term ensuring of appropriate input raw materials or a mix of raw materials (the need for a survey of the produced kitchen and catering wastes within the catchment area, analysis of the cost of their acquisition, logistics);
• Selecting the proper technologies;
• Obtaining permits for construction and operation technologies.

This waste will the company provide a source for subsequent energy recovery through the production of sewage gas in a process of anaerobic fermentation and its subsequent utilization for the production of electricity in CGU.

Energy recovery of wastewater solids

As a result of stabilization of sludge produced in the process of wastewater treatment as well as in the process of recovery of biodegradable waste sludge is formed, which in the past the Company forwarded to external suppliers for further recovery. Stabilized sludge has the energy potential with the possibility of its economic recovery as a fuel or through its combustion in a closed cycle (electricity and heat production). The economic benefits of such use of sludge is cost savings for recovery of sludge, the additional revenues from the sale of electricity (currently enjoying the benefits under the Act on the promotion of RES (renewable energy sources) – a guaranteed buyout of all produced electricity at guaranteed prices).

Currently there is only a limited range of verifiable technologies and experience of producing fuel-based sewage sludge and its subsequent combustion. Moreover, it is necessary to provide for at least one additive for fuel production (e.g. a homogeneous secondary raw material paper, wood chips, sawdust or straw). Considering the aforementioned such disposal represents the most challenging and comprehensive set of measures (in terms of providing secondary raw materials, technology, permits and social acceptance of such equipment).

In any case, it is the Company's ambition to change the passive method of sludge disposal, which generates costs, into the active way, which generates income.

Objectives and Tasks of the Company

1. Systematization of the management processes of the company
2. Optimization of production processes
3. Increasing the volume of sewage gas production (electricity, heat, and saving the cost of natural gas)
4. Cataloguing, analysis and prioritization of development of business activities.
5. Implementation of investment actions to promote production and business goals of the Company