How producing 1,300,000 kw of electricity from coffee dregs

FondiLaunching and supplying a virtuous cycle of waste management. Such a challenging goal set by Argenta Group consists in intending coffee dregs to the production of biogas, and therefore energy.

The project Argenta Ambiente, which started after an experimentation phase, was created from the company’s need to “launch projects aimed to protect the environment being part of a broader program of social responsability – explains CE Giovanna Voltolina, the Group’s Member of the Board of DirectorsThat commitment allows us both to offer a new image to the client and generate a profit.

In this case, the cost reduction refers to the disposal of coffee dregs: the company is a manager of automatic vending machines and it controls a dense network of operators spread in the entire Italy. “Some of our clients disposed of the coffee dregs at their own expense, others used to send it to our 22 branches, whereas the other ones entered into agreements with the municipal companies. Nonetheless, in all those cases, the product was not recovered – Voltolina continues. Along with Organica, company that has decided to accompany us in that experiment, we have proceeded to collect the dregs and deliver them to the biogas production plant in a special can and by means of our small vans.”

The test phase launched with €400 thousand euro, along with the training of over 700 people, reached the objective of collection of 400 ton of dregs. This step put the Group to the test which was capable of “managing at least 90% of the dregs produced by coffee machines, amounting to 2,160,000 kg a year.”

The production in terms of electric power could be expanded also to heat. Currently, it equals 600 kW per 1,000 kg of dregs, with a good prospect for growth: “if we converted all the recovered dregs, we estimate to be able to produce 1,300,000 kW of electricity.” The saving will be progressive and “of about €200 thousand to be spread within years.”

Future goals of the companies include “the use of electric car, which is already present among our park of 900 vehicles, in order to deliver coffee dregs to the biogas production plant and reduce the number of collection points. These activities are part of our broader strategic plan to convey to the operators major responsibility and sensitiveness towards the environment.”

 

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