EQTEC to upgrade University of Extremadura’s syngas R&D facility

In Spain, EQTEC announced that the group has been awarded a contract for the upgrade of the existing syngas research and development facility at the University of Extremadura in Badajoz, Spain.

The award of the Upgrade Contract follows a successful funding application by the University to the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’) to secure funding for the testing of the production of biofuels from syngas using a Fisher-Tropsch process and unit. Installation of a Fisher-Tropsch unit will allow the production of sustainable biofuels utilizing the high-quality syngas produced from EQTEC’s advanced gasification process, which has been used at the Facility since 2010.

Pursuant to the Upgrade Contract, EQTEC is responsible for purchasing, installing, commissioning and startup of the Fischer-Tropsch unit, for which it has secured short-term project level financing from CAIXA Bank in Spain. The installation of the Fischer-Tropsch unit, along with sign off from the University, is anticipated to be completed in Q3 2020. On completion, the University will reimburse EQTEC out of the ERDF funding.

The Fischer-Tropsch process is a catalytic chemical reaction in which compounds in syngas are converted into liquid transportation fuels. Following completion of this upgrade, EQTEC will have the ability to carry out tests with a variety of biomass and waste feedstocks, which will be processed into a clean syngas and then into sustainable biofuels such as biodiesel and other transportation fuels.