Thenergo to Build Bio-Oil Plant

Sustainable energy company Thenergo is to build a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) bio-oil energy plant in Merksplas, Belgium.

The €11m project called Greenpower will run on bio-oil extracted from the nuts of the jatropha plant, a non-edible fruit grown in South East Asia.

Using the jatropha plant, from cultivation to logistics, ensures minimal loss of primary energy during production and transportation, says Thenergo.

The plant will be operational for up to 8,000 hours per year, generating 6MWth of heat and 9MWe of electricity, sufficient to power 20,000 households.

The plant is expected to be operational in February 2009.

By Ozge Ibrahim