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Bringing automated, real-time process control into starch-processing industries

Project description

Good news for brewers and bioethanol producers

Brewers will soon be able to raise beer and bioethanol productivity by up to 15 % annually while reducing their carbon footprint, thanks to Specshell’s OptiSpec process control system. A first, this automated system provides detailed insight on compositional data such as sugar concentration and other intermediates in real time throughout the production process. Currently struggling with difficult market conditions, bioethanol producers can also benefit from this breakthrough technology. EU funding will enable Specshell to realise the potential of OptiSpec and increase its market uptake. In turn, widespread adoption of this system will increase production efficiency and boost yield and profits of the beer and bioethanol sector, while helping the EU achieve its decarbonisation objectives.

Objective

The production of beer and bioethanol goes through a first stage, in which the starch (previously extracted from the grain) is broken down into sugars by the action of enzymes. In a second stage, the sugars are fermented into ethanol in the presence of yeast. Nowadays there are no analytical tools available at industrial facilities providing detailed and real-time information on the concentration of sugars and other intermediates throughout the production process. In consequence, it is not possible yet to monitor and optimise in real time beer and bioethanol production, what determines the overall outcome of these industries. At Specshell we have seized this opportunity and developed OptiSpec, the first process control system providing a detailed insight on compositional data in real time throughout the beer and bioethanol production process. Our uniqueness relies on the adaptation of the mid-IR spectroscopy to the industrial setting, and its combination with our proprietary chemometrics libraries, converting in real-time the IR-absorption spectra data into parameters of interest for plant operators. OptiSpec will be introduced to breweries, where the first version of our solution has been already successfully tested. It will enable brewers to increase their productivity by 5-15% annually and reduce the carbon footprint of the brewing process. OptiSpec will also benefit bioethanol producers, who are currently struggling with very difficult market conditions. OptiSpec represents a breakthrough for this sector as it has the potential to increase the efficiency of their production process and increasing the yield by 1-2%, positioning this sector as crucial in helping the EU to achieve its transport decarbonisation objectives. OptiSpec will positively impact Specshell: by 2025, five years after market uptake, we expect to have 770 OptiSpec units installed worldwide. That year we will surpass the €65 million revenues, have 4 offices worldwide and employ up to 150 people.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

SPECSHELL APS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 613 659,25
Address
TEMPOVEJ 14
2750 BALLERUP
Denmark

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 305 227,50
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