FACT news - recent items
Update lessons learnt Jatropha and future perspective
September 25th, 2012
Through the Jatropha projects FACT Foundation learned valuable lessons. Currently, we are exploring the more promising approach of biorefinery, with a focus on using organic waste stream for...
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Jatropha: Lessons learnt and future perspective
July 30th, 2012
Through the Jatropha projects FACT Foundation learned valuable lessons. Currently, we are exploring the more promising approach of biorefinery, with a focus on using organic waste stream for energy...
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Are you a student or volunteer?
July 16th, 2012
Who wants to work independently on an assignment within one of the most dynamic bioenergy organizations in the field? Inspire yourself, have a look at the most recent topics on Life Sciences, Mecha...
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Check out the report on Nutrient flows 2012
June 19th, 2012
Exploring the opportunities for the retention of nutrients in local bio-energy production. See the recent report "Nutrient flows in small-scale bio-energy use in developing countries", a...
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New release: FACT Innovation Award 40 second pitches
June 19th, 2012
Have a look at the 40 second Innovation Award pitches at the Zoo in Amersfoort.
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New report plus video online!
May 29th, 2012
In the second half of 2011 a group of students from TU Delft University visited Ssese Islands in Uganda for an assigment on the marketing of biogas-base battery charging systems. The group, called...
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Plenty opportunities for internships!
May 15th, 2012
As of yet there are several positions open for students at BSc and MSc level (both for internships and graduation assignments), in a number of disciplines (mechanical, electrical, biochemical,...
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Biogas tests with elephant and guatemala grass
April 20th, 2012
Biogas tests have been carried out with samples of Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Guatemala grass (Tripsacum laxum) that were brought from Uganda by FACT Foundation staff. The results...
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New biogas tests
April 1st, 2012
In order to add to the existing knowledge on suitable biogas feedstocks, and to support its partners in developing countries with new knowledge, FACT has been commissioning tests with different...
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Dutch Development Cooperation under Siege
March 13th, 2012
In the current political situation in the Netherlands, and the servere budget cuts needed to comply with EU agreements, the budget for development cooperation is being considered for reduction....
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Working paper on Carbon storage by Jatropha trees
February 13th, 2012
In a recent study Bart Hellings from the Technical University of Eindhoven has assessed the carbon sequestration potential of Jatropha curcas. In Northern Tanzania Jatropha trees were dug out and...
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Biogas tests banana skin
January 26th, 2012
Recently, FACT commissioned biogas production tests with banana skin, in order to add to existing knowledge on biogas feedstock, and to support one of its partners who is considering the start of a...
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New report on biobutanol
January 17th, 2012
Biobutanol is a biofuel that can be produced by fermentation of biomass. With the recent progress made on economic butanol production from biomass and the suitability of butanol as a clean...
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Jatropha: lessons learned
December 20th, 2011
As most of FACT's partners, friends and followers will know, FACT's history is more-or-less built on Jatropha. FACT helped initiate, develop and finance jatropha projects in Honduras (Gota Verde),...
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New video on Euphorbia tirucalli
December 15th, 2011
After earlier publications on Euphorbia tirucalli (including a cultivation manual and a report on laboratory tests), FACT Foundation now presents a video on the cultivation, harvesting and...
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New report on Jatropha processing
October 21st, 2011
In September 2011, a new report was released on the processing of Jatropha Curcas: "Jatropha Curcas Processing - An overview". The report includes new insights on pressing of jatropha nuts and...
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Thesis on biogas digester effluent separation
September 6th, 2011
In the period of February-July 2011, French student Kevin Chapon carried out an assignment in Mali, within the context of his BSc. studies Environmental technology & Management at the AVANS...
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Bag digester installation manual - version 1.1
April 4th, 2011
Following the succesful implementation of the first bag digester in Koulikoro, Mali, FACT has prepared a manual for the installation of small bag digesters. The manual is appliccable for standard...
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Researching digestate upgrading in Mali
March 21st, 2011
Since early March 2011, French student Kevin Chapon is in Koulikoro (Mali) for his Bachelor assignment in Environmental Technology at the AVANS Hogeschool in Breda (The Netherlands). Kevin will be...
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Video on installation of biogas system
March 1st, 2011
In december 2010, staff from FACT Foundation and Mali Biocarburant (MBSA) jointly installed a small biogas system at the site of MBSA in Koulikoro, Mali. The unit is a plug-flow system made from...
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Mali test digester update
January 25th, 2011
The 10 m 3 experimental digester at the production site of Mali Biocarburant SA (MBSA) in Koulikoro is functioning well. The digester was started up in mid-December 2010, and is currently operated...
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Seminar in Maputo on 25 November 2010
November 18th, 2010
On the 25th of November 2010, a one day seminar will be held in Maputo, where the results of the FACT Pilot project on jatropha in Cabo Delgado will be presented to the public. For the program and...
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Honduras videos online
October 25th, 2010
After the videos of the different aspects of the Mali Garalo projects, FACT now presents a series of 5 videos on the Honduras Gota Verde projects, implemented by STRO Foundation in the period...
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Study on aquatic biofuels
October 18th, 2010
In the period of March-September 2010, Mr. Otto Jandl did his MSc thesis research with FACT Foundation, on the subject of biogas from (floating) aquatic biomass. He graduated in September at the...
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First videos online!
September 24th, 2010
FACT Foundation proudly presents the first results of its video production activities. Over the last months we have worked hard to finish the videos from the Mali Garalo project: 5 different videos...
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GHG calculation tool online!
September 6th, 2010
FACT Foundation proudly presents its own GHG emission calculation tool, that can be used to calculate the net CO2 (equivalent) emissions from small scale electricity production using PPO, biogas or...
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Coconut handbook online
August 2nd, 2010
The FACT Coconut handbook is now online. It contains valuable information for those looking for new opportunities in biofuels. Under certain conditions (like on the pacific islands, or wherever...
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Mozambique - Training course on Cultivation of Jatropha
July 26th, 2010
Second Training course on Cultivation of Jatropha With pleasure we announce the second training course on Jatropha Cultivation, which will be held in Bilibiza, Cabo Delgado (near Pemba)...
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Final report on thermoacoustic generator
July 13th, 2010
Several months ago FACT has commisioned the development and test of a small thermo-acoustic generator the can convert waste heat to electricity on a small scale. A prototype has been constructed...
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FACT sheet on Sugar Palm
May 20th, 2010
FACT proudly presents its latest FACT sheet on sugar palm. The sheet contains information on the plant, its products and processing of sugar palm into biofuel. The factsheet is based onthe...
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New technology for enhanced biogas
April 19th, 2010
Recently, FACT Foundation staff visited Lehmann Maschinenbau, a German company producing bio-extruders and other equipment for biogas systems. Bio-extruders are used for the pre-processing of...
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FACT response to biofuels report Natuur en Milieu
April 6th, 2010
The Dutch environmental NGO "Stichting Natuur en Milieu" recently published a report on the land use change effects of biofuels, in relation to greenhouse gas emissions and food shortages. Although...
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Biofuels and Hunger
March 16th, 2010
Recently, the anti-poverty organization ActionAid embarked on a campaign against the use of biofuels, under the heading of "Demand Zero Meals per Gallon". From its own experience with different...
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Progress in Mechanical Jatropha Harvesting
March 8th, 2010
Jatropha harvesting is painstaking and time consuming work (see also chapter 3 of the Jatropha Handbook). Mechanical harvesting is often regarded as the holy grail: it would substantially reduce...
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Working Paper Oil Purification
March 1st, 2010
The latest addition to the media library is a working paper on Jatropha oil purification, explaining the different options for removing solids from crude vegetable oil. The document's annex...
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Large biogas plant under construction
February 26th, 2010
The Groene Woudt Foundation (SHGW) supports a project of an integrated development project consisting of organic tea growing and processing, cattle raising and Jatropha in West Sumatra. Recently, a...
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First prototype thermo-acoustic converter
February 23rd, 2010
FACT and its partners proudly present the world's flattest thermo-acoustic converter. The prototype produces approx 40 W of mechanical power at a temperature difference of 100 degrees (C). This...
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Thermoacoustics for development
December 9th, 2009
A very recent development is the use of thermoacoustics for biomass energy systems. Thermoacoustics is a concept in which heat is used to generate a sound wave. This sound wave can be converted...
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Biogas system design study
December 9th, 2009
In September, a group of students of the University of Eindhoven accepted the challenge of designing a grass biogas digester for community use. The students have recently presented their first...
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Film projects
December 9th, 2009
As of October 2009, FACT has started with the production of a series of short films on biofuels production and utilization. Each film will highlight a step in the production chain of a specific...
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