H2Bio - Power to Protein
Feeding the world’s growing population and reducing the environmental impact of food production are two key challenges to mankind. These challenges are boosting the search into innovative, more sustainable methods of food production, and more.
H2Bio - The Collab between Dutch Allied Waters and Avecom - focuses on biosynthesis of organic compounds by bacteria using green hydrogen as an energy source.
Our patented gas fermentation process produces Single Cell Protein, a high quality feed & foodstuff.
By 2040 we will have to feed a world population of 9 billion
Conventional protein sources such as soy and fishmeal have a very large geographical and ecological footprint
Protein prices are increasing because of increasing demand and limited supply
The feed and food industry is scouting for sustainable and high quality alternatives
Green hydrogen is typically produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen (electrolysis of water). The electricity required is generated from renewable sources such as solar power and wind.
There is an ever increasing focus on using hydrogen as
(1) fuel for cars,
(2) a means for energy storage,
(3) feedstock for the chemical industry, and here
(4) as an energy source for bacteria producing feed and food.
The partners in the Collab H2Bio cooperate closely in developing technology and markets for biosynthetic compounds starting from green hydrogen. Biosynthesis of protein for feed applications is the subject of a joint project involving several partners; resource recovery is the key in this project. Specifically in the food applications field virgin raw materials are used.
The quality of the final product is between animal and plant proteins. The main advantages of microbial protein production compared to the conventional proteins include
(1) substantially lower footprint and water consumption,
(2) less emissions (pesticides, nutrients, greenhouse gases), and – last but not least –
(3) an animal friendly system.
And autotrophic, hydrogen using bacteria can do much more, e.g. CO2 captation and nutrient removal from water.
| Unit | Plant protein | Animal protein | Solar beef | Source | |
| Footprint | m2/kg | 5 | 20 | <1 | 1 |
| Water consumption | m3/kg | 15 | 30 | <1 | 1 |
| N uptake efficiency | % | 26 | 7 | 80 | 2 |
| Greenhouse gas emission | kg CO2e/kg | 100 | 300 | <10 | 1 |
(1) World Resource Institute, 2016 (animal protein: corn and poultry); (2) Pikaar et al, Environm. Sci. Techn., 2017
KWR and Avecom are partners in the Allied Waters Collab ‘H2Bio’; We are happy to support you in the quest to use hydrogen as a vector for developing new opportunities in biotechnology.
With this process and product, Avecom and Allied Waters want to offer a sustainable, affordable and locally produced alternative for high-quality feed- and foodstuffs which are now either unsustainable produced or limited in supply.
Interested in the concept? Feel free to contact us!
Download presentation "Power to Protein"
Send download link to:
Avecom nv | Industrieweg 122P 9032 Wondelgem Belgium
sales@avecom.be | +32 9 375 17 14