Bert Energy is a protected and worldwide proven German initiative towards solving an agricultural problem by turning it into green energy. Although this international award winning technology is well capable of converting all kinds of bio waste into energy without the use of energy crops (silage, root crops), it’s also an easy solution to the excess slurry problem.

      BERT TECHNOLOGY

      Bert-slurry only AD (Anaerobic Digestion) plants apply the patented Power of Nature (PON) mixing technology, which is based on the principle of communicating vessels. The left schematic shows that the downforce created by the expanding biogas (B) volume in V2 pushes the digestate high up in V1. By releasing the biogas the downforce decreases, allowing the digestate to flow back into V2, thus restoring the balance (right schematic). This continuous process offers a considerable advantage when it comes to the operational costs and investment, and allows for to build small plants e.g. 30 kW. No other biogas system is using the power of nature as consequently as does Bert!

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      Furthermore, an additional mixing system is incorporated into Bert’s unique heating system which is applying the specially developed Thermo Gas Lift technology.

      The Bert technology is designed to have minimal moving parts and to require minimal operations (15-30 minutes per day) and maintenance. All plant components are standardized. Consequently structural service and maintenance are straightforward and easy to learn.

      Integration of Bert technology in the farm slurry management allows additional savings: fresh slurry is fed continuously from the barn into the pre-pit. From the pre-pit the substrate is automatically and regularly fed into the digester. The mixing inside the digester happens automatically as well through the power of nature. The substrate is then poured automatically into the storage pit or fed into the optional Bert substrate treatment and nutrient recovery system.

      PRODUCT RANGE

      The Bert product range not only offers conventional concrete build digesters/fermenters coming in standardized tank sizes from 200-1500 m³ and equipped with the unique Bert technology. As of now we are proud to offer you as well the Bert Mobile series; same unique technology but now containerized for small scale farmers. As of 9 tons of substrates per day conventional concrete build digesters can be more economic than the Bert Mobile solution. The Bert kW/h output can be modified as per customer’s requirements. This results in a winsome expenditure and ROI. And with he optional digestate treatment and nutrient recovery system you get even more out of your slurry.

      CONVENTIONAL FERMENTERS

      We offer various sizes of fermenters (digesters) in combination with different sizes of CHP (Combined Heat and Power) engines. The typical combinations are: 300 m³ /30 kW, 400 m³/40 kW, 500 m³/50 kW and 600 m³/75 kW. Other combinations are conceivable, depending on your substrates. The combinations marked with an X are the most frequently sold in Europe. Of course two fermenters can be used for larger substrate quantities, e.g. 30.000 m³ of substrates per year.
      By now over 100 Bert concrete build digesters, equipped with the unique Bert technology, have been commissioned. If you would like to know how this technology will be beneficiary to your farm too please read the following reference projects: PIG SLURRY and COW MANURE. Or visit our PROJECTS page for an overview of plants commissioned.

      BERT MOBILE SERIES

      Bert Mobile is an industrially manufactured integral biogas system. All advantages of industrial manufacturing e.g. quality control, mass production and economies of scale can be realized. But there are more advantages; like ease of maintenance and low maintenance costs, a quick and worry free installation and up-powering. A Bert Mobile becomes profitable from 3 metric tons of slurry processed per day. And there is already a Bert Mobile available for the price of just 1 tractor!

      A major advantage of the Bert Mobile system is the ability to operate off grid, self sustainable generating sufficient electricity to run your farm by processing the on site waste biomass, thus realizing considerable savings on decomposing costs. And as a bonus a surplus of electricity can be sold to third parties.

      CONTAINER VOLUME AND POWER OUTPUT COMBINATIONS

      • Configurations existing of 4 or more containers are available upon request.

      • All pre-pit technology and post-digester units can come containerized.

      • The CHP/kW output of all Bert conventional and mobile systems depends on the SUBSTRATE(S) PROCESSED. There is no guarantee regarding the maximum output.

      PRODUCT FEATURES

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        The BD has a build in heating system. This heating system will be adjusted to the climate zone. The temperature of the digester’s interior should be about 40°C. The BD's external insulation is not included but can easily be arranged for locally and is a must for good biogas results, even in hot climates.

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        The manhole in the BD's top is the access to its interior. This biogas-tight cover usually does not need to be opened. The cover’s window with build in wiper allows a view of the digester's interior while in operation. The mixer’s actions can be monitored also. The substrate input pipe is submerged in the substrate to avoid biogas from escaping.

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        A view of the BD’s interior. The reinforced and stiffened construction allows to fill the BD up with 50-60 m3/tons of biomass. The interior is completely protected against corrosion.

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        The outlet for the biogas bag, which serves as the external biogas storage room, is integrated in the BD’s top.

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        The flanges for the heating system are located left of the flange for the mixer. The heating system is connected to the CHP and keeps the temperature at about 40°C, even in a hot climate or harsh winters with minus temperatures.

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        An external mixer is to be connected to this flange to regularly mix the substrates. Usually the mixer runs every hour for about 3-5 minutes or can be programmed individually, depending on the substrates used.

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        Flanges for taking substrate samples. A temperature sensor controls the BD’s interior temperature.

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        This image shows the BD’s output and overflow exit hole. The hoses and pipes are included in the package price. The smaller hole is an emergency outlet, in case one wants to empty the BD.

      FAQ

      What is a Bert Mobile (BM)?

      Bert Mobile is an industrially manufactured biogas plant consisting of a 40 feet bio-digester (BD) and a 20 feet technical container (TC). It’s a biogas plant that will be delivered by truck and is ready for biogas production within 4-6 days.

      What is a containerized biogas plant?

      Containerized means that the BD as well as TC are standard size containers. All parts of the biogas plant come prefabricated and delivered in a container, so that on site installation is limited.

      What are the advantages of a BM?
      • industrial manufacturing offers reduced prices
      • using standard components assures quality
      • the mobility of BM allows relocation if needed
      • a BM is a modular system and can be expanded or down sized if required
      • DB is heated and can operate also at -30°C
      • starting from 3 tons of biomass per day
      • all kinds of biomass can be used
      • choices of CHP are available
      • various solutions for the use of biogas: electricity, heating, enclosed area cooling, refrigeration, CNG, deep freezing, burning, etc.
      • production of the fertilizer as output
      • no smell
      • easy to operate and low operation and maintenance cost
      • large variety of additional options like: heat pump, H2S sensors, web-control, flair, etc.
      What substrates can be processed with a BM?

      All animal (cattle, pigs, chicken, etc.) slurry/manure, as well as slaughterhouse waste, water treatment plant sludge, all food waste from food factories. In fact nearly all biomass.

      How many (BD) containers do I need?

      The number of containers depends on the daily biomass available. With 3 tons of biomass  per day or 10 cows you can start with the smallest system and upscale later on if required.

      How much power does my biomass contain?

      The power that the biomass is containing varies a lot. Compare it with the food you eat. Eating a steak and spaghetti will fill up your stomach (digester) and gives you energy for a long duration. Eating a watery soup with just 1 carrot in it won’t give you much energy. Usually dry matter content (DM) and organic dry matter content (ODM) are the key analytical data we need in order to define the biogas producing capacity of a substrate. Fats and sugars are excellent for biogas production.

      How do I feed the biomass into the digester?

      Depending on the biomass we offer various methods to feed the biomass into the digester (BD) on an hourly basis. For successful biogas production it is important that the biomass is presented to the bacteria in very small (digestible) portions. Therefore, shredders or other devices will be used to prepare the biomass.

      What comes out of the digester?

      The output of the digester is a wonderful bio fertilizer that can replace commercial fertilizer. This product is not smelling and has proven it’s effectivity many times all over the world.

      Does it smell?

      The biogas process is an anaerobic one. That means there is no smell from the process. The output of the digester does not smell either. If there is smell, it comes from the biomass which is waiting to be processed. That part needs to be managed properly.

      What size of CHP do I need?

      The required CHP’s (Combined Heat and Power) capacity depends on the power of your biomass. Please inform us regarding the amount of biomass you have available per day and we can calculate for you the capacity needed.

      How often do I feed the digester?

      The digester ideally should be fed on an hourly and timely basis: that means 24 times per day x 365 days.

      What makes BM special, compared to competitors?

      Bert systems are always working with heated digesters and a substrate temperature of around 40°C. In consequence a BM produces more biogas than other systems and at a constant rate. The heat comes from the CHP engine or from a heat pump.

      DIGESTATE TREATMENT AND NUTRIENT RECOVERY SYSTEM

      Digestate is a nutrient rich substance produced by anaerobic digestion that can be used as a fertilizer. It consists of left over indigestible material and dead micro-organisms. The volume of the digestate will be around 90-95% of what was fed into the digester.

      All the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium present in the feedstock will remain in the digestate as none is present in the biogas. However, the nutrients are considerably more available than in raw slurry, meaning it is easier for plants to make use of the nutrients.

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      The digestate is treated through a biological process using MBR Technology. After extracting the solids from the digestate, the liquid portion will be further treated until it meets the discharge standard.

      The containerized 40 feet digestate treatment & nutrient recovery system is the solution to excess slurry, ground water pollution and regulatory issues. It not only eliminates the digestate's nitrate/nitrogen component and provides non-polluting grey water or (at a higher purchase price) even drinking water, it also recovers the digestate's nutrients (solid as well as liquid) which can be applied for private use or sold to third parties.

      In our PRODUCT SHEET you can find more information regarding the components, different capacity options, flow charts and input and output values.