Ken McGrath is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Ashleigh Environmental. He presents on the opportunity for anaerobic digestion to process the large amounts of organic waste produced globally each year. Ashleigh has developed a modular microwave treatment system called BIOWAVE that can increase biogas production from anaerobic digestion by 20-50% compared to small-scale digestion alone. BIOWAVE has undergone research, development and pilot testing. Ashleigh Environmental is now seeking strategic partners and a €2 million investment to expand pilot sites, enhance the technology, and grow marketing and sales.
2. The Problem/Opportunity
40%
1bn
Tonnes
Up to
50%
€1.5 -
€2m
Global pork production inc.
next two decades
Organic waste per
annum (EU)
Large biogas (AD)
plant cost
Indigestible
organics
700m
Tonnes
GHGs per annum
(Global)
3. China
435m
The Market
€3.25b
Global Agri AD
€2.1b
EU Agri AD
2018 AD Equipment Mkt
Project Capex for AD projects forecast
•EU > €18bn by 2023.
•EU Farm-fed > €9bn by 2023
Source: BCC Research - The global market for anaerobic digesters and landfill gas equipment by
feed source, current and estimates for 2018 (% millions)
Source: https://www.visiongain.com/Report/1556/Global-Anaerobic-Digestion-(AD)-Market-2016-2026
Number of pigs worldwide 2017
Europe
147m
US
69m
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/263964/number-of-pigs-in-selected-countries/
4. Value Proposition
Large Scale AD Small Scale AD BIOWAVE + AD
Cost High (€1.5 - €2m) Moderate (€500k -1m) Moderate (€500k -1m)
Inputs
Secure + Insecure &
Expensive (e.g. Food Waste)
Secure, Inexpensive Secure, Inexpensive
Project Complexity High Lower Lower
Optimisation Potential Moderate Low High
Biogas Production High Low 20-50% > than small scale
6. 2012
EU FP7 R&D funding
(€1.5m)
2016
Horizon 2020 FTI Funding (€1.9m)
2008-2011
Concept Development
Biowave
Industrial Design & Scale up
PlaGasMic
Lab research & design
2014
PlaGasMic Lab Prototype
Commissioned @ Liverpool John Moores University
Development Milestones
2008 – 2018
Analysis of Microwave Technology
2018
Industrial Trials
Pilot Plant Commissioned
@ Ashleigh Farms, IRL
7. The Future:
Microwaves can improve methane yields for any type of
feedstock into any type of anaerobic digester.
AD used in almost every wastewater and sewage
treatment plant worldwide
Microwave pretreatment of cellulosic feedstocks to
promote hydrolysis to sugars for fermentation – new
market in the biological synthesis of higher value
fuels and chemicals.
8. Route To Market
Product One
License to AD System
SuppliersManufacture
Route 1 Route 2
AD System
Suppliers
AD System
Suppliers
End User
Year Business Model Unit Sales Revenue
2019 - 2022
Manufacture 170 €60m
Licensing 90 €4.5m
Financials
9. Fertilizer
Team
Advisory Board
Eoghain O’Horgain - Ashleigh Environmental
Project Engineer
Dr. Louis Latrasse - Sairem
MW & RF Applications Specialist
Prof. Andy Shaw - LJMU
Microwave research
Wallace Henry - Rektify Limited
Privately owned company dedicated to
exploitation of published research to improve
financial performance of pig producers in IRE,
GB & EU
James McGrath - Ashleigh Farms
Over the past 40 years James has built Ashleigh Farms
into one of the most efficient and productive pig farms
in Europe.
Ken McGrath - Ashleigh Environmental
Managing Director
Dr. Monserrat Ortoneda - LJMU
Microwave and microbiology research
Paul Clarke - EMCA
Process control and automation
James Murcott - Methanogen
Anaerobic Digestion
Angie Bywater - Methanogen
Anaerobic Digestion
10. Additional €1.5m
New pilot plants secured
Commercialisation
Operational Sales &
Distribution
Channels
Commercial Plan
Q1 2018
Q2 2018
260 Units Sales
(Manufacture + Licence)
€500k Seed round
Q4 2018
Q2 2019
2019 - 2022
Pilot Plant
Commissioned
The Ask
Looking for strategic partners
•Develop new reference sites
•Expand geographical footprint
Seeking €2m financing
•Working Capital + Hiring Technology, CFO, Engineering & Business Development - €500k
•Technical enhancements and technology application diversification opportunities - €1m
•Expand Go-To-Market activities - €500k
EC – 2030 target 40% GHG reduction target compared to 1990
EC – 2030 target 27% RES final consumption of energy (EU binding target)
AD has a huge role in decarbonizing the agriculture industry.
5bn EU total 2017
2bn EU farm fed 2017
This demonstration plant is a major advance in technology and provides one of the best examples of the use of microwave rectors in a commercial operation