Sustainability

Unibio is committed to the continuous development of the U-Loop design and product applications with sustainability in focus.

The use of feed mix for animals has a certain impact on the environment in terms of how the leftovers from the animals affect the surroundings.

The goal of the project is to prove that an amino acid profile specifically designed for pigs will:

  • lead to higher productivity
  • use less additives in the feed mix
  • add fewer nitrates to the surroundings

Click on the below tabs to read more about Unibio’s commitment to sustainability:

Natural gas turned into food

  About 140 billion cubic metres (5 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas are being flared and vented annually.

* Source: GGFR8 World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Tracker report, April 2021

Why not use this gas to feed the world?

With the Unibio technology it is possible to produce approx. 70,000,000 tonnes of UniProtein® by using the gas otherwise flared.

 

Natural Gas flaring

The Unibio technology enables venting and gas flaring to be reduced as it utilizes an environmentally harmful gas in the production of single cell protein

  Nearly 140 billion cubic metres (or 5.3 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas are being flared and vented annually by the oil industry

  The gas flared annually is equivalent to 25% of the United States’ gas consumption, 30% of the European Union’s gas consumption, or 75% of Russia’s gas exports. The gas flared yearly also represents more than the combined gas consumption of Central and South America

  The annual 35 bcm (or 1.2 trillion cubic feet) of gas flared in Africa alone is equivalent to half of that continent’s power consumption

  Gas flaring has a global impact on climate change by adding about 400 million tonnes of CO₂ to annual emissions

  Fewer than 20 countries account for more than 70% of gas flaring and venting. And just four countries together flare about 70 billion cubic metres of associated gas.

Estimated Flared Volume from Satellite Data (in bcm)

Country/Year
20162017201820192020Change 2020-2019
Russia22.3719.9221.2823.2124.881.66
Iraq17.7317.8417.8217.9117.37-0.54
Iran16.4117.6717.2813.7813.26-0.52
United States8.869.4814.0717.2911.81-5.49
Algeria9.108.809.019.349.32-0.02
Venezuela9.357.008.229.548.59-0.95
Nigeria7.317.657.447.837.20-0.63
Mexico4.783.793.894.485.771.28
China1.961.561.822.022.720.70
Oman2.822.602.542.632.52-0.11
Libya2.353.914.675.122.47-2.65
Malaysia3.162.832.252.372.410.04
Egypt2.832.342.262.342.360.02
Saudi Arabia2.382.322.292.102.260.16
Indonesia2.772.332.062.001.88-0.12
Angola4.493.802.792.331.87-0.46
Rep of the Congo1.141.141.581.671.790.11
Turkmenistan1.841.671.501.341.670.33
India2.061.501.341.311.490.19
Kazakhstan2.672.422.051.571.48-0.09
Gabon1.561.501.381.461.470.01
Canada1.301.341.331.051.080.03
United Kingdom1.341.351.211.111.06-0.05
Argentina0.560.510.700.941.060.11
Ecuador1.151.070.900.921.040.12
Qatar1.081.031.031.341.01-0.34
Brazil1.441.101.001.140.99-0.14
Syria0.551.190.690.930.980.05
Australia0.730.660.861.390.980.41
UAE0.840.981.150.900.960.06
Rest of the world10.79.38.68.68.4-0.22
Total148141145150142-7.88

* Source: GGFR & World Bank: Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report, April 2021

52% Cut in Co2 Emissions

Production of Uniprotein® from natural gas versus flaring of natural gas

Q: How much CO₂ is formed by flaring 200 million mof natural gas?

A: When methane (which is the principal component of natural gas – about 92%) is flared at whichever temperature, it follows the reaction CH4 + 2 O2 > CO₂ + 2 H2O. As can be seen, 1 mol of CO₂ per mol of CHis formed, or 1 mCO₂ per mCH4.

The answer is thus: 200 million mCO₂ are formed. Expressed in tonne CO₂ , the answer is:
At 25 othere is in 1 mCO₂ 1000/24.2 = 41.3 mol CO₂ = 1.818 kg. In 200 million m3
CO₂ there is thus 363 106kg = 363,000 tonnes CO₂

Q: How much COis emitted by using 200 million mof natural gas for fermentation and production of SCP?

A: Production of SCP based on methane follows the reaction:
CH+ 1.454 O2 + 0.105 NH3 > 0.520 X (biomass) + 0.480 CO2 + 1.69 H2O
Only 48% of the CO₂ resulting from the above answer is thus released. This equals 96 million mor
174,200 tonnes of CO₂ . By using 200 million mof natural gas for fermentation and
production of SCP instead of flaring it, a 52% reduction in CO₂ emissions is thus achieved.

John Villadsen
Professor, dr techn, tekn.dr h.c.mult

U-Loop Technology

Watch our video that explains how U-Loop technology is used to produce Uniprotein

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