The Serbian NGO, The Environmental Ambassadors, invited Mrs. Snezana Kovacevic, President of Enviro-Quest Technologies Inc. and Dr. Prof. Richard Branion from the University of British Columbia to present at the ISWA-SeSWA-EPE Seminar, which will be held in October 2007 in Novi Sad, Serbia. Mrs. Kovacevic presented anaerobic reactor technologies at last year’s Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad. This year she will present “A Review of North American Experiences with Anaerobic Digestion Technology for Energy Production and Protection of the Environment” and “A Total Treatment and Utilization System for Dairy Manure" which is a summary of research work done in the area of waste management of animal manure by UBC professor Dr. Victor Lo, who is also involved in the project proposed for the solution of biodiesel’s glycerol in Serbia.  Dr. Branion (UBC professor since1962.) will give a presentation on managing industrial wastes with an emphasize on dewatering industrial sludges. Their presentations will contribute to the transfer of knowledge and skills between Canadian project participants and Serbian environmentalists and support the further establishment of sustainable partnerships.

The recent result of the cooperation with environmental Ambassadors is the initiation of the project: “An Economical and Environmentally Friendly Solution to Victoria Group’s Byproduct Glycerol”. Enviro-Quest’s proposal for a new way of using biodiesel’s byproduct, glycerol, resulted in the establishment of an initial project plan that involves the collaboration of the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Environmental Ambassadors.

This project addresses the opportunity to produce energy by co-digesting glycerol and animal manure. The proposed approach to convert organic waste to biogas and renewable energy presents the opportunity to address a green alternative to dependency on fossil fuels and a way of promoting organic waste management.

Opening the Office in Belgrade

October 25, 2007

Recently, Enviro-Quest Technologies has been exploring prospects for energy generation from biomass and livestock manure and the opportunity to introduce North American anaerobic experiences to Eastern European.  This opportunity also brings the chance to realize biogas projects, prepare  business and feasibility studies and offer services that deal with greenhouse gas certification to help Eastern European farms and food processing companies to generate additional revenue from the sale of emission offsets.

Having in mind that Eastern Europe and more specifically the Balkans, has not fully started to explore the prospect of producing energy through waste management on animal farms, food processing factories, or municipalities. In 2006 Enviro-Quest Technologies decided to explore the opportunity there and visited that region. While the company’s representatives were in Serbia, they presented the applications of anaerobic technology to the agriculture and food industry at the 73rd International Agricultural Fair, the largest fair in Serbia and Montenegro and one of the largest agricultural fairs in Europe. Enviro-Quest was among more than 2,000 exhibitors from over 60 countries presenting products and services.

The International Agricultural Fair gave the company a chance to present an anaerobic technology to potential customers as well as to visit other presenters who were interested in knowing how to transform biomass waste in to energy and how to get a hold of additional income through greenhouse credits. It was also the opportunity to establish a close relationship with officials from several big manufacturing companies as well as universities and government.

Balkan countries have enormous potential for generation of energy from biomass. With large agricultural corporations, slaughterhouses, milk factories, food processing plants and huge numbers of animals located within the same vicinity, the possibility of methane production through the installation of anaerobic digesters becomes extremely commercially viable. In regards to that, they have an immense potential to collect methane, gain revenue from it, and sell green house gas offsets.

During last year’s Serbian tour the company was aware that at that time Serbia had yet to ratify the Kyoto protocol, so there was not an immediate chance to realize carbon credit opportunities. However, the goal was just to establish a position.

2007 is a year when the ratification of Kyoto Agreement will be realized, so Enviro-Quest decided to further pursue exploring this market. The established connections have placed Enviro-Quest in a great position to open an office in Serbia and be able to act more efficiently, organize location specific work, and interact with local engineering firms that can be contracted for construction or any other local jobs.

Serbia has been chosen because of its central geographical location (surrounded with other Balkan and Eastern European Countries) and positioning on fertile land with strong agricultural tradition and unlimited agricultural potential. Besides that, the process of European integration will force local food manufacturers and agricultural companies to act in accordance with environmental regulations, which will enforce the implementation of waste management systems while an extremely high electricity and gas prices will force government officials and businessmen to look for alternative sources of energy and use their fertile land more efficiently.

Being isolated for more then ten years under sanctions, Serbia has not had a chance to modernize their industrial and agricultural processes in years, which puts Enviro-Quest in the position of being one of the first consulting companies who can offer unbiased biogas technology solutions and help Serbian companies to certify and sell carbon credits.