26842 Biogas reactor

Søndre Follo Treatment Plant IKS intends to expand the current test facility with 1 Antec 105 m3 plug reactor, to a total of 4 plug reactors with the aim of phasing out the current rotten tanks, i.e. procure a further 3 reactors of 105 m3 for pasteurisation and removal of the treatment plant ́s sludge. The procurement is for 3 complete reactors with instrumentation, as well as a number of consultant hours. SFR will carry out all of the technical building works and all integration with SFR ́s existing installations.

SFR has carried out a study for a new sludge treatment facility consisting of 4 plug reactors of 105 m3. The study shows that Antec's technology safeguards SFR's need for pasteurising and digesting the sewage sludge. The study shows that Antec's technology is the technology that covers the municipality ́s need for a future-oriented, reliable and environmentally efficient sludge system.

The choice of Antec technology is justified by documented advantages connected to waiting times, energy consumption, climate and environmental footprint, area requirements and operational costs as well as not least two years experience in the operation of test reactor. SFR has particularly emphasised that the plant shall have high operational security and low technological risk, and that the system must be suitable for municipal sewage sludge under conditions comparable with Norwegian conditions, including cold and hot seasons. Based on the study, SFR's need assessment and overall assessment is that alternative sludge processes do not achieve the same advantages that have been experienced since December 2024.

Although other technologies can, in principle, fulfil the requirements for sludge treatment, they are not assessed to cover SFR ́s total need in an equivalent way when the requirements for environmental performance, energy use, area, operational security, maturity and implementation risk are assessed together. SFR tested the Antec technology in 2018 with a pilot of 3 m3. The test lasted for 6 months with very good results.

In 2023 ENOVA granted support for a full scale project with the integration of 1 plug reactor of 105 m3. The reactor was integrated and operated in December 2024 and has since been operated as normal by SFR ́s operational personnel. The technology has advantages that SFR would like to bring along further and has therefore promoted a case to SFR's board of directors and supervisory board to procure a further 3 reactors so that the total number is 4 SFR ́s intention to procure and integrate a further 3 plug reactors presuppose positive decisions from SFR's board and supervisory board.

If the board and the supervisory board at SFR agree to the setting, the technical construction works can start in Q1 - 2027 with the aim of 4 plug reactors in operation in mid October - November 2027. SFR has examined the market for relevant plug flow systems equivalent to Antec ́s technology and that can be integrated with the existing control system and SFR ́s technical installations and optimised systems. Based on SFR's assessment, Antec Biogas is the only mature and relevant plug-flow system.

Antec Biogass can also document full scale operation and relevant references under comparable conditions and with the same technical system as the current Antec Reactor. The plug-flow technology is owned and controlled by Antec Biogas. Antec Biogas holds the necessary intellectual property rights, including patent/process competence, that is necessary to realise the relevant Plug-flow system by SFR ́s sludge system.

SFR's assessment is therefore that the services that shall now be procured, due to sole rights/intellectual property rights, can only be provided by Antec Biogas. There is, after SFR ́s assessment, not equivalent technology or alternatives that can cover SFR ́s needs in an equivalent way. The lack of competition is not due to SFR having formulated the artificially narrow need, but That SFR ́s justifiable and documented need for a mature Plug-Flow system with the stated characteristics and references can only be fulfilled through Antecs Biogas patented technology.

The procurement will therefore be carried out without a prior published competition pursuant to the procurement regulations § 13-4 letter b. The direct procurement is limited to the services Antec Biogas is alone in providing, including the necessary license/rights basis, process basis and process assistance.