John Valente
Bornova-Izmir (TUR)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
Tralles Corporation
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Startup
Location:
Bornova-Izmir
Industry:
Bio-Technology
Year Founded:
2008
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Description:
We are developing, in conjunction with our 500 acre farm located in the Aydin Region of Turkey, several projects concerning the production of biomass based fuel production. The first would be a biomass pelleting facility near the farm and the construction of a larger multi-biofuel plant closer to the city of Aydin.
Biomass Production Facility
At our farm in Aydin, we are planning to build a small scale biomass pelleting facility. There is room for two biomass pelleting plants with a working capacity of 100-500 kg/1h. The feedstock for these plants would initially be agricultural and municipal wastes collected within a 100 mile radius. Alongside externally obtained feedstock, we will be conducting field trials of several biomass feedstock crops to move our farm operations from low income low yield crops to biomass crops. As well as biomass pellets, we are in the position to product Castor oil for biodiesel and /or other industrial uses. Castor grow wild here and we will be testing this crop as due to current water shortages, we are forced to seek drought resistant crops with little input yet high yield. The requirements for oil production are merely an oil press, which are readily available. Normal Castor Yields are 1188 kg/ha with oil yield of 1413 liters/ha. I am already in contact
with the largest biodiesel manufacturer, who is ready to purchase oil, should be begin to produce. I am also working with the head of their agricultural department for the possibility of another oil crop, Jatropha. Any crops purchased for feedstock for the biofuel operations would be purchased at or below market price. The biofuel project will not be connected to the farm operations in any business sense. The farm would operate on a contractual basis for supply. I am expecting the major source of income for the initial years to be from the castor, for its initial investment and readiness of its sale make its profitability from start, gives it a higher chance for profit.
The Biomass pellets, although offering a greater opportunity in the long term, require a great deal of time and effort in its marketing. The end users of the biomass pellets are both at the consumer and industrial level. Currently, coal is a major source for home/building heating systems. It is imperative that we can produce pellets ate a lower end cost to the consumer to make this market viable. The other end users that I feel would be the greatest of possibility are Coal Fuel Electric generators.
This project is not limited to small scale production. This type of operation requires a constant investment of at least 40% of net profits in R&D and expansion. When capital allows, the purchase of an industrial location and building a biodiesel plant, a cellulose ethanol plant as well as a biogas facility must be a priority. This project should move away from the farming aspect and enter into a more industrial entity as soon as possible.
The other major area that requires major investment is the development of the distribution infrastructure of these biofuels. Currently, biofuels make up only 2% of current fuel usage, here in Turkey. The major setback for this industry, here, is very much the same as is seen in the United States, which is the distribution mentality of “locally produced-locally used”. A distribution network as well as a sales operation must be organized concurrently with production.