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CHIMERA – CHIckens Manure Exploitation and RevAluation (LIFE-CHIMERA)
Start date: Jul 1, 2016, End date: Dec 31, 2019 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Background Over the past decades, the poultry sector’s move towards intensification and geographical concentration has given rise to various environmental concerns at national and EU level. Poultry manure contains considerable amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other excreted substances including hormones, antibiotics, pathogens and heavy metals, which are introduced through the animal feed. Leaching and runoff of these substances can contaminate air, surface water and groundwater resources. In addition, poultry manure disposal – not considering transport - has another major environmental impact in the EU-27 linked to the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases (25 million tonnes/year), ammonia (0.48 million tonnes/year), and heavy metals (100 kilotonnes), with disposal costs ranging from 10 to 20 €/tonne. Objectives The main objective of the LIFE CHIMERA project is to set up a pilot plant to demonstrate an innovative sustainable treatment for poultry manure that can be done on a farm’s premises (hence avoiding transport). The new technology will convert the manure into valuable fertilisers, producing at the same time thermal and electrical energy and tackling problems related to disposal, transport and gas emissions. By closing the nitrogen cycle inside the farm, and by using the poultry manure to generate energy and fertiliser, the project helps in the implementation of the Circular Economy Package which promotes ‘waste to energy’ and ‘waste to fertiliser’ initiatives. The project aims to significantly reduce nitrous oxide (N2O), ammonia (NH3) and methane (CH4) emissions, in compliance with the provisions of Clean Air Policy Package, the Air Quality Directive and the National Emissions Ceiling Directive. It will also help in the implementation of the Industrial Emissions Directive, which integrates different approaches to manage pollution from industrial facilities, including intensive rearing facilities for poultry or pigs. Another important target of the project is to enhance replicability, which will be pursued through the establishment of an Extended Users Advisory Board (EUAB), encouraging stakeholders to foster rapid uptake of the developed technology. Expected results: The LIFE CHIMERA project expects to produce the following results: Construction of a demonstration plant with a capacity of 2 000 tonnes/year, validated for a working period of at least 6 053 hrs/year; Treatment of 1 500 tonnes/year of poultry manure produced by the associated beneficiary’s poultry livestock (200 000 head); Elimination of 60 tonnes/year of NH3, 280 tonnes CO2 eq./year of CH4, and 223 tonnes CO2 eq./year of N2O from the pilot farm site; Maximum production of thermal and electrical power equal to 4.5 GWh/year, depending on poultry feed and related manure composition; and Production of 120-160 tonnes/year of ash, corresponding to 260-320 tonnes/year of bio-fertiliser.
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