MicroRenew · Project

On-Site Micro Power Plant Turns Your Food Waste Into Electricity and Heat

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Imagine a shipping container sitting behind your hotel or factory that eats all your food scraps and turns them into electricity, heat, and fertiliser — right on the spot. No waste trucks, no landfill fees, no smell. The FLEXIBUSTER™ system works like a compact stomach that digests organic waste through anaerobic digestion, and it runs itself automatically with remote monitoring. It handles anywhere from 500 to 3,000 kg of waste per day, scales up by simply adding more containers, and was designed to fit into building infrastructure in cities.

By the numbers

500-3,000 kg

organic waste processed per day per unit

EUR 2,134,125

EU contribution for commercialisation

100%

industry-led consortium (single SME)

patented system with IP protection in target markets

The business problem

What needed solving

The food supply chain generates massive volumes of organic waste that must be collected, transported, and disposed of — at growing cost and environmental impact. Urbanisation and shrinking landfill capacity are driving disposal prices up, while hauling waste from where it is produced to centralised treatment facilities adds both cost and carbon emissions. Businesses need a way to deal with organic waste on-site, cheaply, and turn it from a cost into a resource.

The solution

What was built

SEaB Energy built the FLEXIBUSTER™ — a patented, containerised micro power plant that uses anaerobic digestion to convert 500-3,000 kg of food waste per day into electricity, heat, fertiliser, and nutrient-rich water on-site. The project focused on improving manufacturability, speeding up installations, obtaining certifications, and achieving product-market fit for large-scale commercialisation.

Audience

Who needs this

Hotel chains and large resorts with high-volume kitchensFood processing and packaging plantsUniversity and hospital campus operatorsShopping centres and commercial property managers with food courtsMilitary bases and remote facilities needing self-sufficient waste management

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Hospitality & Hotels

mid-size

Target: Hotel chains and large resorts with on-site kitchens

If you are a hotel chain dealing with tons of daily kitchen waste and rising disposal costs — this project developed the FLEXIBUSTER™, a containerised micro power plant that processes 500-3000 kg of food waste per day right on your premises. It eliminates waste hauling, generates electricity and heat for your building, and produces fertiliser as a by-product. Fully automated and remotely controlled, it cuts both your waste management bill and your carbon footprint.

Food Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Food processing plants and packhouses

If you are a food processor spending heavily on organic waste disposal and under pressure to reduce emissions — this project built a modular, scalable waste-to-energy system that sits on-site in standard shipping containers. It converts production waste into clean energy at the point where waste is generated, avoiding transport costs entirely. The system processes up to 3000 kg per day and is designed for fast installation with unique odour control.

Facilities Management

enterprise

Target: Commercial property managers and campus operators

If you manage large commercial buildings or campuses with canteens and food courts producing daily organic waste — this project created an automated micro power plant that fits into building infrastructure. It processes 500-3000 kg of organic waste per day, turning a cost centre into an energy source. The containerised design means it can be installed without major construction, and its odour control system makes it viable even in urban settings.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this system cost to install and operate?

The project data does not disclose unit pricing or operating costs. The EU contributed EUR 2,134,125 to fund product development and commercialisation under the EIC SME Instrument Phase 2. Contact SEaB Energy directly for current pricing and ROI projections.

Can this scale to handle large volumes of waste?

The FLEXIBUSTER™ processes between 500 and 3,000 kg of organic waste per day per unit. The system is containerised and modular, meaning you scale by adding more units — both within a single site and across multiple locations. No redesign needed.

Is the technology patented? How would licensing work?

Yes, the full system architecture and functioning is patented in their target geographies. SEaB Energy is the sole developer and manufacturer (single-partner SME project). Based on available project data, licensing would need to be discussed directly with SEaB Energy.

What certifications and safety approvals does it have?

The project states they hold hazard, health and safety certifications for the current solution. The project also focused on obtaining additional certification needed for large-scale commercialisation. Based on available project data, specific certification details should be confirmed with the manufacturer.

How long does installation take?

The project specifically aimed to make installations faster as part of its development goals. The containerised design means no major construction — units arrive pre-built and connect to existing infrastructure. Based on available project data, exact timelines should be confirmed with SEaB Energy.

Does it integrate with existing building systems?

Yes, the FLEXIBUSTER™ was specifically designed to integrate into building infrastructure. It generates electricity and heat that feed into your site's energy system, and it is fully automated with remote control capability. The project highlights this integration as a key differentiator for urban and campus deployments.

What happens to the by-products?

The system produces nutrient-rich water and fertiliser as its sole by-products — no harmful residues. These can be used on-site for landscaping or sold. The unique odour control system means the process does not create smell issues even in dense urban environments.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project — SEaB Power Ltd (UK), a private SME that received the full EUR 2,134,125 under the EIC SME Instrument Phase 2. The 100% industry composition with zero academic partners signals this is a commercially driven venture, not a research exercise. The SME Instrument Phase 2 is specifically designed for companies with a proven concept that need funding to reach market scale. SEaB Energy is both the inventor and the manufacturer, which means any business engagement goes directly to the decision-makers — no consortium politics or split IP to navigate.

How to reach the team

SEaB Power Ltd (UK) — contact via their website seabenergy.com or request introduction through SciTransfer

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore whether on-site waste-to-energy fits your operations? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to SEaB Energy's team and provide a tailored feasibility brief for your site.

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