For the R&D Biogas engineering department we are looking for interns! The following internships / graduation assignments are available. Apply using the apply button and select the (graduation) internship you are interested in.
Atex documentation / set up preventive maintenance system / structuring
Only BSc
The biogas exploitation department manages and operates several biogas locations throughout the Netherlands. Biomethane is produced at these locations and injected directly into the Dutch gas network. For this period we are looking for an intern who can help draw up our ATEX documentation. In addition, there will be some additional tasks that we will tackle together along the way, such as preventive maintenance system and structuring digital project folders. During this internship you will visit the production locations to inventory what is installed and analyze whether this is correct based on legislation and calculations. An improvement plan and maintenance plan will have to be drawn up on the basis of this documentation. During your internship you will be supervised by the biogas exploitation manager and the exploitation project engineer.
Your tasks:
- Draw up our ATEX documentation;
- Setup preventive maintenance system;
- Structuring digital project folders.
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Design of mega-microferm
HoSt builds a.o. anaerobic digesters and biogas upgrading installations. Because of efficiency a large part of those installations is standardized. On farm scale HoSt has developed an installation that combines a digester and an upgrading system that can produce and process up to 80 NM3 of biogas per hour from manure. In the market larger systems are desired. As such HoSt wants to develop a similar standard solution that can produce and process up to 150 NM3 biogas/hour. You have to figure out what equipment would be required and combine them in efficient standard building blocks. End goal: standard solution named mega-microferm.
Your tasks:
- Understanding current microferm solution. Are there any points that we could improve upon?
- Determining what can be reused from microferm, what has to altered;
- Design new standard building blocks. (iterative process with other HoSt employees);
- Design standard layout for complete mega-microferm.
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Predictive viscosity determination
Viscosity might not sound as the most exciting topic ever, but is a very important engineering parameter in an anaerobic digestion installation. The installation can be fed with about any organic feedstock, which results in digestate (the liquid in side the digester) that can have very varying consistency. This digestate has to be pumped through heat exchangers and towards further processing units. Depending on the viscosity of the material the mixer configuration inside the digester, size of pumps, heat exchangers and other equipment might have to be changed. Those changes have a tremendous effect on the investment of the installation, while underestimating the viscosity can result in an installation that simply does not meet the design criteria (and thus unhappy client).
Unfortunately it is difficult to determine this digestate viscosity from a list of feedstocks for an installation. We ask you to come up with a system to be able to get a better feeling for the to be expected viscosity.
Your tasks:
- Literature study on viscosity in digestate from anaerobic digestion;
- Discussion with experienced HoSt employees to put their viscosity knowledge on paper;
- Design (simple) tests to estimate viscosity;
- Data analysis on existing installations to find common denominators for high viscosity.
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Standardisation research control
Within the Control and Automation department, you will research and set up the basis for standardisation of control panels for Biogas digesters. The control system of the Biogas installation should be modular and scalable. You research and record what is always in the basis and what are options or extensions. You will also look for optimal choice direction, looking at: costs for control panels, cabling and reduction of commissioning hours on site. You will determine and describe the macros for the controlled equipment and instrumentation.
Your tasks:
- Study the existing situation;
- Research options for expansions;
- Investigate optimum choice;
- Description of macros for controlled equipment and instrumentation.
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Dutch blending obligations and strategy for HoSt
HoSt is the technology provider to convert biomass to sustainable energy and besides being the provider of technology, HoSt also operates 8 installations in the Netherlands. With our own installations we produce sustainable energy which replaces an equivalent of 50.000.000 Nm3 of natural gas. In the Netherlands the blending obligation green gas has been announced and is expected to be implemented in 2025. From that moment onwards, energy suppliers are required to blend green gas into the natural gas grid for the built environment to benefit from clean gas. From 2025 the blending obligation will be increased yearly, resulting in a high demand for green gas. Due to the high demand of green gas HoSt is focussing on the development of green gas projects in the Netherlands. HoSt is therefore looking for an intern to develop a strategy for the project development team. The strategy should result in the highest contribution that HoSt can deliver towards the green gas ambitions in the Netherlands. You will be working in the project development team where we will guide you during the duration of the internship.
Your tasks:
- Study the Dutch blending obligation biomethane for the built environment;
- Identify the important parameters such as feedstock and technology selection in the blending obligation;
- Use the gained insights to develop a strategy for HoSt in order to achieve the highest contribution towards the blending obligation.
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BioCO2 market analysis and strategy development
Be part of the Business Development Department and support us in the development of HoSt's market strategy related to liquid bioCo2. BioCo2, which is one of the products of biogas purification, can be a valuable commodity if used wisely. As part of this internship, you will be responsible for providing the necessary input, analysis and drawing real-world conclusions on bioCo2 marketing strategy from HoSt installations across Europe.
Everybody is familiar with CO2 being the main cause of the greenhouse effect. However, in many sectors CO2 is an elementary building block. Moreover, the European Union tries to achieve negative CO2-emissions through permanent storage. Biological CO2 from digestion or from capture from biomass combustion provides these options.
Your tasks:
- Conduct a market research regarding possible CO2 utility options in different regions across the Europe;
- Understand what bioCO2 contracting terms are for different locations and project types;
- Mapping out price points from different sectors (greenhouses, P2X, food and beverage industry etc.);
- Conduct research on other innovative ways of using bioCO2 in Europe;
- Together with the team, analyse the data obtained and help develop the next steps for this branch of the company;
- Conduct research on other innovative ways of using bioCO2 in Europe
- Proficiency in Dutch is strongly preferred.
