Overview: Renewable Fuels from ABP Processing
Products from the GZM Extraktionswerk AG Category 1 ABP processing facility in Lyss, Switzerland are used as renewable fuels, and the heat and power produced are supplied to the Wärme Lyss Nord district heating scheme and adjacent industrial processes.
District Heating
The district heating scheme provides local residents with sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective heating, replacing fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas.
The Rendering Facility
The GZM Extraktionswerk AG rendering facility safely processes Category 1 ABP raw material and produces two key outputs:
- MBM — Meat and Bone Meal, used as a biomass fuel
- Animal Fat — sent to a biodiesel production unit
Energy Recovery & Environmental Benefits
The facility operates as a fully integrated, high-efficiency energy recovery system. Every output from the process is put to productive use, minimising waste and maximising environmental benefit.
Biodiesel Production
Animal fat produced at the rendering facility is sent directly to a biodiesel production unit, providing a renewable transport fuel alternative to fossil-derived diesel.
Combined Heat & Power (CHP)
MBM is used as a biomass fuel in a CHP unit. High-efficiency modern turbines reduce heat loss during energy conversion. The electricity generated is fed into the grid and used by neighbouring industrial processes.
District Heating Supply
Heat energy from the CHP is supplied to the district heating system. Additionally, evaporated water captured as hot water from the rendering process supplements the district heating supply.
Phosphorus-Rich Fertiliser
Residual ash from the combustion of MBM is rich in phosphorus and can be used as fertiliser in place of synthetic fertiliser — a further environmental advantage of the CHP process.
"The district heating scheme provides local residents with sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective heating and replaces fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas."
Supplied Energy
Total energy supplied by the processing plant annually.
Fossil Oil Saved
Up to 2 million litres of fossil oil equivalent saved per year.
CO₂ Emissions Avoided
Around 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions saved — a significant contribution to a low-emission heat supply.
System Flow: From Extraction Works to End Use
The diagram below illustrates the complete sustainable energy and resource recovery process — from Category 1 ABP raw material through to district heating, electricity generation, biodiesel, and fertiliser production.
At the Extraction Works, Category 1 MBM is processed and directed to the CHP (Combined Heat and Power) unit, while rendered fat is collected for Biodiesel production. The CHP unit generates Heat for district heating, Residual Ash repurposed as Fertiliser, and Electricity fed to the grid — demonstrating a fully circular, zero-waste approach to renewable energy recovery.
Wärme Lyss Nord District Heating Switzerland