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Energy from pecan nut shells in Mexico with HERZ
Feel the Water

Energy from pecan nut shells in Mexico with HERZ

Energy from pecan nut shells

The sustainable use of biomass as an energy source is gaining momentum worldwide – and in Mexico, this approach is now being implemented in an innovative way. The company Hidroponia del Noroeste in Casas Grandes, Mexico, uses pecan shells to heat its tomato greenhouses. HERZ Bioenergie, a partner of HERZ Energietechnik in Romania, took on the challenge of offering a suitable product solution for the unusual use of pecan shells as fuel. The result is a successful combination of sustainable heating for the greenhouses with European HERZ quality.

An emperor without an empire – Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico

In 1861, after the devastating civil war between the liberals and conservatives, Mexico was financially bankrupt. Mexican President Benito Juárez suspended the repayment of foreign debts, which brought France, Great Britain and Spain onto the scene: to squeeze the outstanding money out of Mexico by any means necessary. The French Emperor Napoleon III had bigger plans: he wanted to transform Mexico into an empire under French influence. He chose Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg, the idealistic brother of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, for the throne.

Maximilian, influenced by the splendour of the Habsburgs, dreamt of a modern, liberal monarchy and renounced his throne and inheritance in Austria for the Mexican imperial crown. In 1864, he was crowned Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, convinced that the Mexican people wanted him to rule. This was confirmed to him by Napoleon III in a manipulated plebiscite. However, his reforms – laws against child labour, restrictions on working hours and land reforms – alienated the conservatives, while the liberals rejected the emperor from the outset as a monarch controlled by others. Political resistance accompanied him throughout his reign. After the end of the American Civil War (Secession War) in 1865, the USA increased its support for Juárez. Weapons deliveries and military pressure forced Napoleon III to withdraw his troops from Mexico in 1866. Maximilian, deprived of his power base, clung to his rule, but betrayals and defeats led to his downfall: he was sentenced to death and shot on 19 June 1867.

The pecan nut – From cultural asset to export hit

The history of the pecan nut is deeply rooted in North American culture. Originally native to the Rio Grande region, it was already an important food source for indigenous peoples thousands of years ago. The name ‘pecan’ means ‘nut that you have to crack with a stone’ and comes from the Native Americans. Today, the United States and Mexico produce over 90 per cent of the world's pecans are traded, which generates a great deal of economic income for the countries.

From waste to fuel

The Mexican company Hidroponia del Noroeste, which belongs to the Mexican pecan nut empire La Nogalera Group, also exploits the unlimited potential of pecan nuts. For heating the 5-hectare property with tomato greenhouses, which is located at an altitude of 1,500 metres, Hidroponia del Noroeste was faced with the challenge of finding an economical and sustainable solution. The solution also had to withstand winter temperatures as low as -9 °C while ensuring a constant heat supply throughout the year.

The company recognised the environmental potential of pecan shells and decided to use them as biomass to heat the tomato greenhouses. This enables the company to achieve both economic savings and ecological benefits by converting waste into valuable energy. Hidroponia del Noroeste chose the Austrian brand HERZ for the heating system.

Energy from pecan nut shells

HERZ Bioenergie, a partner of HERZ Energietechnik in Romania, supported Hidroponia del Noroeste with a proven heating solution from HERZ that had been specially tested for the combustion of pecan nut shells in order to optimally meet the requirements of this sustainable energy use and to show how European technology meets local possibilities. ‘The enquiry put us in an unprecedented situation,’ says Mihai Nistor, managing director of HERZ Bioenergie in Romania, adding: “We asked the customer for fuel samples to take on the challenge.” 600 kilograms of pecan shells made the journey from Mexico to Romania, where their suitability as fuel was tested in a variety of ways.

Shells on the test stand

The combustion tests were carried out with HERZ BioFire systems. At the same time, the fuel samples were examined in various laboratories in Romania and Germany. The calorific value, the melting temperature of the ash, possible chemical components from the combustion process that could pose an obstacle for the boiler, the amount of ash produced during incineration, and many other tests were carried out. ‘We came to the conclusion that pecan shells have a higher calorific value than wood chips,’ says Mihai Nistor. The right product was thus found: the HERZ BioFire plant. And so began the journey from Romania to Mexico of three HERZ BioFire plants, each with an output of 1.5 megawatts, along with hydraulic components for the boiler room and chimney accessories.

After installation, representatives of HERZ Bioenergy and HERZ Energietechnik were on site to carefully coordinate boiler operation and underline HERZ's commitment to first-class customer service. The final touches were made to the customised automation solution for screw operation, ensuring smooth commissioning. For more information on HERZ BioFire, please scan the QR code.

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