Our small-scale solar pyrolysis system converts non-recyclable plastics into local fuel – an autonomous solution for remote regions lacking waste management and reliable energy supply.
No waste removal, costly fuel
Many remote regions — whether islands, coastal villages or hard-to-reach settlements — share one thing: poor infrastructure and a lack of waste disposal systems.
A closed process that transforms plastic waste into usable synthetic fuel using solar energy.
Plastic waste is collected by villagers and handed in for payment.
The delivered material is mechanically shredded.
The plastics are thermally decomposed in the plant without oxygen.
The pyrolysis gases are cooled in a controlled manner and condensed into liquid fuel.
The fuel is sold locally and can be used in generators, trucks, or boats.
The container solution is fully self-sufficient and can be deployed without major infrastructure.
Ladrilleros sits in Uramba National Park about an hour by boat from Buenaventura on Colombia’s Pacific coast. The community of roughly 900 residents generates over 100 kg of plastic daily from household waste alone. In addition, the rivers Río Cauca, Río Cali and Río Atrato wash large amounts of trash onto the shore. To protect nature, residents collect plastic from the beach. With no disposal system and little incentive to ship it back, the waste is burned. Tourism season worsens the problem. At the same time, fuel is extremely expensive since nearly everything must be brought by boat from Buenaventura, while almost everyone in the village owns a boat. Electric alternatives are missing.
Our project delivers a local solution to two problems: pollution and access to energy.
through recycling & beach cleanup
Waste reduction & CO₂ savings
Full-time at double minimum wage
Positive business case in decentralized setups
“With a facility to convert plastic waste into fuel, our community could solve the waste problem in the coastal regions and villages. People could bring their trash to be transformed and, if possible, use the fuel afterwards…”
Olber Grueso
Resident & entrepreneur in Ladrilleros
We are BASOLA – we combine engineering and entrepreneurial spirit to build solutions for remote regions.
Founder
Project Lead
Business Lead
Systems & Integration
Product Manager
Energy & Control
Project Coordination & Funding Management
Venture Development & Simulation Engineering
Process Development
Advisor
On 8 August we took first place at the national qualifiers of the #iTwin4GoodChallenge at Bentley Systems' Munich office – including €1,000 prize money.
Our new project Basola successfully pitched to the jury of Enactus Germany and is now an official Enactus project!
On November 2, the best ideas of the 2024 Idea Competition were honored at TRIANGEL — and we were right in the thick of it.
