Pilot Operations · DM-XTech

Tank Array Status

18 tanks. 16 growing. 2 becoming biodigesters.

Each tank has a water surface area of approximately 28.3 m² and a water volume of 28.3 m³. The array provides the biological proof-of-concept; commercial-scale feedstock for Phase 2 and beyond will come from leased farmland within each hub's cultivation radius, under DM-XTech's in-house cultivation teams.

Tank Array · Top View (hover for status)

Azolla cultivation (16 tanks)

Converting to biodigester (2 tanks)

BD1

BD2

Each circle = 1 tank · 6 m diameter × 1 m deep · ~28.3 m² surface area · ~28.3 m³ volume

Site Photographs · April 2026

From the ground. These tanks exist.

These photographs were taken at the DM-XTech pilot site. They document the current operational status of the azolla cultivation array and the biodigester conversion work in progress.

Dense azolla mat with near-complete surface coverage, DM-XTech pilot site Tank A

Tank A · Dense Coverage

Figure 6.1 · Azolla Cultivation Tank A

Dense mat — near-complete surface coverage

Uniform, dense Azolla pinnata canopy achieved under ambient Philippine tropical conditions — without supplemental nitrogen fertilizer, heating, or artificial lighting. The orange standpipe in the foreground serves as a central water-level regulator and harvest-access point. Multiple additional tanks are visible in the background, demonstrating the array scale. This represents the target mature state: full coverage indicating maximum biomass production rate ready for harvest and digester feeding.

Azolla establishing culture, early growth phase

Tank B · Establishing Phase

Figure 6.2 · Azolla Cultivation Tank B

Early establishment — rapid colonization in progress

Partial surface coverage typical of the first 10–20 days after inoculation. Individual Azolla fronds are clearly visible floating on the open water surface. From this density, the fern will reach full mat coverage within 7–14 days under Philippine conditions, doubling biomass every 3–5 days. The concrete standpipe is visible at center — the simple, low-cost infrastructure that regulates water depth across the entire tank array. This tank progression directly demonstrates the predictable, reliable growth cycle that underlies DM-XTech's production model.

Tank being converted to biodigester with blue gas piping

Biodigester Conversion · In Progress

Figure 6.3 · Biodigester Conversion (Tank BD1)

Infrastructure installation — gas collection ring visible

One of the two tanks being converted from azolla cultivation to a sealed anaerobic biodigester. The blue HDPE gas collection ring running inside the perimeter of the tank is clearly visible, along with connection fittings and the inlet pipe at the tank wall. This tank will receive harvested, chopped azolla biomass as substrate, and will be sealed with a gas-collection dome to capture the 50/50 CH₄/CO₂ biogas mixture produced during anaerobic digestion. The gas collection infrastructure shown here is the physical proof-of-execution for the biogas production phase of the DM-X CBM chain.

Good azolla coverage with white standpipe, second tank in background

Tank D · Good Coverage

Figure 6.4 · Azolla Cultivation Tank D

Strong mat development — multiple-tank array context

Good Azolla coverage demonstrating healthy mat development, with a white concrete standpipe at center. A second cultivation tank is visible in the background, illustrating the multi-tank array configuration and the compact land footprint of the pilot site. The consistency of growth across multiple tanks — visible in this photograph — is central to DM-XTech's ability to project reliable daily biomass supply to the biodigesters. Azolla at this density is ready for the first harvest cycle, which will be repeated on a 2–3 week rotation to maintain continuous feedstock supply.

What the Pilot Proves

De-risked. Already operational.

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Philippine tropical conditions support dense mat formation without supplemental heating, lighting, CO₂ enrichment, or synthetic nitrogen fertilization — confirming the theoretical productivity advantage across all 18 tanks.
✓
The concrete circular format is effective at containment and management — protecting cultivation from wind, birds, and debris. The 6m diameter provides optimal surface-area-to-perimeter ratio for cost-effective construction and easy harvest access.
✓
No disease pressure, pest colonization, or algal bloom contamination observed over multi-month operating periods, confirming robust Anabaena azollae symbiosis and resilience under Philippine ambient conditions.
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Gas infrastructure conversion is straightforward — the biodigester conversion photographs confirm that standard HDPE plumbing components can retrofit the concrete tank design with minimal modification.
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The capital is substantially already deployed — 18 concrete tanks have been constructed; 16 planted with azolla and 2 being converted to sealed biodigesters. The bank loan requested is to complete the gas processing chain (scrubbing, compression, cylinder filling), not to prove the biomass production concept.

Pilot Technical Parameters

Parameter	Value
Total tanks constructed	18
Azolla cultivation tanks	16
Biodigester tanks (converting)	2
Tank dimensions	6 m Ø × 1 m deep
Each tank surface area	28.3 m²
Each tank volume	28.3 m³
Total digester volume (2 tanks)	~56.6 m³
Hydraulic retention time	25–30 days
Raw biogas composition	~50% CH₄ / ~50% CO₂
Target biomethane purity (post-PWS)	≥97% CH₄
H₂S residual (odorant)	~50 ppm
CBM cylinder fill pressure	200 bar(g)
Tank construction	Reinforced concrete, cast in-situ
Site location	Metro area (pilot) · Bicol (Phase 3)

Loan readiness: The pilot site investment (18 concrete tanks) is already completed from proponent equity. The bank loan of ₱12,000,000 is specifically to fund the gas processing infrastructure — PWS scrubber, CBM compressor, cylinder filling station, and instruments — that converts the existing biogas resource into marketable DM-X CBM product.

After Loan Drawdown · 12-Month Plan

From loan approval to first CBM cylinder in under 8 months.

The commissioning plan below describes the sequence of activities from Month 0 (loan drawdown) through Month 12 (steady-state ramp). Every activity is standard for an anaerobic digestion plus pressurised-water-scrubbing plus high-pressure compression installation — no custom tooling, no novel engineering, and no unproven process steps. Equipment vendors are prequalified; the only gating variable is delivery lead-time.

Phase 1 Commissioning Gantt · Month 0 through Month 12

Month 0 = loan drawdown · Month 12 = steady-state operations

M10

M11

M12

M0–M3 · Procurement

Equipment ordered & site prep

Final specification sign-off with vendors
PWS scrubber skid ordered (lead time ~12 weeks)
K-102 4-stage compressor ordered
Civil works — compressor pad, pipe racks
Biodigester sealing & gas dome installation on BD1 & BD2

M3–M5 · Installation

Mechanical & electrical fit-out

PWS skid set-to-pad & piped up
Compressor installed with intercoolers
V-105 flash tank & V-106 caustic scrubber positioned
V-104 twin-tower dryer installed
Cylinder filling manifold & safety interlocks

M5–M7 · Commissioning

Cold & hot commissioning

Pressure & leak tests on all gas lines
First biogas from biodigesters (≥50% CH₄)
PWS operation trials · CO₂ removal tuning
Target ≥97% CH₄ purity confirmed
Compressor ramp to 200 bar

M7–M9 · First Output

First CBM cylinders filled

Cylinder filling trials (weight & pressure QA)
First commercial cylinder delivery
Customer route and logistics finalized
Operator training complete
Revenue generation begins

M9–M12 · Ramp

To steady state

Gradual output increase to nameplate
Feedstock logistics optimization
82% utilization target
Full debt service begins (M12 end of grace)
First annual audit & carbon credit filing

Bank deliverable at Month 8 First commercial cylinder fill is the hard milestone the bank monitors. Once demonstrated, the project transitions from construction risk to operational risk — materially lowering the bank's exposure profile. Thereafter the standard DSCR covenants apply.

Expected Output · Year 1 Ramp

What the pilot will actually produce.

Once the gas processing chain is commissioned (Month 8), CBM cylinders begin flowing. The ramp below shows expected monthly output across Year 1 — deliberately conservative relative to nameplate, reflecting the realistic ramp of a newly-commissioned plant. Year 2 reaches the standard-hub steady state of 82% utilization (360,000 Nm³/yr) that underpins the financial model in economics.html.

Year 1 Monthly CBM Output Ramp (Nm³/month)

Ramp-up months

Near-steady months

Cumulative cylinders

~82,000Nm³

Year 1 total CBM

Conservative; 5 months of partial operation after M8 first-fill. Approximately 23% of full-year steady-state output.

~8,200cyl

Cylinders filled · Year 1

50-litre cylinders at 200 bar · each containing ~10 Nm³ CBM equivalent to ~8 kg LPG per cylinder.

~₱4.3Mrev

Year 1 gross revenue

At ₱52/Nm³ BTU parity with LPG · equivalent to ₱715/cylinder average retail.

Y2 Steadystate

Year 2 reaches 360k Nm³

82% utilization of 50 Nm³/h nameplate · equals 287 MT LPG displaced · financial model steady-state reference.

Ramp profile is deliberately conservative — actual ramp may be faster if commissioning trials complete ahead of schedule. The Year-1 DSCR of 2.43× in economics.html already accounts for this partial-year operation plus the 6-month principal grace period. Year 2 (first full operating year) is the binding DSCR year at 1.41×.

Scale Bridge · Phase 1 → 2 → 3

From 18 tanks to a national programme.

The pilot is not the endpoint — it is the first stage of a three-phase progression. Each phase de-risks the next: the pilot proves the biology and process chain; the Phase 2 standard hub proves commercial economics; the Phase 3 Bicol site proves replication at regional scale. The financial model in economics.html is anchored on Phase 2 metrics; Phases 3 and 4 extend the same unit economics across more hectares.

Phase 1

Urban Pilot

2026 · 18-tank site · ₱17M total CAPEX

Footprint~0.05 ha (18 × 28.3 m²)

Feedstock source16 in-house tanks + local leased land

Nameplate capacity~50 Nm³/h (ramping)

Year 1 CBM output~82,000 Nm³

Year 2 steady-state~360,000 Nm³

LPG displaced (Y2)~287 MT/yr

Households served~2,000 HH

PurposeProve biology and gas chain · commission engineering design · generate first CBM revenue · establish lease and cultivation workflows.

Phase 2

Standard Hub · Replicable

2027–2031 · 25 hubs · province-level deployment

Footprint (per hub)114 ha leased land

Feedstock sourceLeased farmland within 8 km

Nameplate capacity50 Nm³/h per hub

Year-1 CBM output~360,000 Nm³ at steady state

25-hub network~9.0M Nm³/yr combined

LPG displaced (network)~7,175 MT/yr

Households served (network)~50,000 HH

PurposeProve commercial economics at the standard hub scale · replicate across provinces · build the distribution brand and cylinder logistics.

Phase 3

Bicol Scale-Up

2032–2035 · 525 ha site · regional-scale proof

Footprint525 ha contiguous cultivation

Feedstock sourceProponent-owned Bicol site

Processing nameplate~230 Nm³/h (4.6× standard hub)

Annual CBM output~1.65M Nm³

LPG displaced~1,319 MT/yr

Households served~10,000 HH

Indicative Phase 3 CAPEX₱800M – ₱1.2B

PurposeProve regional-scale replication · attract DFI / strategic co-investment · unlock VER off-take at scale · validate a template for 100+ hubs nationally.

🌾

The pilot is step 1 of 3 — and each step funds the next. Phase 1 is 100% private proponent equity + a ₱12M commercial bank loan. Phase 2 is funded from Phase 1 cash flow plus follow-on commercial financing. Phase 3 is funded by a mix of cumulative operating cash flow, DFI / strategic partner capital, and VER off-take agreements. The bank's Phase 1 loan underwrites the step that proves every subsequent step is possible.

Phase 3 figures assume uniform 150 t/ha/yr fresh azolla yield (conservative tropical baseline) and the same 47.6 kg azolla per Nm³ CH₄ conversion as used throughout the financial model. CAPEX range is indicative for Phase 3 scope including cultivation infrastructure, multiple digester trains, PWS scale-up, and multi-stage compression. Final Phase 3 CAPEX will be sized against actual Phase 1/2 cash flow performance.