The first phase in the development of the MILENA technology is a lab scale testing facility. This small scale reactor is very versatile in the way it can be operated. The first option is normal mode being the indirect gasification, however it can be used in the same model as the Güssing gasifier is operated and it can be operated as a direct gasifier. In this way one reactor is used to simulate many different realistic situations. 

With this lab scale unit roughly 4-8 kg/hr of biomass can be fed. Normally the reactor is operated at ~5 kg/hr, which is equivalent to 25 kW. Possible biomass feed stocks can be, wood or grass. However, the size of the material is important, since the size of the reactor is limited. The height of the reactor is 1.7 m, consisting of the riser and the settling chamber. The internal diameter of the riser is 36 mm and of the down comer it is 28 mm. Residence times depend on the gas volume but typically are between 1 and 2 seconds.

Below the key features of the MILENA technology are summed up:

• Indirect gasifier
• Complete biomass conversion
• High efficiency
• No carbon-containing ash
• Product gas suitable for the production of heat, power and SNG
• Compact, robust and flexible