Abstract
Crop-based biogas energy production, in combination with electricity generation under subsidy schemes, is no longer considered a favourable business model for biogas plants. Switching to low-cost or gate fee feedstocks and utilising biogas via alternative pathways could contribute to making existing plants fit for future operations and could open up new space for further expansion of the biogas sector. The aim of this study was to combine a holistic and interdisciplinary approach for both the biogas production side and the utilisation side to evaluate the impact of integrating the biogas sector with waste management systems and energy systems operating with a high share of renewable energy sources. The geospatial availability of residue materials from agriculture, industry and municipalities was assessed using QGIS software for the case of Northern Croatia with the goal of replacing maize silage in the operation of existing biogas plants. Furthermore, the analysis included positioning new biogas plants, which would produce renewable gas. The overall approach was evaluated through life cycle assessment using SimaPro software to quantify the environmental benefits and identify the bottlenecks of the implemented actions. The results showed that the given feedstocks could replace 212 GWh of biogas from maize silage in the relevant region and create an additional 191 GWh of biomethane in new plants. The LCA revealed that the proposed measures would contribute to the decarbonisation of natural gas by creating environmental benefits that are 36 times greater compared to a business-as-usual concept. The presented approach could be of interest to stakeholders in the biogas sector anywhere in the world to encourage further integration of biogas technologies into energy and environmental transitions.
Highlights
The paradigm of development for the European biogas sector has changed significantly in recent years owing to higher sustainability requirements and cost production reduction as the main drivers of new trends in biogas production and utilisation [1]
The target feedstocks in this research were divided into three specific types by place of origin and approach when estimating their potential for biogas production
The link between the use of maize silage and electricity generation under subsidy models in biogas plants is becoming weaker as the new sustainability requirements are raised
Summary
The paradigm of development for the European biogas sector has changed significantly in recent years owing to higher sustainability requirements and cost production reduction as the main drivers of new trends in biogas production and utilisation [1]. Most biogas plants (especially in less mature biogas systems) still use cultivated energy crops (primarily maize silage), which increase the inefficient use of arable land and compete with food production [2] Since such a practice is not in line with the principles of sustainable development, the biogas sectors among the European countries limited the utilisation of maize silage and corn to a share of 30–50% of the total input feedstock [3,4], and a further decrease in the use of maize silage is expected. The RED II determined that wastes and residues from agricultural activities and processing shall be considered to have zero life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to the process of the collection of those materials This opens a space for these materials to enter the biogas sector and contribute to the transition towards more sustainable and efficient waste management systems [7]
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