Biogas for a sustainable future Jyväskylä, April 28, 2009 Arthur Wellinger Nova Energie Ltd. Seminar Biogas Technology
The contribution is made up of 3 parts: • Advantages of anaerobic digestion • Types of installations • Sustainability criteria Seminar Biogas Technology
Advantages of biogas production Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is the most promising method to • upgrade waste water from household or industry • stabilize sewage sludge • treat the organic fraction of municipal solid waste • improve fertilizer quality of animal waste • digest energy crop to biogas with clear environmental advantages like • Hygienisation of waste material (at 55°C) • reduction of GHG emissions • substitution of fossil fuels Seminar Biogas Technology
Technologies of biogas production Upgrade of waste water from household and industry More than 3000 high- rate digesters are operated world wide for WWT from industry and household A: Contact reactor B: Up-flow anaerobic filter C: Fluidized bed D: UASB Seminar Biogas Technology
UASB cover 2/3 of all industrial WWTP
Dry fermentation systems
Industrial dry fermentation systems Dranco Kompogas Valorga
Industrial wet fermentation systems Lahia BTA Munich
Agricultural wet fermentation systems
Improved fertilizer quality of animal & source separated wastes • better nutrient availability • improved homogeneity • less plant burning • reduced C/N ratio • odour reduction • elimination of plant pathogens and weed seeds
Energy remains the major driving force of biogas production Biogas Desulfurization Desulfurization Gas treatment Gas treatment Reforming Compression Boiler CHP Fuel cell Pressure tank Heat Power Heat Power Heat Fuel
Electricity production
Driving Driving with ith biogas biogas has a long has a long tradition tradition Citroen Classic beetle
is increasing of makes The choice
Comparison Comparison to other to other bio-fuels io-fuels How far can a car run with different biofuels produced on 1ha of land ?
Sustainability criteria • No or low emissions (methane slip) during methane production or upgrading • No or low emissions during storage • Reduced GHG emissions during biogas utilisation • Limited competition with food: - Optimised growth conditions - Plants with high gas yields - Growth on marginal land • Significant emissions from land-use change are be avoided
Methane slip •Flameless oxidation (e.g. Flox) •Catalytic conversion •Absorption with <0.5% slip
Emissions during storage
Low noise – low emission • Reduced GHG emissions during biogas utilisation Reduction with biogas as compared to petrol diesel CO2 100% 100% NOx 53% 95% Soot 35% 99% NMHC 75% 36%
Optimal growth conditions •Limited competition with food: - Optimised growth conditions - Plants with high gas yields - Growth on marginal land process steps cultivation harvest ensilage biogas production influencing factors plant harvest additives process species time conditions chopping duration of chopping length storage length objectives high yielding low losses high gas production potential Source: Heiermann
Plant species - Biogas • Silages (n=162) Source: Heiermann 1000 900 800 biogas yield [Nl/kg ODM] 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2 0 6 9 5 4 0 6 8 0 4 3 2 1 = = = 2 1 = 2 = = = = n n = = n n = n n n n n n n ; ; ; ; ; e x t m r ; ; ; ; ; a ; e e a y s y m h m u o w z e s r l s f h u l i l a u o a g i r e d g h a r n a l m g s a f r g b i o h n l r r r a u e p s o g r e f g s s / s e n t k t a e a d o i e r r e o d p h o g w / o s c f a a s f i r e t o r p a f . J
Plant species – Harvest time • Silages 500 400 methane yield [Nl/kg ODM] 300 200 100 0 inflorescence early dough early dough development early dough milk milk end of stem ripening heading completed milk elongation flowering of fruit spring rye oat/pea/ Jerusalem sun flower forage sorghum sweet sorghum false flax artichoke plant species / growth stages Source: Heiermann
Impact of ensiling process • Methane yield 250 fresh m aterial silage CH 4 yield [Nl/kg harvested material] Y FM > Y Silage Y Silage > Y FM 200 150 100 50 n=20 n=16 n=12 n=32 n=20 n=16 n=20 n=1 n=5 n=7 n=2 n=4 n=4 n=2 n=4 n=4 n=5 n=2 n=8 n=5 n=2 n=4 0 t e y e s a m e s m h x z e y r o k s e s u a i r l a a u o r i w h l d a g f m h h r g g o a b n e g c r l r i s r i o e f g r o t p l r r n a s g a e n s s a u f d i t / r e . e s a p r J d o g e e o s f a w p f r / s o t a f o Source: Heiermann
Conclusions • We should be carefully aware of ecological risks • But scientific evidence should set the pace • LCA‘s are just an instrument sensitive to manipulation • ...and we should never forget that until the early stages of the 20th century agriculture used always between 16% (Switzerland) and 21% (Austria) of the land for energy production.
your attention ! Thank you for
Sustainability criteria
Sustainability criteria
Optimising biogas production from energy crop process steps cultivation harvest ensilage biogas production influencing factors plant harvest additives process species time conditions chopping duration of chopping length storage length objectives high yielding low losses high gas production potential Source: Heiermann
Pre-Conditions of sustainable biomass production A Commission on “Sustainable production of biomass”, developed criteria for a sustainabile biomass production [Cramer et al., 2006] : ■ Net GHG emission reduction compared with fossil fuels of at least 30% ■ No decrease in the availability of biomass for food, local energy supply, building materials or medicines (reporting obligation); ■ No deterioration of protected areas or valuable ecosystems (compliance with local requirements); ■ No possible negative effects on the regional and national economy (reporting obligation); ■ No negative effects on the social well-being of the workers and local population, including working conditions, human rights, property rights and land-use rights (compliance and reporting obligations); ■ No negative effects on the local environment (compliance with local and national legislation and/or reporting obligation).
Pre-Conditions of sustainable biofuel production In addition two new topics came up the last two years: 1. Biofuels production must target idle and marginal land and use of wastes and residues 2. Biofuels can only contribute GHG savings from transport if significant emissions from land-use change are avoided and appropriate production technologies are employed
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