Biogas for a sustainable future Jyvskyl, April 28, 2009 Arthur - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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