Deutsches BiomasseForschungsZentrum gemeinnützige GmbH, Torgauer Str. 116, D-04347 Leipzig, www.dbfz.de

Deutsches BiomasseForschungsZentrum

German Biomass Research Centre

Waste to Energy from BiogasAn effective Option for agricultural and municipal energy production

AHK-Business Travel Programme Renewable Energies

12th November 2008 Uusikaupunki

Dipl. Biotechnol. Elmar Fischer

2

BiogastechnologieContents

Basic Aspects

Active situation

Technology

Innovative Applications

Conclusions

3

BiogastechnologieOur Institute at a Glance

Arised from 1953 founded „Institute for Energy“ Interdisciplinary research company Owned by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer

Protection Six departments related to the energetic use of any kind of

biomass:• Bioenergy Systems• Biogastechnology• Thermochemical biomass conversion• Heat from Biomass• Liquid Biofuels• International

Monitoring, evaluation, potentials, concepts and strategies in the field of (bio-)energy

Lab-Scale and Pilot-Scale experimental working stations Certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001

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Biogastechnologie

Basic Aspects

5

BiogastechnologieBasic aspects

- Importance of Biogas in Europe -

Approx. 36% of the EU-25 primary energy equivalents from biogas have been produced in Germany in 2006

(Very) high amounts of energy crops in Germany, Austria and Denmark

Source: EUROBSERV‘ER

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BiogastechnologieBasic aspects

- Advantages of biogas production -

decentralised energy supply

diversification of agricultural income

reduction of odour emission

renewable energy – CO2-reduction

reliable energy supply

reduction of CH4-emission

strengthening of rural infrastructure

saving of mineral fertilizers

7

BiogastechnologieBasic aspects- usage pathways -

Options for a (german) biogas plant

Production Upgrading

CHP Electricity

Heat

Fuel

Transport

Fermenter

Utilization

Gas grid

Purification

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Biogastechnologie

Active Situation in Germany

9

Biogastechnologie

8501043

13601608

17602010

3279

2690

3800

160 190247

949

665

1117849

1300

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

nu

mb

er

of

pla

nts

[-]

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

insta

lled

el.

cap

acit

y [

MW

el]

Total number

inst. el. Capacity

Biogas utilization- Total Number of Biogas plants in Germany -

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

An

lag

enan

zah

l

Dez1999

Dez2000

Dez2001

Dez2002

Dez2003

Dez2004

Dez2005

Anlagen > 500 kWel

Anlagen 70 < 500 kWel

Anlagen < 70 kWel

Based on Renewable-Energy-Act 2000/2004/2009

Alternatives:•Peak load energy supply

•Covering own demand•Substitution of natural gas

•Production of fuel

10

Biogastechnologie

Biogas utilization- Acreage, Capacity and Potentials for Biogas in the

Future -

Source: study for private customer

20

226

1.520

1.200

450

520

860

730

560

249

665

1.232

1.000

1.330

1.730

2.780

3.530

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2004 2008* 2012* 2016* 2020*

Flä

chen

bed

arf

Naw

aRo

fü

r B

iog

aser

zeu

gu

ng

[10

00 h

a]

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

inst

all.

An

lag

enle

istu

ng

[M

Wel

]

Anbaufläche zurBiogaserzeugung

install. Anlagenleistung MWel

* Prognose, ausgehend von der install. elektr. Leistung und der Substratverteilung 2007

Most important: Potential within Agriculture (85 %) Strongly depending on energy crop production

0 20 40 60 80 100

min

max

min

max

min

max

min

max

min

max

min

max

Ber

linB

rand

en-

burg

Mec

kl.-

Vor

p.S

achs

enS

achs

en-

Anh

alt

Thü

ringe

n

Energiepotenzial aus Biogas [PJ/a]

0 20 40 60 80 100

Landwirtschaft

Kommune

Industrie/Gewerbe

genutztes Potenzial

11

Biogastechnologie

Biogas utilization- Distribution of Biogas plants producing electrical

energy in Germany -

12

BiogastechnologieSubstrates

- Origin -

Agriculture• liquid manure• energy crops such as:

silages from maize, rye, sunflowers, grass, sorghumcorn-cob-mix, all kinds of grain

• agricultural byproducts

Organic waste (commercial and industrial)• food residues• market waste• residues from production processes (e.g. beer, sugar, wine,

milk, alcohol, juice, meat products, vegetable processing)• fats

Organic source separated municipal waste

Quelle: ZAW Sachsen-Anhalt Süd

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BiogastechnologieBiowaste Potentials in Germany

8,3

1,5

16,0

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

gesamt getrennt erfasst anaerob genutzt

Men

ge

[Mio

.Mg

]

Only 10% of the german biowaste potential is energetically accessed!

In 2007

Total separated AD

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Biogastechnologie

Technology

15

BiogastechnologieSuitable AD-Technologies

System Continous Batch

Category CSTR PFR Batch Batch/Percolation

Symbol

Example

Content of fermenter

liquid Free flowing or liquid

Free flowing

Pretreatment Strong homogenisation,

high energy demand

Strong homogenisation,

high energy demand

strong recirculation,no hackling or mincing required,

low energy demand

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BiogastechnologieImportant rules - Technical Approval

EG 1774/02 sanitation

70°C, 1 h

BioAbfV sampling required

TA Luft (1) complete housing

TA Luft (2) reduction of odour emissions through biofilters

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BiogastechnologieSubstrates

- Example Biowaste -

Dry Fermentation of biowaste

• biowaste 24.000 t y-1

• Aerobic pretreatment

• Plug-Flow-Reactor

• Composting of effluent

• CHP-device

• Complete housing/low odour emissions

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BiogastechnologieSubstrates

- Example Food Processing -

Byproducts from sugar beet processing

• Anaerobic treatment of waste-water only 3-4 mon/y

• AD-technology and know-how from over 20 years

• Fast and stable process

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

01.01.2008 01.04.2008 01.07.2008 01.10.2008 01.01.2009 01.04.2009 01.07.2009 01.10.2009 01.01.2010

Lei

stu

ng

[kW

el]

330 kWel 625 kWel

19

Biogastechnologie

Innovative Applications

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BiogastechnologieInnovative Applications

- Biomethane as a fuel -

1st petrol station in Germany with upgraded Biogas in service (Jameln/Northern Germany, June 2006)

• Biogas plant using energy crops and manure• Upgrading by drying, desulphurization, drying and

chemical absorption of CO2

• Input Raw 140 m3/h 52% CH4

• Output Upgraded 70 m3/h 96% CH4

Economic aspects• Cars powered by natural gas are more expensive (1.500-3500€)• Equivalent price for upgraded biogas

0,929 € kg-1 lower than for diesel and petrol (due to tax exemption)

Good economic preconditions for biogas-powered cars

*as seen on Nov, 7th; source: www.adac.de

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BiogastechnologieInnovative Applications

- Feeding to gas grid -

Research adsorptive, absorptive and physical techniques

Just a few plants in service 1st two plants in Germany were Pliening and Straelen working with PSA in Dec 2006; inst. (eq.) Pel

2MW latest plant in service near Könnern in Saxony-Anhalt with 2MWel

large scale biogas plants due to high costs for upgrading

Gas grid may be used as gasholder optimizing heat usage supply peak load (theor.)

Further plants under construction municipal utilities highly interested

substance Biogas Sewage gas

Natural gas

Methane 50-70 % 60-70 % 93-98 %

Carbondioxide 25-40 % 30-40 % 1 %

Nitrogen < 3 % 4 % 1 %

Oxygen < 2 % 1 % -

Hydrogen traces traces -

Hydrogen sulphide

up to 4000ppm

up to 1000ppm

-

Ammonia traces traces -

Ethane - - < 3 %

Propane - - < 2 %

Siloxane traces < 6mg/m³ -

Ferm en ter

V erd ich tun gBio lo g ischerW äsch er

H 2 S-Entfernu n g

K o n d itio n ierun g

Reing as

PSA

1

PSA

2

PSA

3

PSA

4

A b g as

K o n densatV aku um p um peLuft

Sch w efel

A b -w asser

ZnO

B io reakto rSchw efel-

tren ner

AK

22

BiogastechnologieInnovative Applications

- Feeding to gas grid -

Source: Agricapital

Source: Agricapital

Könnern /Saxony-Anhalt

Pliening / Bavaria

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Biogastechnologie

Fuel Cells• el. efficiency is up to 48% (55%); 1 pilot plant (in service)• less noise, useful for urban applications

ORC-Modules • 10% raise in el. efficiency; at least 3 plants in service• advantageous in combination with micorturbines

Microturbines• less sensitive, low maintenance costs, high durability• compared to gas engines low el. efficiency (38% 28%)

Innovative Applications- Further Innovative Biogas-Technologies -

Source: Köhler & Ziegler

Source: MTU

Source: ISET

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Biogastechnologie

Conclusions

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BiogastechnologieConclusions- Advantages - biogas - a very flexible fuel -

Decrease in GHG-emissions

Flexible technologies from small to large scale applications (several kW until MW) available

New field of income for farmers, public services, recycling companies…

Long lasting regional connection between energy industry and local actors

biogas in Germany has still high potentials less dependency on natural gas imports Emission certificates trading can play an important role

Increasing importance all over Europe!

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Biogastechnologie

Thank you very much!

Dipl. Biotechnol. Elmar FischerDepartment Biogastechnology (T)

German BiomassResearchCentre gGmbHLeipzigTel: +49(0)341-2434-452

eMail: elmar.fischer@dbfz.de