Biogass SystemsBiogas systems adapted to a wider range of waste substances have been developed during the 90`s. During recent years, the interest in building biogas systems has increased rapidly, aiming at energy supply as much as environmental benefits.On-farm biogas systems collect cow dung from specially adapted cattle sheds, mix it with water and channel it into fermentation pits. Today there are reported to be within other web sites, around 2700 biogas power systems in Germany with an installed wattage of 650 megawatts (MW). The well known company Schmack Biogas is collaborating with a French investor there to build ten biogas systems. From another source it is reported that by 2020 it is predicted that there will be an electrical output of 15,000 megawatts from biogas power biogas systems built by German companies, of which at least 9 500 megawatts will be in Germany. Looking to South America where the biogas sector is very active. Buenos Aires based ABATEC SA has announced the release of a line of small biodiesel biogas systems with modular design, high temperature reaction for the best yield, to produce from 50 to 1000 gal/day (190 to 3785 liter/day) of high quality methyl ester and valuable glycerol.  Until 2005, no centralised anaerobic digestion biogas systems (CAD) were operational in UK, but
the Holsworthy plant has now been active for some years, and at least 18 applications are included in the Non
Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) programme. The UK renewable energy programme now covers all sectors of
the biogas industry, including farm scale biogas systems, landfill gas extraction, Anaerobic Digestion of MSW
and digestion of industrial effluents. In Europe, Germany has the largest amount of biogas systems, dominated by small scale farm biogas systems, while Denmark has the largest biogas production of 1,05PJ, originating manly from co-digesting slurry with an average of 25 percent agro-industrial wastes. In Denmark these are all in large scale community biogas systems, the so called joint biogas systems. Sweden has 4 large biogas systems based partly on household wastes, 8 industrial biogas systems and 6 farm biogas systems in operation. Digesting sewage sludge has for a long while been a common practice in the EU countries, especially for medium and large sewage plants, and is conducted by the municipalities or related companies. However, unfortunately, major environmental concerns about the content of heavy metals and non-degradable organic chemicals must be taken into consideration when planning these plants, and some say the EU requirements may be overly strict on this.  There is no national programme for biogas in Austria, but the federal states, the Ministry of
Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment are reported as supporting new biogas systems, under specific
circumstances. However, forty six biogas systems were recently reported on another web site, to be
operating, mainly at farm scale, in Austria, most of them having CHP-production (40-80% CH4; 14-50 days
retention time; 14-29 MJ/m 3 ).Clearly, from this round-up of development in biogas systems, there is considerable activity, and yet is it enough? Surely, the EU nations are too timid in their plans for adoption of bio-energy systems, if the stated aims of the EU toward reductions in greenhouse emissions are to be met? Continue to our Bioenergy page for more on this subject.
| |||
|
| Menu
Articles
Latest News
FAQ
Downloads
Site Map
|
| Got a Point to make About Digesters? Visit the Anaerobic Digestion Forum. Free registration. |
Keep up to date on Biogas Digesters with our rss feed
