Agrarian feedstock for biogas production 2

In order to fully exploit the available potentials of biogas production, ecologically optimised and renewable crop rotation systems must be developed, which use the genotypes of important energy plant species most suitable for biogas production. An improvement of agrarian raw material production for biogas generation and their fermentation process is further necessary for an economically and ecologically reasonable use of this renewable energy form. The results of the project are tools (MEVM - Methane Energy Value Model), data and characteristic values that are urgently needed for practical application and optimised biogas production, fertilisation with fermented residues of energy plants and left over materials from food production. The results are qualified by the economical, ecological and technical aspects. This proposal represents the continuation of the project „agrarian raw material basis for biogas production“, with the project number 812198/8539 – SCK/SAI. Parts of the project will be continued according an approved manner, whereas some research questions built up on earlier results, measured in the previous project. The project is divided into 4 work packages: In WP 1 the Methane Energy Value Model (MEVM), which is already available for maize, will be further developed and improved in its output reliability and estimate accuracy for the energy crops sorghum, sunflower, cereals and grass. In WP 2 efficient and ecologically balanced crop rotation systems are developed for the use of biogas and food production without competition. Biogas slurry is investigated in its fertilisation quality. In WP 3 the transferability of laboratory trial results into practice is reviewed. Within the 4th WP the process data of the biogas production from agrarian raw materials are provided for a lifecycle analysis, which is carried out within work package 10 of the leadership project “virtual biogas”.