Eco-balance of biogas plants; key factors for a sustainable implementation of biogas technology
Abstract
To support the application and dissemination of biogas technology, the ecological impact of different biogas process-chains will be investigated with respect to greenhouse gas emissions and a number other criteria (“eco balancing”). Based on a life cycle analysis (LCA) the ecological impact of production and collection of raw materials, fermentation in a biogas plant as well as the use of biogas and of the fermentation residues will be investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. The analysis includes construction, operation and dismantling of all components of the biogas plant. Beside the comparison of different biogas process chains among each other, a comparison between biogas systems and reference systems without biogas production will be made. Barriers and risks of an optimization of ecological benefits will be identified. The biogas technology will be investigated with respect to sustainability criteria, emissions to the air, the cumulative energy demand and the ecological impact on soil. The analysis will be prepared for the following biogas plant operation modes: 1. Biogas plants operated with agricultural raw materials only (agricultural residues and crops) 2. Biogas plants operated with co-substrates (agricultural residues and biological waste materials) 3. Biogas plants operated with waste materials only. Data used for the analysis will be taken from the practical operation of three biogas plant and the respective reference systems. Plant emissions will be evaluated with respect to the following environmental effects: • Cumulative energy consumption • Greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O in CO2-equiv) • Acidification (SO2, NOx in SO2-equiv) • Ground level ozone formation (CO, NMVOC, NOx, CH4 in C2H4-equiv) • Particulate emissions • Land area requirements • Effects on soil (nitrogen, carbon, toxic depositions) The analysis of the effects on soil and ground water will consider different fertilisation options (mineral and/or fermentation residues) effects. For the LCA calculations the computer code GEMIS will be used (Global Emission Model for Integrated Systems, www.oeko.de/service/gemis) with an input data set created for the boundary conditions in Austria. The results will contribute to the optimization of the ecological benefit of biogas plants.
keywords biogas eco balance
Publikationen
Project staff
BOKU partners
External partners
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Dr. Erich Pötsch
partner
Joanneum Research, Institute of Energy Research
Dr. Reinhard Padinger; Dr. Gerfried Jungmeier
coordinator