Biomethane from Manure, Agricultural Residues and Biowaste—GHG Mitigation Potential from Residue-Based Biomethane in the European Transport Sector

Abstract

Biomethane from manure, agricultural residues, and biowaste has been prioritized by many energy strategies as a sustainable way to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector. The technology is regarded as mature; however, its implementation is still at an early stage. At EU level, there are currently two major instruments relevant for promoting the production of biomethane from waste and residues and which are likely to contribute to unlocking unused GHG mitigation potentials: the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 (RED II) and the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS). Our study analyzes the effects of these two instruments on the competitiveness of biomethane as an advanced transport fuel in relation to different policy scenarios within the RED II framework and under EU ETS conditions. Within the RED II market framework for advanced biofuels, biomethane concepts that use manure as a substrate or as a cosubstrate show significantly lower GHG mitigation costs compared to advanced biofuels. With respect to the current EU ETS conditions for bioenergy, it is helpful to consider the GHG reduction potential from the non-ETS agricultural sector as a way to unlock unused potential for reducing GHG emissions.

Calculation of Greenhouse Gas Savings: Switch from Electricity Production to Biomethane. Case Study

“…The calculation of greenhouse gases was carried out based on Directive 2018/2001/EU (REDII) [39], [40]. This directive is a continuation of REDI 2009, which sets out methods for controlling the sustainable and ecological production of biofuels.…”

Valorization of Residues from Energy Conversion of Biomass for Advanced and Sustainable Material Applications

“…In order to decrease GHG emissions in a sustainable way in the transport sector, production of biomethane from manure, agricultural residues, and biowaste can have a profound impact [39]. This aspect of biomass application was considered in the publication by Oehmichen et al [40] by assessing the market. The study showed that different advanced biofuel pathways have significantly different GHG mitigation costs.…”

Current Status and Review of Waste-to-Biogas Conversion for Selected European Countries and Worldwide

“…Germany also has 1900 agricultural digesters out of the 2429 currently existing in Europe [89]. However, only around 50% of the mobilisable technical biomass potential of animal manure is used for energy purposes in Germany [102]. Overall, the technical potential of biogas in the EU is estimated to be between 151-246 billion Nm 3 of biomethane from AD [89].…”