Preliminary Assessment of a Biogas-Based Power Plant from Organic Waste in the North Netherlands

Abstract

Biogas is expected to play a crucial role in achieving the energy targets set by the European Union. Biogas, which mainly comprises methane and carbon dioxide, is produced in an anaerobic reactor, which transforms biomass into biogas. A consortium of anaerobic bacteria and archaea produces biogas during the anaerobic digestion (AD) of various types of feedstocks, such as animal slurries, energy crops, and agricultural residues. A biogas-fed gas turbine-generator and steam generator produce heat and power. In this study, a combined heat and power installation is studied. The biogas-based power plant treating cow manure, grass straw, and sugar beet pulp was examined using the software SuperPro Designer, and the obtained economic reports are evaluated. From the results, subsidy for electricity does not change the feasibility of the plants in case that cow manure or sugar beet pulp are used as feedstocks. The net present value (NPV) of biogas plants treating cow manure and sugar beet pulp was negative and the subsidy is not sufficient to make profitable these cases. The biogas power plant treating straw showed a positive net present value even without subsidy, which means that it is more desirable to invest in a plant that produces electricity and digestate from grass straw.

Developing GHG mitigation strategies for agro-sectors : Feasibility study for the dairy sector

“…The awareness of the trade-offs and limitations in terms of the biogas feedstocks and the consequences on the nutrient cycling (especially nitrogen recycling capacity) should be taken into account when making decisions related to anaerobic digestion (Hoang et al, 2020). To address this, a recent study in the Netherlands showed that net present value (a feasibility indicator) of biogas plants treating cow manure and sugar beet pulp was negative to an extent that the subsidy was not sufficient to make it feasible while switching to straw combined with cattle manure promoted the cost effectiveness (Achinas et al, 2019). Overall, high investment and operating costs limit feasibility of anaerobic digestion and therefore subsidy plays a great role in the profitability of this technique (Gebrezgabher et al, 2012).…”

The station for dosing the substratum into existing digesters: PreMix

“…Solid and semi-solid entry materials are mixed with the liquid suspension in order for us to get the homogenous suspension. At the same time, rough particles and fibrous matter are cut [10][11].…”

Mitigation options to reduce GHG emissions at dairy and beef farms : results from a literature review and survey on mitigation options currently being used within the network of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform)

“…The awareness of the trade-offs and limitations in terms of the biogas feedstocks and the consequences on the nutrient cycling (especially nitrogen recycling capacity) should be taken into account when making decisions related to anaerobic digestion (Hoang et al 2020). To address this, a recent study in the Netherlands showed that net present value (a feasibility indicator) of biogas plants treating cow manure and sugar beet pulp was negative to an extent that the subsidy was not sufficient to make it feasible while switching to anaerobic digestion with cattle manure combined with straw increased the cost effectiveness (Achinas et al 2019). Overall, high investment and operating costs limit feasibility of anaerobic digestion and therefore subsidy plays a great role in the profitability of this technique (Gebrezgabher et al 2012).…”