In today's article from the "Lawyer on the Farm" series, continuing the topic of Renewable Energy Sources, we invite you to familiarize yourself with a unique solution that allows for the production of energy from biodegradable waste, namely agricultural gas-fired combined heat and power plants, commonly known as Biogas Plants .
Biogas plants are plants that produce biogas, a gas obtained through the anaerobic fermentation of biodegradable waste such as energy crops, manure, and other organic waste generated on farms. They constitute an ecological source of renewable energy that can also be used to simultaneously heat water, homes, and factories, or even produce biofuels. Using biogas is therefore an excellent alternative to fossil fuels or natural gas.
Especially now, in the context of the conflict taking place beyond our eastern border, rising energy prices and the process of our country becoming independent from Russian raw materials, it is worth remembering this possibility.
Agricultural gas-fired CHP plants not only provide a valuable energy source but also help create a closed system capable of managing biodegradable waste that municipalities would otherwise require specialized processing facilities. Organic waste delivered by local agricultural producers undergoes anaerobic fermentation at temperatures no higher than 40℃. The resulting biogas, composed primarily of methane, carbon dioxide, and other organic gases, is dried and desulfurized. It is then used to power generators that feed energy into the power grid. Exhaust gases from biogas engines and the heat generated by the generators are used to heat biomass tanks, and the excess heat can be used to heat buildings, dry grain, or operate other installations.
The resulting biogas can be refined to natural gas quality in processing plants and fed into the natural gas grid as biomethane ( natural biogas ). Properly processed biogas, in addition to being used in combined heat and power plants, can also be used as fuel for vehicles equipped with gas installations.
Yet another product generated by biogas plants is digestate , the fermentation residue from biogas plants that can be used as an alternative to artificial fertilizers in agriculture. Digestate's success in this application is determined by its higher nitrogen content than manure and less intense odor. Furthermore, when produced through dry fermentation, it is distinguished by its light weight and easy storage, as well as the possibility of further combustion to generate energy and heat.
This versatile solution, agricultural gas-fired CHP plants, is not particularly popular in Poland. As of July 9, 2024, the National Support Center for Agriculture listed 166 installations generating agricultural biogas or electricity from agricultural biogas. According to data published by the Energy Regulatory Office at the end of 2022, the total capacity of all biogas plants operating in Poland was 276,248 MW. By comparison, in neighboring Germany, which began investing heavily in this technology in the 2000s, data provided by the World Biogas Association shows 9,494 CHP plants using biogas to produce heat and electricity, with a total capacity of 4.8 GW. According to estimates by the German Biogas Association, the biogas market in Germany could support as many as 52,000 jobs, and biogas exports could be worth up to €2.5 billion. As evidenced by the scale of the biogas market in our neighbouring countries, we can undoubtedly have great hopes for the future development of this energy sector in Poland.
To sum up, biogas plants are an excellent source of renewable energy that helps manage biodegradable organic waste in a way that not only provides electricity and heat, but also products such as digestates or biomethane, which can be used as a substitute for artificial fertilizers and natural gas.
We cordially invite you to follow our series "Lawyer on the Farm", as new articles will soon appear on the topic of Renewable Energy Sources.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Legal status as of October 16, 2024
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