scholarly journals Possibilities of Biogas Production from Livestock Waste in Latvia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janis Millers ◽  
◽  
Irina Pilvere ◽  

With the adoption of the Green Deal in the European Union (EU), the role of biodiversity, basic principles of the circular economy, climate change mitigation, forest protection and renewable energy increased. Since 2007, biogas production in Latvia has increased significantly, as it was possible to receive co-funding from the EU Funds for the construction of biogas plants. In 2021, inputs of agricultural origin are used by 40 biogas plants with an average installed capacity of 1 MW. The emergence of biogas plants on livestock farms is facilitated by the development of a circular economy producing waste from the production process – manure and feed waste. Anaerobic fermentation results in digestate – a nutrient-rich plant fertilizer that reduces the application of chemical fertilizers. Rational use of biogas can reduce the need for fossil fuels. Energy production from biogas should be encouraged, as waste is used efficiently, thereby generating energy and reducing the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In Latvia, livestock production is one of the key industries of the national economy, which produces manure and feed waste. The present research calculated the amounts of cattle, pig and poultry manure and feed waste in Latvia. The research analysed livestock farms by number of cattle, pigs and poultry, the potential amounts of manure and waste produced and theoretical biogas output. Theoretically, 309 farms analysed can produce 93.5 mln. m3 of biogas from agricultural waste and construct 269 new biogas plants. A policy for supporting the construction of new biogas plants would contribute to the country’s independence from fossil energy sources, as well as increase the proportion of renewable energy sources to 50-70 % in final energy consumption by 2030. Farmers on whose farms a biogas plant could be built need to carefully consider the uses of the biogas produced. The uses could be thermal energy generation for heat supply, cogeneration (thermal and electrical energy) or biomethane production.

Author(s):  
Anita Zapalowska ◽  
Ulyana Bashutska

In addition to hydroelectric power plants, solar and wind power plants, biogas plants are important in the production of electricity and heat from renewable energy sources. It is known that depending on the type of substrate used for processing and the design features of biogas plants, they have their own advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, properly localized biomass installation is able to decrease the use of conventional materials reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Bio-waste, plant residues and other by-products can be used to produce electricity, heat and purified methane as fuel for repaired vehicles. Biogas production is a key technology for the sustainable use of agricultural biomass as a renewable energy source. Both, Poland and Ukraine, have a large agricultural area, and well developed animal cattery, which creates opportunities for alternative energy sources from biomass development.          Agricultural biogas plant energy produced from waste such manure, slurry and another agricultural waste, is an excellent source of heat, likewise, electricity. Therefore the importance of using agricultural waste as an energy source in the production of biogas shall be emphasized. A significant drawback of the system is the need to provide low economic and environmental losses. For this purpose, the place of biomass harvesting, transport and its preparation together with storage should be taken into account. To achieve the highest efficiency, small biogas plants should have permanent composition of substrate consisting of various ingredients.                 Ukraine and Poland has considerable potential of renewable energy sources development of which can provide significant economic, ecological, and social benefits. The production of biogas has become an attractive source of extra income for many farmers. Biogas production has a useful effect not only on economic, but ecological development, particularly in the rural regions. At the same time, environmental protection aspects have gained additional importance, so that anaerobic treatment processes have become a key technology for environmental and climate protection.          On the basis of the submitted documentation by the municipal administration and the manufacturer, the operation of biogas plants for the processing of organic agricultural waste in Gorajec and Odrzechowa (Poland) has been presented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kehinde Oladoke Olatunji ◽  
Noor A. Ahmed ◽  
Oyetola Ogunkunle

AbstractPopulation increase and industrialization has resulted in high energy demand and consumptions, and presently, fossil fuels are the major source of staple energy, supplying 80% of the entire consumption. This has contributed immensely to the greenhouse gas emission and leading to global warming, and as a result of this, there is a tremendous urgency to investigate and improve fresh and renewable energy sources worldwide. One of such renewable energy sources is biogas that is generated by anaerobic fermentation that uses different wastes such as agricultural residues, animal manure, and other organic wastes. During anaerobic digestion, hydrolysis of substrates is regarded as the most crucial stage in the process of biogas generation. However, this process is not always efficient because of the domineering stableness of substrates to enzymatic or bacteria assaults, but substrates’ pretreatment before biogas production will enhance biogas production. The principal objective of pretreatments is to ease the accessibility of the enzymes to the lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose which leads to degradation of the substrates. Hence, the use of pretreatment for catalysis of lignocellulose substrates is beneficial for the production of cost-efficient and eco-friendly process. In this review, we discussed different pretreatment technologies of hydrolysis and their restrictions. The review has shown that different pretreatments have varying effects on lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose degradation and biogas yield of different substrate and the choice of pretreatment technique will devolve on the intending final products of the process.


10.14311/1173 ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Koller

The biogas generated in biogas plants offers significant potential for the production of energy from renewable energy sources. The number biogas plants in the Czech Republic is expected to exceed one hundred in the near future. Substrates from agriculture, industry and municipal wastes are used for biogas production. Biogas plants usually use co-generation units to generate electricity and heat. Increased effectiveness can be achieved by using heat as a source of energy for producing renewable natural gas.


Author(s):  
Kumar Gaurav

A major share of world’s primary energy requirement is dependent on fossil fuels which is not only a non renewable source of energy and on the verge of extinction but also associated with serious environmental concerns. To combat these issues, alternative renewable energy sources are required. Certain examples of renewable energy sources are solar energy, wind energy, hydro and thermal energy, biofuels etc. Biomass is one such alternative which is freely and abundantly available. It is mainly the agricultural waste and vegetable waste which are perishable and create a lot of nuisance. Tapping this biomass for energy production will be beneficial in two ways; it will be an excellent source of energy generation and it will also help in waste management for environment protection. Energy generation from Biomass can take place either chemically or thermo-chemically. In the present paper advantages of anaerobic digestion of biomass are discussed for biogas production.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 5907
Author(s):  
Valerii Havrysh ◽  
Antonina Kalinichenko ◽  
Anna Brzozowska ◽  
Jan Stebila

The European Union has set targets for renewable energy utilization. Poland is a member of the EU, and its authorities support an increase in renewable energy use. The background of this study is based on the role of renewable energy sources in improving energy security and mitigation of climate change. Agricultural waste is of a significant role in bioenergy. However, there is a lack of integrated methodology for the measurement of its potential. The possibility of developing an integrated evaluation methodology for renewable energy potential and its spatial distribution was assumed as the hypothesis. The novelty of this study is the integration of two renewable energy sources: crop residues and animal husbandry waste (for biogas). To determine agricultural waste energy potential, we took into account straw requirements for stock-raising and soil conservation. The total energy potential of agricultural waste was estimated at 279.94 PJ. It can cover up to 15% of national power generation. The spatial distribution of the agricultural residue energy potential was examined. This information can be used to predict appropriate locations for biomass-based power generation facilities. The potential reduction in carbon dioxide emissions ranges from 25.7 to 33.5 Mt per year.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 742
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Ślusarz ◽  
Barbara Gołębiewska ◽  
Marek Cierpiał-Wolan ◽  
Jarosław Gołębiewski ◽  
Dariusz Twaróg ◽  
...  

Energy obtained from renewable sources is an important element of the sustainable development strategy of the European Union and its member states. The aim of this research is, therefore, to assess the potential and use of renewable energy sources and their effectiveness from the regional perspective in Poland. The research covered the years 2012 and 2018. The diversification of production and potential of renewable energy sources was defined on the basis of biogas and biomass. Calculations made using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method showed that, in 2012, only three voivodeships achieved the highest efficiency in terms of the use of biogas and biomass resources; in 2018, this number increased to four. Comparing the effective units in 2012 and 2018, it can be seen that their efficiency frontier moved upwards by 56% in terms of biogas and 21% in terms of to biomass. Despite a large relative increase in the production of heat from biogas by 99% compared to the production of heat from biomass by 38%, the efficiency frontier for biogas did not change considerably. It was found that the resources of solid biomass are used far more intensively than the resources of biogas. However, in the case of biogas, a significant increase in the utilization of the production potential was observed: from 3.3% in 2012 to 6.4% in 2018, whereas in the same years, the utilization of solid biomass production potential remained at the same level (15.3% in 2012, 15.4% in 2018). It was also observed that, at the level of voivodeships, the utilization of biogas and biomass production potential is negatively correlated with the size of this potential. The combined potential of solid biomass and biogas can cover the demand of each of the studied regions in Poland in terms of thermal energy. The coverage ranges from 104% to 1402%. The results show that when comparing biomass and biogas, the production of both electricity and heat was dominated by solid biomass. Its high share occurred especially in voivodeships characterized by a high share of forest area and a low potential for biogas production (Lubuskie Voivodeship, Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship).


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 61-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Loskot ◽  
Marek Smolík ◽  
Lidmila Hyšplerová ◽  
Karol Radocha ◽  
Jan Kříž ◽  
...  

AbstractRecently, there is a growing pressure on a rapid construction of agricultural biogas plants, particularly in the Czech-Polish border region. It is an area with large expanses of agricultural land which can serve to supply biogas plants with biomass. This strategy should contribute to harmonize the common agricultural policy of the European Union. A need for qualified operators of these stations on this territory is also increasing. Therefore we first include a demonstration of an education program for students in the field of agricultural waste anaerobic fermentation and biogas production. We present here the first part of an innovative approach which we use in the teaching program “Physico-technical Measurements and Computer Technology” at the Faculty of Science at the University of Hradec Kralove and also in the education of internshipers from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology at the University of Opole. There are requirements to fulfil labour market expectations and to make this subject more attractive for the students. Students’ theoretical and practical preparation constitutes a comprehensive source of knowledge and skills required in a real life job. Joined theoretical and practical knowledge gained by students, reinforced by the skills developed during task analysis followed by their solution, provides the future graduate higher quality abilities and better position in the labour market.


Author(s):  
Nicola Tagliafierro

Enel X is leading the transition toward a sustainable business model, with the circular economy as an important pillar. Using renewable energy sources and materials, extending product life cycles, creating sharing platforms, reuse and regeneration, rethinking products as services. The principles of the circular economy have become essential, considering the paradigm shift overturning the traditional linear economic model. Enel X was one of the first businesses to offer products on the market that concretely apply the five business models of the circular economy and reconsider the entire value chain from a sustainability perspective. This approach is characterized by two core principles: 1.  the first, addressed internally, focuses on the business’s product portfolio, which ranges from “measuring” circularity to identifying solutions for improvement; 2.  the second is directed toward the outside, and especially toward industrial customers and public administrations or end customers, with the goal of evaluating their level of “circularity” and helping them outline a roadmap to circularity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ján Lajda ◽  
Zuzana Lajdová ◽  
Peter Bielik

Abstract Recently, renewable energy sources (RES) have become very popular all over the EU. Subsidy policies have provided huge amount of money flowing into the sector which were necessary for its development. In Slovakia, favourable legislation was one of triggers for building biogas plants using anaerobic fermentation for biogas and further electric energy production. This paper examines how subsidy policy has stimulated biogas sector over the years and the consequences arising from the legislation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueqing Yang ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Daniela Thrän ◽  
Alberto Bezama ◽  
Mei Wang

Abstract Background: The German energy transition strategy calls for a reform of the German energy sector. As a result, the Germany Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) was passed in 2000 and is widely regarded as successful legislation for promoting bioenergy development. More than 1,000 biogas plants were constructed in Central Germany (CG) between 2000 and 2014. Despite this, few studies have been conducted for this period that systematically investigate how environmental, social and economic factors, as well as various EEG amendments have impacted biogas production and what the environmental consequence of biogas production development in CG have been. Methods: The impacts of environmental, social and economic factors and different EEG amendments on biogas production decisions in CG were quantified using multivariate linear regression model and the event study econometric technique. A GIS-based spatial analysis was also conducted to provide insight into the changes to agricultural land use that resulted from the development of biogas plants during the EEG period. Results: The main finding was that the income diversification effect resulting from biogas production was the most important factor in a farmer’s decision to adopt biogas production. In addition, all of the EEG amendments had a significant influence on the adoption of biogas production, however EEG III and IV, which tried to promote small-scale plants, were unable to reduce the average size of the plants constructed in these two amendment periods. From a landscape perspective, there was a striking increase in the cultivation of silage maize in CG from 2000 to 2014. Silage maize was intensively cultivated in regions with a high installed biogas plant capacity. Since the first EEG amendment, permanent grassland area slightly increased while arable land area declined in CG. Conclusions: The adoption of biogas production in CG was strongly driven by economic incentives for the farmers, more precisely, by the incentive to diversify their income sources. In addition to increase the subsidy, future EEG amendments should find new measures to encourage the adoption of small-scale biogas plants, which had been unsuccessful in EEG amendments III and IV.


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