This document summarizes information from the BIOGAS3 project, which aims to promote sustainable small-scale biogas production from agro-food waste. The BIOGAS3 project provides training courses and workshops, feasibility studies using their smallBIOGAS software, networking opportunities, and assistance implementing new small-scale biogas plants. They have published several reports on small-scale anaerobic digestion in Europe. Examples are given of existing small-scale biogas plants on farms in Germany, including their feedstocks, energy production, costs, and profitability. Contact information is provided for those interested in the BIOGAS3 project.

1. Sustainable small-scale biogas production from agro-
food waste for energy self-sufficiency
IEE/13/477/SI2.675801
Legal disclaimer: The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect
the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be
made of the information contained therein.
Katie Brown
RENEWABLES ACADEMY (RENAC) AG
INTRODUCTION

2. About RENAC
• RENAC is a Berlin-based training specialist for renewable energy and energy
efficiency
• So far we have had participants from over 130 countries
• We offer renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE):
– Training
– Academic education
www.biogas3.eu
– Academic education
• We support third parties in building up RE and EE training programmes (fit out
of training centres, teaching materials, Train-the-Trainer)

3. About BIOGAS3
Management
BusinessBusiness CollaborationCollaboration ModelsModels
SmallSmall--scalescale ADAD modelsmodels
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www.biogas3.eu
SmallSmall--scalescale ADAD modelsmodels
BuildBuild--upup ofof skillsskills,, awarenessawareness andand networkingnetworking
FaceFace--toto--faceface activitiesactivities
Communiation
Dissemination Activities
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RENAC

4. What can BIOGAS3 do for me?
• Free training courses & workshops
– On-line and face-to-face
– Choice of basic courses, specialised workshops, webinars…
• Personalised feasibility studies
– With the software smallBIOGAS, to check if your feedstock and site
www.biogas3.eu
– With the software smallBIOGAS, to check if your feedstock and site
are suitable for a small-scale biogas plant.
• Networking and one-to-one activities
– Contact to specialised biogas plant technologists and technology
centres that will help you to outline the best project
• Implementation of new small-scale biogas plants

5. BIOGAS3 publications
• Report small-scale AD in agro-food
companies: potentials and barriers
www.biogas3.eu

6. BIOGAS3 publications
• Report small-scale AD in agro-food
companies: potentials and barriers
• EU legislative and financial framework
for the implementation of small-scale
biogas plants in agro-food & beverage
www.biogas3.eu
biogas plants in agro-food & beverage
companies

7. BIOGAS3 publications
• Report small-scale AD in agro-food
companies: potentials and barriers
• EU legislative and financial framework
for the implementation of small-scale
biogas plants in agro-food & beverage
www.biogas3.eu
biogas plants in agro-food & beverage
companies
• Small-scale AD Business Collaboration
Models

8. SmallBiogas Software Tool & Usage Guide
www.biogas3.eu

9. Biogas3 Handbook
www.biogas3.eu

10. Biogas market in GERMANY
Installedelectr.Capacity[Mwel]
www.biogas3.eu
Numberofplants
Installedelectr.Capacity[Mwel]

11. Feed-in tariffs in Germany, 2015
• The feed-in tariff depends on the substrate that is digested to biogas.
The predicted feed-in tariffs for digestion of organic wastes are:
For the digestion of organic wastes:
www.biogas3.eu
o 15,26 c€/kWhel up to an installed capacity of 500kW
o 13,38 c€/kWhel up to an installed capacity of 20MW
For the digestion of manure:
o 23,73 c€/kWhel, if
§ electricity is produced at the location of biogas plant.
§ installed capacity does not exceed 75kW.
§ the share of manure has a minimum of 80% liquid manure.

12. Costs
• Typical investment costs 100 kWel biogas plant
(Germany)
Costs
www.biogas3.eu
Machinery (pumps, stirrer, etc.) 50,000 €
Buildings/construction (tanks, pipes, etc.) 180,000 €
Electrics, measurements, control system 50,000 €
Miscellaneous 60,000 €
Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP) 160,000 €
Total investment costs ≈ 500,000 €

13. Costs
• Typical investment costs for smaller biogas plants
(Germany)
25-50 kW: 100,000 – 400,000 €
www.biogas3.eu
51-75 kW: 200,000 – 700,000 €
76-100 kW: 300,000 – 1,200,000 €

14. Costs
• Typical operating and maintenance costs 100 kWel
biogas plant (Germany)
Insurance, Management: ~1% of investment costs
www.biogas3.eu
Operation & Maintenance: CHP engine: ~0.015 €/kWhel
Rest of biogas plant: ~2-4% of investment costs

15. Energy flow of a CHP unit
www.biogas3.eu

16. Main parameters influencing the profitability
• Inputs
• Outputs
– availability of substrates, costs or fees for substrates
– potential to cover own energy demand, sell electricity, sell other
www.biogas3.eu
• In operation
Source: Econcern
– potential to cover own energy demand, sell electricity, sell other
byproducts or services
– O&M costs, availability of qualified staff
for O&M, financing conditions, taxes

17. Example of a farm small-scale biogas plant
Small-scale biogas plant (installed capacity 75 kWel).
Feedstock: cattle slurry (10.950 m3/year)
Energy use: heat for self-consumption,
electrical energy is fed into local power grid.
Data obtained from a report of Bio4Gas GmbH
Dairy farm, Gießen (Germany)
www.biogas3.eu
electrical energy is fed into local power grid.
Estimated payback period = 6 years
Digester: 600 m3
Biogas valorisation unit: 75 kW
Energy production: 630 MWhel/a; 740 MWhth/a
Investment: €500.000,--

18. Example of a farm small-scale biogas plant
Small-scale biogas plant (installed capacity 33 kWel)
Feedstock: whey
Energy use: electricity and heat for production process
Goats Cheese Dairy, Monte Ziego, Teningen (Germany)
Digester: 2 x 10 m3
www.biogas3.eu
Annual electricity yield = 58,000 kWh @ €0,16/kWh = 9,280 €/year
Annual heat yield = 131,800 kWh @ €0,05/kWh = 6,590 €/year
Assuming O&M costs equivalent to 1% of investment per year: 4,500 €/year
Benefit = 15,870 – 4,500 = 11,370 €
Data source: BIOGAS JOURNAL 2-2015 article, ‘Molke: Sehr gute Gasqualität’
Digester: 2 x 10 m3
CHP unit: 33 kWel + 70 kWth
Average daily biogas production: 95 – 120m3 Biogas/day
Average daily methane production: 64 – 80m3 CH4/day
Investment: €450.000,--

19. I’m interested, how can I take part?
• Contacts
www.biogas3.eu
Noel Gavigan
noelgavigan@irbea.ie
087-6845977
Michael Hegarty
michaelhegarty@irbea.ie
087-0556630
www.irbea.ie

20. Thank you for your attention
www.biogas3.eu