[ Renewables ]
[ Renewables ]
The coastal region around Turku in southwestern Finland is characterized by its livestock farms . In this area , a 250 kW biogas plant makes use of around 40,000 tonnes of pig manure every year as its sole feedstock . The generated heat powers the 4,903 cubic meter stainless steel digester and also provides heat to nearby hog fattening houses . The entire operation of the biogas plant is fully automated , finishing with the separation of the digestate . Compression of the digestate makes it easier to transport , allowing excess fertilizer to be moved to regions where it is needed . Most importantly , by processing the manure , the plant actively combats the accumulation of nutrients in the already vulnerable local waterways and the Baltic Sea .
Photo © Weltec Biopower environment . Using duplex stainless steels instead of standard austenitic grades , like Type 304 or 316 stainless steel , offers another advantage . In some cases , the high strength of duplex stainless steels will enable the wall of the tank to be reduced , resulting in weight savings , which makes them a cost-effective alternative .
The Könnern industrial park near Magdeburg , Germany hosts one of the world ’ s largest biogas refineries , which began operating in 2009 . This impressive plant processes about 120,000 tonnes of raw materials and liquid manure each year , supplied by around 30 local farmers . According to the operator WELTEC BIOPOWER , the plant annually produces 15 million cubic meters of biomethane , enough to power around 10,000 households or provide 9,000 cars with an annual mileage of 30,000 kilometers . The plant contains over 1,500 tonnes of stainless steel in its storage tanks , pumps , and other systems .
Photo © Weltec Biopower
The big picture Biogas plants easily adapt to shifts in power demand . As the share of renewable energy sources continues to grow , the flexibility of biogas in covering peak demands and balancing the intermittent periods of other renewables such as wind and solar power becomes increasingly important . Every part of
the world has the potential to produce biogas or biomethane . With the development of local collection logistics and supply chains , the availability of sustainable feedstocks for these purposes is set to grow by 40 % by 2040 , according to the International Energy Agency ( IEA ) report , “ The Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane ” ( 2020 ). Most of the biomethane resources examined in the IEA report are currently more expensive to produce than the prevailing natural gas prices in their region , but the cost gap is projected to narrow over time . Recognizing the value of avoiding carbon dioxide and methane emissions goes a long way towards improving the cost-competitiveness of biomethane . Overall , biogas production costs are projected to decrease slightly while natural gas prices tend to rise . The invasion of Ukraine tends to put upward pressure on the price of natural gas . Coupled with the potential environmental benefits of biogas production in reducing emissions from organic waste , there is a stronger incentive than ever to increase biogas production .
About IMOA
Reproduced with the kind permission of the International Molybdenum Association ( IMOA ). IMOA is a nonprofit trade association representing the majority of the molybdenum industry worldwide . For information , visit www . imoa . info
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