AGROBIOGAS

An integrated approach for biogas production with agricultural waste (www.agrobiogas.eu)

Context

Annually around 700 millions tons of agricultural wastes are produced within the EU. So far, the majority of manure and crop residues have been receiving the cheapest treatments although these are not the most adequate ones. Upgrading to biogas by means anaerobic digestion (AD) represents an alternative treatment with a lot of potential as it not only prevents pollution, but also allows energy production and nutrient recovery. However, there are some barriers for the widespread distribution of farm biogas plants in Europe, both with regard to technical, process and management challenges as well as the economical and organisational framework under which the plants operate, on a local & national level.

Objectives

The aim of AGROBIOGAS is to enhance the actual European development of farm biogas plants through specific goals: -To increase the efficiency of AD with agricultural residues in co-digestion with other organic wastes. -To gather the scattered information about biogas local projects and make it accessible to farmers and farmers associations, ensuring a successful performance of current and future biogas plants. -To reduce the uncontrolled disposal of AD sludge by the development of recommendations for the use of digestate as a ‘bio-fertiliser’. AGROBIOGAS is a collective research project involving 24 partners: 8 IAGs & 10 SMEs well aware of the potential economic impacts and the existing technological problems, & 6 RTDs partners in charge of research and experimental part.

Description of tasks

To achieve these objectives, the project is structured around 7 Work Packages WP1: Updating the state-of-the art of agricultural anaerobic digestion in Europe- to obtain information about on-going research activities in agricultural AD, especially with regard to substrates, legislation, technological innovations and future tendencies in the sector. WP2: Laboratory/ pilot scale experiments & set-up of an European co-fermentation substrate database- to gather data about substrates combinations, biogas yield and composition, digestate properties, etc. The co-fermentation database will be the core component for the simulation toolkit developed in WP3. WP3: Development of an AD process simulation toolkit & its evaluation by large scale experiments- will enable the IAG technicians to investigate the operating performance of biogas plants in case of variation of substrate composition or operating conditions. WP4: Data integration- establishment of an European AD Helpdesk Network- to constitute a permanent service that will enable the IAGs to advice their members in questions about agricultural AD. WP5: Training of IAG’s & SME’s- to transfer knowledge in order to assure efficient use of the European AD helpdesk tool after the end of the project. IAGs will be trained by RTDs how to operate and apply the helpdesk system. IAGs will conduct training measures among their members using these tools. WP6: Dissemination & exploitation of the project’s results- within IAGs as well as to the public using different instruments & attracting specific target groups. WP7: Project & knowledge management- including management & coordination activities carried out throughout the project. It will ensure correct organisation & communication between partners & with the EC. Special attention will be paid on the management of know-how gained during the project.

Expected results

The main results achieved, derived from the tasks carried out along the project are the following: - Updating the state-of-the-art of agricultural AD and identification of on-going projects related to production and uses of biogas -Setup of a European co-fermentation database covering information about process requirements and expected biogas yield, - Development of ‘AD Simulation Toolkit’ to predict the most convenient mixtures of co-substrates for agricultural biogas plants, -Lab/pilote scale experiments on co-fermentation to support the results obtained by simulation, -Setup of an European Helpdesk Network of advice for farm plants, - Development of ‘Investment Decision Tool’ based on AD Simulation Toolkit - Writing an ‘European operational guidelines of good practices’ in AD processes in 5 different languages, - Development of a project website. By providing the urgently needed information among farmers or cooperatives, AGROBIOGAS will contribute to promote the AD approach throughout Europe and to stabilise farmers difficult economic situation. The project intends to overcome the lack of effectiveness of the existing plants and will assist possible farmers to plan future AD plants as they will obtain tools and guidelines to optimise their own routines.

Partners

DAAS- DanemarkBME- AllemagneEUBIA- EuropeELBE- AllemagneGBA- AllemagneRES- ItalieASAJA- EspagneSA- EspagneSK-BIOM – SlovaquieBIOAZUL- EspagneDGS- AllemagneEARL- FranceCOAG- EspagneTTZ- AllemagnePAS- GrèceSDU- DanemarkAG- SuèdeSLU- SuèdeHG- SuèdeBOKU- AutricheAAT- ItalieCRA-W- BelgiquePD-K SlovaquieUB- Espagne