Researchers at the University of Milano, have reported acceptable margins to produce biogas from energy crops in Italy in a very recent publication released on Aug.2014.
The study, published on Waste Management Journal, observed and assessed the economic sustainability of three different biogas full scale plants in northern Italy, fed with different organic matrices: energy crops (EC), manure, agro-industrial and organic fraction of municipal solid waste.
The plants were observed for one year and total annual biomass feeding, biomass composition and biomass cost (€ Mg−1), initial investment cost and plant electric power production were registered. The unit costs of biogas and electric energy (€ Sm−3biogas, € kW h−1EE) were differently distributed, depending on the type of feed and plant.
The total costs of the input mixtures were calculated by considering the prices and/or the production/transportation costs of all the organic material used, during the observation period. For dedicated crops, the production costs were considered, including soil preparation, seeding, costs of fertilizers, irrigation and plant harvesting.
A possible crop with lower cost for biomass supply in terms of €/methane in the same region could be Tall wheatgrass, still not much implemented in Italy, which yields are high anc cost per ton extremely lower than current options evaluated in this study.
The total investment cost, indicated by the plants owners, were of 4180 k€ for Municipal solid waste plant , and 3869 k€ and 2720 k€ for residues and crops. This cost included the design and authorization, the concrete structures, the pumping system, the mixers, the digesters heat-systems, the pre-treatment and post-treatment facilities and technologies, the combined heat and power (CHP) generation units, the start-up costs and the automation software/hardware. Plant using municipal wastes showed high management/maintenance cost for waste treatments (0.155 € Sm−3biogas, 45% of total cost), the plant using maize and sorghum suffered high cost for biomass supply (0.130 € Sm−3biogas, 49% of total cost) and the one with manure showed higher impact on the total costs because of the depreciation charge (0.146 € Sm−3biogas, 41% of total costs).
As main conclusion authors found that annua energy crops producing solage biomass (maize and sorghum) could be expensive at the current costs but there are several EU incentives, at least in Italy and some other countries. It is clear that perennial grasses could offer similar performance for biogas as we explained here. On the other hand, the high public incentive on EE, paid by Italian State and by many EU governments, could tend to sustain crop massive use, thereby demotivating the transformation of residues and waste into resources. There is space for a slight reduction of incentives and the tariffs should favor the use of by-product and waste. The trend of the market will be to stimulate smaller plants scale in order to replace energy crops with the use of agro-industrial waste.
The study can be accessed from here.
A video on arundo donax for biogas in Italy:
I am interested in the price difference in northern European (or northern Italy) and the prices of imports from Latin America (Brazil) waste. The sea freight and transport conditions currently more expensive material to biomethane which is then imported.
Much, much longer for a transformation occurs: Is it possible residues for biomethane become Commodities? I am researching the feasibility of such exports. Glycerin, orange bagasse, lees vegetable oils, crude vegetable oil, are on the shelf for sale. It is necessary to agree on the price.
I would like to know the opinion of Bioenergy Crops. ”
Regards
Alberto José Corrêa Leite
Doctor Hydraulics and Sanitation
Wastewater Treatment – Bioenergy (fermentation) – Commercial intermediation.
Guariba – São Paulo – Brazil
jalberto.correa@hotmail.com
Hi Alberto. Well the main barrier is water content and volume (densities). If raw materials are being considered to be transported (shipped) from a location to another, energy balances are a main issue. How much energy is used for energy transportation? Oil and other high yielding raw materials are being considered by many projects producing biomethane. This includes some briquetting of herbeaceous biomass as some recent research publications have suggested to improbe methane yields in co-digestion with manure.
This is good that Bioenergy from waste of crops is economic and could be sold of cource we would do and pre-treatment with waste of crops for make the energy. How much energy(? MW) could be generated for becoming bioelectric.
Your usage of Maize wastes,re agro wastes is appreciated .A huge amt of Maize stover is available here in Bangladesh after crop is harvested.There are 2 Maize crops a year worth consideration-so we have to silage for year long production of Electricity.Pls advice how we can use the Stover-whch system is better :Dry digestion or wet anaerobic digestion! Water is short here.
Thanks