Biogas Technology as an “Engine” for Facilitating Circular Bio-Economy in Denmark:The Case of Lolland & Falster Municipalities Within Region Zealand

This article investigates how biogas technology can facilitate the deployment of municipal circular bio-economic solutions within the energy and agrarian sectors in Denmark. The emphasis is on the regional climate policy and the existing biogas technology concepts, within a decentralized energy market located in the Southern part of Zealand. The case analysis will identify how such technology can be utilized as a lever for future “extraction-activities,” as for example protein, wax, and furfural substrates. Within Falster & Lolland Municipalities, it is identified that 800.000 tons of animal manure is readily available for biogas production, just as 880.000 tons and 220.000 tons of unused beet tops and residual cereal straw could be feed to biogas facilities as for example co-silage materials. With a potential gas yield of approximately 897.000 MWh, composed by the crop residues alone, the challenge is how to utilize such resources the most efficient when addressing future needs for bio-products and high value materials and energy. Through the lens of Circular Bio-Economy this article addresses three themes, by which biogas technology can become an “engine” for future bioenergy solutions, where cascading activities and use of side-streams are developed: 1) production of biogas by means of local agricultural residues (beet tops, residual straw, and animal manure), combined with 2) “extraction-activities” as furfural and wax from straw, as well as protein from beet tops. Besides this 3) opportunities for upgrading the biogas and distributing it on a natural gas network, hereby enlarging the supply market for energy services from the biogas plant and facilitating the development of a more “integrated energy system,” currently being promoted by the European Commission. This article concludes on a step-by-step approach to utilize biomass residues more efficiently in light of the CBE concept and cascading approach, and the available biomass resources within the specific case area addressed

Municipalities as facilitators, regulators and energy consumers:enhancing the dissemination of biogas technology in Denmark

Biogas provides many potential benefits as far as renewable energy production, environmental protection and job creation etc. Insufficient initiatives from government/municipalities however hamper more biogas plants to be established, and hence that the large manure potential, and other types of digestible organic waste materials, are being utilized for energy purposes. By looking at municipalities as energy consumer’s, that constitutes a local market for biogas, as regulator’s, enforcing new requirements and regulations on the biogas sector, and finally as facilitator’s, assisting and helping involved stakeholders, the development of the biogas sector could be enhanced. We suggest to: Slim the documentation needed; Require that a part of the municipal heat are provided by biogas; Identify alternative heat markets for sale of non-upgraded biogas; Map new types of gas boosters, etc. We conclude that the role of municipalities as facilitator’s is the most important support that local governments can provide to support biogas