Basics

Energy and Environment

The fermentation of biomass is currently gaining importance both on a national and international level. One of the goals of the German government is to reduce CO2 emissions by 25% of the 1990 average by 2005. In addition to this national obligation, they have also agreed (in the Kyoto Protocols) to reduce greenhouse gases by 21% of the 1990 rates by 2008/2012.

Biogas technology will be playing an important part in this undertaking. The demand for alternative, renewable sources of energy is rising constantly. The anaerobic fermentation of manure and renewable resources is a carbon-neutral procedure, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and preventing the uncontrolled generation of methane. Burning biogas only releases the exact same amount of atmospheric CO2 previously bound in plants during their growth cycle via photosynthesis.

Energy sources and their application

All organic substrates from agriculture can serve as sources of energy:

manure from cattle, pigs and chickens, silage juice, energy crops (including from set-aside areas)maize silage, sugar beet pulp, rye and many more.

and from the commercial sector:

e.g.: market waste, food past its expiry date, waste from food production, kitchen waste, fatty wastes, separated organic waste (in designated bins) etc.

Biogas produced in the fermentation processes can be used in a number of ways to produce energy.

Obtaining electricity via cogeneration is currently the most wide-spread and state-of-the-art recycling procedure. In cogeneration units, biogas is burned to create electricity and thermal energy. The electrical efficiency levels of some of the units designed by renowned engine manufacturers have already reached 40%. Tried and proven techniques for the biological desulfurisation of biogas have made it possible to stay within the emission limits prescribed by the TA-Luft (German Clean Air Act).