Title:
Profitability Case-Analysis of Co-Operative Biogas Plant of Several Farms as Part of Agricultural Farms' Energy Management in Eastern Finland
Author(s):
Soininen, H., Luste, S., Ranta-Korhonen, T.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Combined heat and power production from biogas may be a profitable solution for large agricultural farms or co-operatives of several farms, provided that an adequate supply of cattle manure or biomass of another type is available for the biogas reactor, and if the farms can sell their extra heat and electricity to external consumers. In Finland, farm-scale biogas plant investments are restricted by their high cost level compared to the plants' energy sales income. This research project focused on examining a co-operative biogas plant of several farms' calculation¬ based profitability at various energy price levels, gate fees, investment subsidy percentage levels and effect of co¬ digestion of organic materials available on energy production. The case-study was a biogas plant co-digesting 19.500 tonnes per annum using cattle manure as its base-material. According to the calculation results, it is not possible to cover such a plant's annual investment costs and operating costs at current heat and electricity price levels. Nature of raw materials affects notably biogas plant investments and these must be supported to a minimum of 50 percent, at current energy price levels, for the plants to achieve economic efficiency.
Keywords:
bioenergy, biogas, combined heat and power generation (CHP), agricultural biogas plants
Topic:
R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Anaerobic digestion for biogas production
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2DV.3.24
Pages:
1457 - 1460
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-2DV.3.24
Price:
FREE
