Concepts and profitability of biogas production from landscape management grass

Abstract

Landscape management grass is generally harvested late, resulting in unfavorable composition for many utilization purposes. This study explores various technical concepts of biogas production and their economic viability. The Lower Oder Valley National Park is taken here as an example. This National Park in North-East Germany comprises large grassland areas with conservation-related restrictions on management. The concepts of biogas production and use considered are: (1) decentralized digestion and use of biogas at five autonomous combined heat and power (CHP) units, (2) decentralized digestion and delivery of the biogas to a centralized CHP unit, (3) decentralized digestion, upgrading of the biogas and feeding into the natural gas grid, and (4) one central biogas plant with centralized CHP unit. Annual costs and revenues of biogas production were calculated for each alternative. Biogas production from landscape management grass meets the conservational demands of late cutting periods and under certain circumstances shows a profit.