FUEL FROM MANURE:
AN ENERGY SOURCE FOR TOMORROW’S WORLD
The remuneration for the electricity we generate through our biogas plant in Düngstrup, which is secured by the EEG, is set to expire in the next few years. In order to ensure the farm’s long-term success, we want to make our biogas business economically and ecologically fit for the future.
An expansion of the existing plant will enable the production of climate-neutral biomethane as a green alternative to natural gas. The biomethane can be fed directly into EWE’s natural gas network on site, withdrawn again throughout Germany and put into circulation. This way of producing regenerative fuels from manure and slurry saves 30,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
0
0
greenhouse gas savings when compared to fossil fuel
0
cars rendered climate-neutral
In future, the plant’s expansion will almost exclusively ferment farm manure, i.e. animal residues such as liquid manure and dung, into biogas and then process it into biomethane. As a region strongly characterised by animal husbandry, a large amount of farm manure accumulates around Düngstrup every year, which can thus be utilised in a regional and sustainable way. Animal-friendly forms of husbandry without slatted floors are supported, as the efficient utilisation of manure is guaranteed. Land on which maise silage was previously grown is once again available for the production of food and feed.
In addition to biomethane, other products are to be created at the plant. Like liquid CO2, which can serve as a basic material for industry. In addition, concentrated organic fertiliser and water containing potassium are produced from a specific treatment of the fermentation residue. The fertiliser takes up significantly less volume due to the removal of water and thus ensures a reduction in transport distances. Furthermore, the nitrogen content was reduced, which improves the fertiliser balance in the region.
There will be almost no methane or ammonia emissions from plant operations, given that all products will be stored inside closed halls and processed in gas-tight containers. In addition, the conversion of the plant complies with the latest standards in terms of plant safety, occupational safety and emission protection, as well as automation and process control. Thanks to its own photovoltaic system and proprietary electricity CHP units, the biomethane plant is CO2-neutral.
In order to achieve all these goals, the existing biogas plant has to be expanded to include two modern fermenters, a final storage facility, a storage solution for water containing potassium, a storage hall and the biogas treatment plant. The planned tanks are 21 metres in diameter, 20 metres in height and have a volume of 7,000 cubic metres. Compared to classic, flat fermenters, both the spatial requirements and the energy needs for stirring the material are only about half as high. The heat requirement is also lower than with classic fermenters due to the small surface area in relation to the volume.
At this stage, the plant is limited to producing a certain amount of raw biogas per year. This limit represents an obstacle for the plant’s intended conversion. The conversion is associated with high investments that only become economically viable above a certain scale. Therefore, the aim is to increase the amount of raw biogas, for which a project-related development plan is to be drawn up.