Here are just few of bullet points for that:
1) Biogas plants like all other RES plants are used to change the total energy consumption balance between fossils and renewables. We all understand how important is to use renewable energy in place of fossil energy sources, because of environment and future development. 100 years ago people asked why we need such an expensive transport like cars, now they are asking why we need renewable energy;
2) Biogas plants are utilizing waste/production sub products from farming, food production, green fuel sub products, communal waste, agricultural etc. And now technologies of biogas plants are so far developed, that it is possible now to utilize straws, chicken droppings (big problem in Ukraine), waste water treatment plants sludge, slaughter houses waste etc. So with biogas plants we are solving not only energy problems but also waste problems;
3) If we are comparing biogas sector with the standard one (wind, solar and hydro) one more difference is that biogas plants increase environment value. Under solar panels and wind farms it is impossible to do anything with ground, so the value is “0”. In order to construct hydro plant there is a need to flood some area. Biogas plants are utilizing waste and can give sub product digestate after fermentation process, which can increase harvest and at the same time increase environmental value;
4) Biogas is the only sector where there is a need ofmore than one person per MW, so biogas plants will provide new jobs;
5) Stability and sustainability are very important. It is enough to compare all sectors of RES and we can conclude that only biogas plants are stable. Why? Can we be sure there will be enough wind for the next two weeks? Can we be sure that there will be enough rain and water in rivers next summer? Can we be sure there will be many sunny days next summer? No, but we can be sure that there will be enough substrate/organic for biogas plant, because we can plan and organize it. Normally, the owner of the biogas plant is organizing substrate for the period of the next twelve months. It isn’t only stability for energy producer and guarantee for the bank, but also a sustainable and stable energy producer for the country main power company, because they also need to plan their possibilities to provide enough energy to each region. If there is a wind farm with 100 MW in a small area and there is no wind for 1 week and there is wind again in one week, it will be a big overload and problem for the grid. In a biogas plant which is properly managed, the average production jumps will be in the area of 5-10% what we can’t say about all other RES plants.
6) Sub products – digestate like liquid fertilizer, dried digestate and pelletized for burning or using like bedding, etc. This is a great sub product which can be used in several ways. We can compare biogas plant processes with a cow as all products are natural in the end.

SUMMARY:

We can clearly conclude, that biogas sector needs to be more supported and especially in Ukraine, because this will give:

1) greater energy independence
2) cleaner environment
3) more job places
4) agricultural efficiency

Finally, if you are supporting biogas plants, you are supporting your country’s competitiveness!

Edgars Kudurs
EUEA expert
Country Manager in Ukraine, Biogas Nord