An analysis of current and future electricity production from biogas in Germany

Description

In this work a process simulation model identifies the most profitable German biogas plant types and sizes. Small manure and large-scale biowaste plants are currently the most economically attractive installations whereas the valorization of energy crops turns out to be unprofitable. Future developments are assessed with the help of a regional optimization model under constraints. Capacity expansion concerns small-scale manure and biowaste installations rather than plants based on energy crops. Abstract Table of contents List of Figures List of Tables Abbreviations Acknowledgment 1 Introduction 1.1 Motivation 1.2 Objectives and overview 2 Background aspects regarding bioenergy and biogas 2.1 An overview of bioenergy conversion pathways 2.1.1 Thermochemical conversion 2.1.1.1 Biomass combustion 2.1.1.2 Biomass gasification 2.1.1.3 Biomass pyrolysis 2.1.2 Physical-chemical conversion 2.1.2.1 Pressing / Extraction 2.1.2.2 Esterification 2.1.3 Biochemical conversion 2.1.3.1 Alcoholic fermentation 2.1.3.2 Aerobic decomposition 2.1.3.3 Anaerobic digestion 2.2 Description of a complete biogas supply chain 2.2.1 Biomass feedstock management 2.2.1.1 Biomass harvesting, transport, delivery and storage 2.2.1.2 Biomass pre-treatment, on-site conveying and loading 2.2.2 Biogas production process 2.2.2.1 Biogas formation 2.2.2.2 Characterization of biogas fermentation process 2.2.3 Digestate treatment 2.2.4 Biogas valorization 2.2.4.1 Biogas buffering and cleaning 2.2.4.2 Biogas valorization in Combined Heat and Power Systems 2.2.4.3 Biogas valorization through biomethane injection 2.3 Summary 3 Situation of biogas in Europe and in Germany 3.1 Biogas situation in Europe 3.2 Past developments and current situation for biogas in Germany 3.3 Legal framework for renewable energies and biogas in Germany 3.3.1 Energy Economics Law (EnWG) 3.3.2 Renewable Energy Heat Act (EEWärmeG) 3.3.3 Renewable Heat Law (EWärmeG) 3.3.4 Cogeneration Act (KWKG) 3.3.5 Biomass Electricity Sustainability Regulation (BioSt-NachV) 3.3.6 Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) 3.3.6.1 Past developments and time schedule 3.3.6.2 Main objective of the Renewable Energy Sources Act 3.3.6.3 Definitions related to biogas plants under the EEG framework 3.3.6.3.1 Technical requirements 3.3.6.3.2 Installation terminology 3.3.6.4 Feed-In-Tariffs for biogas plants 3.3.6.4.1 Example of a remuneration system according to EEG 2014 3.3.6.4.2 Miscellaneous categories for small-scale manure and biowaste plants 3.3.6.5 Electricity direct marketing 3.3.6.6 Tendering procedure 3.3.6.7 Critical analysis of the past and current subsidy mechanisms for biogas in Germany 3.4 Literature review on techno-economic aspects 3.4.1 Economic assessment of existing biogas plants 3.4.2 Biomass potentials assessment 3.4.3 Model-based analysis of future electricity production from biogas in Germany 3.5 Summary 4 A simulation model for the analysis of current electricity production from biogas in Germany 4.1 General introduction to simulation models 4.2 Objectives and general methodology 4.3 Process simulation with the help of SuperPro Designer 4.3.1 Description of the simulation software SuperPro Designer 4.3.2 Biogas plant calibration 4.3.2.1 Biomass feedstock characterization 4.3.2.2 Biomass transport, delivery and storage 4.3.2.3 Biomass pre-treatment and loading 4.3.2.4 Biogas production process modelling 4.3.2.5 Modelling of the heat and electricity production from biogas 4.3.2.6 Modelling of the digestate treatment unit 4.3.3 Process simulation 4.4 Summary 5 An optimization model of future German electricity production from biogas 5.1 A general introduction to optimization models 5.2 General objective and methodology 5.3 Objective and structure of the optimization model 5.4 Summary 6 Model input data determination 6.1 System boundaries 6.2 Overview of the required input data for the simulation and the optimization models 6.2.1 Substrate and process definition 6.2.2 Operator models, plant operating hours and flexibility 6.2.3 Techno-economic input data 6.2.4 General methodology for the model input data determination 6.3 Estimation of existing biogas plant capacity 6.4 Estimation of current biomass potentials and evolution up to 2030 6.4.1 Estimation of current biomass potentials for electricity generation 6.4.2 Evolution of biomass potentials for electricity generation up to 2030 6.5 Specific investment-related costs 6.5.1 Total capital investment estimation 6.5.2 Additional investment 6.6 Specific operating costs 6.6.1 Energy crop costs estimation and forecast 6.6.1.1 General employed methodology 6.6.1.2 Estimation of regional mass flows for each feedstock type and in each region 6.6.1.3 Maize silage costs calculation 6.6.1.4 Grass silage costs calculation 6.6.1.5 Cereal grains costs calculation 6.6.1.6 Cereal silage costs calculation 6.6.1.7 Estimation of the energy crop costs for the base year 2013 6.6.1.8 Estimation of electrical yields 6.6.1.9 Estimation of the energy crop costs contribution in the total electricity production costs from biogas 6.6.1.10 Energy crop costs forecast up to the year 2030 6.6.2 Biomass feedstock transport costs 6.6.2.1 Energy crops transport costs 6.6.2.2 Manure transport costs 6.6.2.3 Biowaste transport costs 6.6.3 Other operating costs 6.7 Revenues estimation and forecast 6.7.1 Revenues from electricity sale 6.7.2 Flexibility premium and supplement 6.7.3 Revenues from heat sale 6.7.4 Revenues from digestate sale 6.7.5 Revenues from biowaste valorization 6.8 Model input data uncertainties and plausibility 6.9 Summary 7 Model-based analysis of current electricity production from biogas in Germany 7.1 Costs and revenues functions 7.2 Identification of most profitable plant sizes 7.2.1 Results under the EEG 2012 framework 7.2.2 Results under the EEG 2014 framework 7.3 Costs and revenues structure 7.3.1 Energy crops and manure plants 7.3.2 Energy crops plants 7.3.3 Biowaste plants 7.4 Sensitivity analysis 7.4.1 Sensitivity analysis for energy crops and manure plants 7.4.2 Sensitivity analysis for energy crops plants 7.4.3 Sensitivity analysis for biowaste plants 7.5 Technical assessment 7.6 Discussion of methodology and results 7.6.1 Methodology 7.6.2 Validation and critique of results 7.7 Model outcomes evaluation 7.7.1 Policy recommendations 7.7.2 Strategic outcomes 7.8 Summary 8 Model-based analysis of future electricity production from biogas in Germany 8.1 Model results analysis in base scenario 8.1.1 Results at the Federal State level 8.1.2 Results for energy crops and manure plants 8.1.3 Results for biowaste plants 8.1.4 Results for energy crops plants 8.2 Results under other scenarios 8.3 Discussion of methodology and results 8.3.1 Methodology 8.3.2 Validation and critique of results 8.4 Model outcomes evaluation 8.4.1 Policy recommendations 8.4.2 Strategic outcomes 8.5 Summary 9 Transferability of the developed methodology 9.1 Biomethane injection in France 9.1.1 Current situation and lessons learned 9.1.2 Methodology transferability: drivers and challenges for a future model implementation 9.2 Biomass combustion for district heating in Finland 9.2.1 Current situation and lessons learned 9.2.2 Methodology transferability: drivers and challenges for a future model implementation 9.3 Bioethanol for transportation in Brazil 9.3.1 Current situation and lessons learned 9.3.2 Methodology transferability: drivers and challenges for a future model implementation 9.4 Biodiesel production from jatropha in Indonesia 9.4.1 Current situation and lessons learned 9.4.2 Methodology transferability: drivers and challenges for a future model implementation 9.5 Summary 10 Summary, conclusions and outlook 10.1 Summary 10.2 Conclusions 10.3 Outlook Appendix Bibliography