Perspectives of large scale biogas plants in Germany

Perspectives of large scale biogas plants in 

Germany 

Kiel, 10 February 2009 

Dr. Christian Böse

Content 

• Introduction of E.ON Bioerdgas GmbH 

• Advantages of biomethane production 

• Actual status of biomethane production in Germany 

• Future potential for biomethane production 

• Prospects

Content 





• Prospects

E.ON Bioerdgas within the E.ON Group Structure 

Central Europe MU 

E.ON Energie AG, 

Munich 

Pan-European Gas MU 

E.ON Ruhrgas AG, 

Essen 

Italy MU 

E.ON Italia, 

Milan 

Russia MU 

E.ON Russia Power, 

Moscow 

Corporate Center 

E.ON AG, 

Düsseldorf 

U.K. MU 

E.ON UK plc, 

Coventry 

Nordic MU 

E.ON Nordic AB, 

Malmö 

Spain MU 

E.ON España, 

Madrid 

U.S. Midwest MU 

E.ON U.S. LLC, 

Louisville 

Climate & Renewables MU 

E.ON Climate & Renewables GmbH, 

Düsseldorf 

Energy Trading MU 

E.ON Energy Trading AG 

Düsseldorf

Our targets: 

• Support reaching the political objectives of German Government and EU 

regarding shares of bioenergy in 2020 and 2030. 

• Provide an increasing share of biomethane in the overall consumption of 

natural gas. 

• Implement most efficient technologies for decreasing green house gas 

emissions (at least 50% compared to natural gas). 

• Provide additional income and work opportunities in rural areas. 

• Leadership in the sustainable production of biomethane: 

• Cross-compliance and good agricultural practice for biomass production, 

• Lowest GHG emissions in biomethane production, 

• Sound integration of biomethane production into the local economic, 

agricultural and social framework.

E.ON is entering into significant bio-energy investments: 

E.ON Biomethane plant Schwandorf 

E.ON Biomethane plant Einbeck

Content 





• Prospects

Why biomethane? 

1. Generation 

biogas 

(local CHPs) 

2. Generation 

biomethane 

(purification + feeding in) 

biomethane 

gas pipe 

CHP 

upgrading 

N E W 

electricity (CHP) 

heat 

fuel 

biogas plant 

• few locations with full 

heat utilisation 

• optimised heat utilisation 

• new products 

• demand from customers

natural gas ● biogas ● biomethane 

• natural gas = 

fossil biogas 

• biogas = gas mix derived from biomass, 

either by fermentation or by gasification. 

Fermentation biogas: Gasification biogas: 

50-65% CH 4 50% N2 

30-45% CO 2 18% CO 

14% CO2 

15% H2 

2% CH4 

• biomethane = refined biogas 

(bio-SNG) of natural gas quality (CH 4 > 95%); 

can be fed into gas distribution networks

Advantages of biomethane 

• biomethane is dispatchable 

• biomethane can be stored 

• biomethane is available 24 hours, 365 days 

• closed circle – regional focus: 

biomass from fields → residue as fertiliser back onto fields 

• corn, sugar beet have higher yields / ha than short rotation coppice 

• biomethane has highest fuel yields / ha 

• Fast productivity improvements in technology and feedstock production

Biomethane – the most efficient biofuel 

23 100 km 

biodiesel (RME) 

1550 liter * 

farm area needed 

for a drive of 100,000 km 

4,3 ha 

23 100 km 

bioethanol 

2560 liter * 

4,3 ha 

61 100 km 

67 200 km 

BTL (Sunfuel) 

4030 liter * 

biomethane 

3560 kg * 

1,64 ha 

1,49 ha 

* Source: Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe

iomethane – CO 2 

-emissions 

positive climate balance for professional large-scale plants 

350 

300 

old small scale Plants 

Industrial Plants 

(Type Schwandorf) 

Natural Gas 

250 

Biomass production 

Biogas production 

235 

g CO2 Äq./ kWh 

200 

150 

Upgrading 

132 128 112 

A 

-50% reduction 

100 

50 

0 

PSA Aminwäsche Aminwäsche PSA 

regenerativ 

Aminwäsche 

regenerativ 

Source : ifeu Heidelberg, Januar 2008

Content 





• Prospects

Biogas plants in Germany since 1992 

Number of plants 

End 2007: 9 Mrd. kWh/a electricity 

Power output in MW el 

new feed-in tariffs in 2004 

Source: Fachverband Biogas

Status Quo of Bio-methane production in Germany 

Quelle: Energie und Management 

Total: End 2008: 500 Mio kWh/a

Current (2008) and planned (2009) Biomethane plants in 

Germany 

Source: top agrar

Feedstocks 

• Most biomethane plants in Germany run 

on energy crops and manure, 

• Range of energy crops used is 

broadening (increasing share of triticalesilage 

and grass), 

• Organic bio-waste is often available at 

relatively low cost, but requires 

additional technical installation for 

feedstock treatment prior to the biogas 

production, 

• Potential of organic bio-waste is limited, 

• Use of non-agricultural raw materials,

Content 





• Prospects

Policy Objectives for bio-methane production in Germany 

• Federal Government Objectives: 

• Out of 100 Mrd. m³ annual use of natural gas in Germany bio-methane 

shall contribute: 

• by 2020: 6 Mrd. m³ = ca. 60 Mrd. kWh 

• Assumption: 

1/3 from by-products and waste 

2/3 from energy crops:= ca. 40 Mio. t energy crops = ca. 0,8 - 1 Mio. 

ha agricultural land 

about 500 Schwandorf-type or 1.000 Einbeck-Type plants would 

be needed.

Policy Objectives for biomethane production in Germany 

• Federal Government Objectives: 

• Out of 100 Mrd. m³ annual use of natural gas in Germany bio-methane 

shall contribute: 

• by 2030: 10 Mrd. m³ = ca. 100 Mrd. kWh 

• Assumption: 

1/3 from by-products and waste 

2/3 from energy crops:= ca. 66 Mio. t energy crops = ca. 1 – 1.2 Mio. 

ha agricultural land 

about 800 Schwandorf-type or 1,600 Einbeck-type plants would 

be needed.

Potential for Biogas production in Germany 

1 Mrd. kWh = ca. 1.000.000 t Mais Silage = ca. 20.000ha = ca. 12 Schwandorf Plants 

Source: BGW/DVGW-Studie (2006)

Potential for Biogas production in EU 27 

1 Mrd. kWh = ca. 1.000.000 t Silomais = ca. 20.000ha 

Source: EEA, www.biogaspartner.de

Content 





• Prospects

Prospects 

• Large Scale Biogas Plants (electricity production): 

• Actual legal basis supports small scale plants. 

Therefore only a limited number of large scale plants (of a size of 

above 2 MWel) will be established, 

There may be a (slow) increase in medium sized plants (with sizes of 

about 1 MW el). 

• Large Scale Biomethane plants: 

• A clear political commitment from the government side for 

significantly increasing biomethane production, 

• A significant potential for agricultural biomass production exists, 

• Reaching political targets would require significant investments,

Prospects 

• Critical factors for future development of large scale biogas and biomethane 

production: 

• Developments of agricultural and food markets. 

Bioenergy was attributed a huge share in rising of food prices in 

2007/08. 

Actual developments proof that bioenergy was one of a broad range 

of factors. 

• Financial Crisis and sufficient resources for investments. 

Reaching the Governments objective of 60 Mrd. kWh biomethane by 

2020 would require roughly 10 Mrd. Euro investments. 

Reaching the Governments objective of 100 Mrd. kWh biomethane 

by 2020 would require roughly 15 Mrd. Euro investments. 

• Developments of energy market and prices.

Prospects 

• Critical factors for future development of large scale biogas and biomethane 

production: 

• sufficient number of plant-locations: 

a location for a biomethane plant must meet several criteria: 

• At least 4 – 6 ha (depending on plant size) within an industrial 

• Close distance to an adequate gas grid, 

• Sufficient agricultural area within 10 – 15 km distance from the 

plant, 

• Acceptance of biogas production by the local authorities and 

inhabitants. 

• regulative and political framework: 

future changes in the German and EU regulative framework will 

have an impact on biogas production.

Contacts: 

Dr. Christian Böse 

Head of Feedstock Management 

Tel: +49 (201) 184 – 7649 

Mobil: +49 175 2288045 

Fax: +49 (201) 184 - 7837 

E-Mail: christian.boese@eon-ruhrgas.com 

E.ON Bioerdgas GmbH 

Ruhrallee 307 

45136 Essen

Perspectives of large scale biogas plants in Germany

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