Key Points

There are hundreds of biogas plants in Germany and Austria utilising a wide variety of feedstock materials. This project seeks to take that experience and know-how, modify it to fit local circumstances and utilise it to promote this extremely valuable low-carbon technology.

The project restricts itself to the deliberate generation of methane from controlled anaerobic digestion and therefore precludes the exploitation of landfill gas from its remit. There are, however, a growing number of designs and processes for anaerobic digestion plant and this project seeks to exploit the best available in each circumstance.

Biogas Regions

Background

Biogas Regions is a three year project, supported by Intelligent Energy Europe, which seeks to promote biogas (anaerobic digestion) technology and identify and, if possible, remove barriers to its implementation in seven regions of Europe.

Aims

Taking inspiration, knowledge and experience from project partners in Germany and Austria and using it to accelerate implementation of this technology in less developed partner regions. For the purposes of this project the UK region is Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Monmouthshire and Powys.

Through a combination of measures that includes training, the provision of advice, promotion activity, study tours, investment preparation and know-how transfer, to see new biogas plant established in the partner regions.

Activities

The project will run from November 2007 through to October 2010 and an Advisory Committee will oversee its implementation in the chosen UK region. SWEA will work in association with others that have an interest in any aspect of the technology and this will include potential developers, farmers, waste producers and managers (including local authorities), waste regulators, universities and financial institutions.

The project will provide training, study tour opportunities, seminars and other awareness raising activity and will seek to promote the value of biogas technology at every opportunity. There will be written material available as the project develops.

It is intended that potential development projects will be identified, analysed through a series of checks and the most promising helped towards implementation. It is clearly important that the project identifies barriers to implementation in the UK context and seeks to remove them where this is feasible and desirable.

Do you want to know whether biogas is a suitable technology for your circumstances?

A "Quick Check Tool" has been developed and made available as part of the project. It can be used to make early assessments of an outline AD project and will give a rough guide as to whether a scheme is worth pursuing. Read all of the notes before starting the process of completing the spreadsheet scoring system. Note the different thresholds for schemes depending upon whether or not agricultural materials are used. It is recommended that UK projects do not use the "knock-out" test at the front of this tool - an alternative version for England and Wales has been written.

The Biogas Calculator (Opportunity Study Tool) is available as a download from the web site of the German Partner to Biogas Regions.

Note: The tool should be used with caution and not before checking that the adjustable settings are appropriate to your circumstances and the current UK financial incentive arrangements.

Suppliers Directory

SWEA has developed a directory of suppliers for biogas consultancy and advice type services as well as equipment and plant manufacturers and suppliers. The directory has been compiled following an open invitation and there is no element of recommendation attached to the names within it. We never-the-less hope that you may find it to be of value. If you supply such services and would your details to be included then please contact SWEA and we will arrange for this to happen. To access the directory see the list of documents below.

Study Tour to Austria

15 people from varying backgrounds and several parts of Wales and the South West of England took part in the Biogas Regions study tour to three biogas plants close to Vienna, Austria. Between them, the three plants generate electricity, heat homes and other buildings, feed gas into the grid and provide compressed bio-methane as a vehicle fuel. Photos from the tour are available.

Biogas Brochure

A brochure has been produced that should aid decision-makers and the public understand the basics of the anaerobic digestion process and biogas plants. It would be particularly useful for those who are faced with a planning application for a biogas plant and are unfamiliar with the technology. It is freely available in hard copy from SWEA or as a free download from the list of documents below.

Documents

Biogas Regions England and Wales Newsletter

Spring 2008	Summer 2008	Autumn 2008	Spring 2009	Summer 2009
Christmas 2009	Spring 2010	Summer 2010	Autumn 2010

Advisory Group Meeting Minutes

February 2008	July 2008	October 2008	February 2009	October 2009
April 2010

New CLA Hand Book

The Country Land & Business Association has produced a really useful guide for anyone thinking of developing a biogas plant. It is packed full of useful and up-to-date information and references, and includes some very helpful case studies.
>> Download the flyer describing the handbook, which can be ordered from the CLA direct.

The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

Coordinator

Andy Bull - Head of SWEA CYMRU

	andy
	01982 551006

Related Projects

BioNETT

Cardiff City Hall

SWEA and the Biogas Regions project were joint sponsors of an event in Cardiff City Hall on Nov 11th - along with the Welsh Local Government Association and the Wales Centre of Excellence for AD at the University of Glamorgan. The core of the day consisted of various AD plant suppliers explaining their systems with the aid of case studies. All of the presentations from the conference are available from this site.

Project Partners

Rhonalpenergie-Environment (RAEE) - Project Co-ordinator - France

WFG Schwabisch Hall - Experienced partner - Germany

Landesenergieverein Steiermark - Experienced Partner - Austria

Ente Regional de la Energia de Castilla y Leon - Spain

Malopolska Regional Energy Agency - Poland

Centre Wallon de Recherches Agronomiques - Belgium

Regione Abruzzo - Italy

Agricultural Institute of Slovenia - Slovenia

Severn Wye Energy Agency - UK

European Federation of Regional Energy and Environment Agencies

Severn Wye Energy Agency

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