PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Climate change is a threat to our global environment and one of the greatest challenges we are facing. The EU has set ambitious goals to meet its climate change objectives, including a 20% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a 20% share of energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Biogas is seen as a particularly important and useful area of investigation for achieving these goals. Sustainably-produced biogas can be used as vehicle fuel, replacing fossil fuels and substantially reducing CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the very processes used to produce biogas from organic waste capture the natural emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from degeneration of organic materials. Finally, the by-product of biogas production - digestate - can be used as a bio-fertiliser, reducing the demand for chemical fertilisers.
Sweden´s biogas development has been relatively successful, notably regarding the use of bio-methane (BM) as a vehicle fuel. Current biogas production in Sweden is 1.5 TWh. However, the full potential of biogas production from waste-based substrates is 15 TWh (74 TWh including forest) and more recent development of the sector has not been strong. BM production has not been able to match growing demand, reducing the likelihood of the market turning away from fossil-fuel alternatives on a long-term basis.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE BIOGAS XPOSE project aimed to foster the development of BM as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. It would evaluate different forms of waste to identify the most efficient means for obtaining biogas. It thus aimed to demonstrate how BM can substantially contribute to the 2020 targets of reduced GHG emissions, increase renewable fuels, energy efficiency and resource efficiency.
The project would work to maximise the extraction of biogas from already used waste streams by testing new technologies. Processes such as dry fermentation, methanation of syngas and small-scale upgrading would be tested as potential means for increasing BM production. In addition, new substrates – such as horse manure and sewage sludge - would be examined as potential sources for biogas extraction.
The project would address issues throughout the entire biogas cycle. These would include optimising systems of logistics for harnessing and valorising biomass, such as maximising the collection of regional waste resources. All actions would be implemented in the region of Öst, which would see its BM production increased and serve as a benchmark in this field for other regions in Europe.
RESULTS
The LIFE BIOGAS XPOSE project team implemented two new technologies - gasification and small-scale upgrading – to maximise biogas potential in Sweden.
The team tested new substrates for biogas extraction (used as a fuel in the gasification process), and established stronger regional cooperation in the field of bio-methane. They constructed a small-scale upgrading facility, and increased knowledge about gasification, bi-methane and CNG (compressed natural gas) production.
As a result of these main project results, a series of indirect results was achieved:
- Two new possible biogas producers identified in the region of Sörmland.
- A public transport company is considering prioritising biogas as fuel for their regional fleet.
- Region Örebro will prioritise biogas as a fuel in their public transport.
- Biogas is now one of the primary fuels in Uppsala municipality’s own vehicles.
- The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the region was approximately 334 000 tonnes, due to the replacement of fossil fuels in the transportation sector.
- The production of biogas increased by 724 GWh in the region.
- Bio-methane accounted for 1.83% of the region’s fuels.
Bio-methane has been a big success as a fuel in public transport. By 2017, over 25% of such transport was fuelled by bio-methane in the project’s Biogas Öst demonstration region in Sweden.
The project team organised (or co-organised) 16 events, which attracted around 830 participants. Of these, 4 were international events. Project representatives participated in over 25 events, 7 of which were international in nature.
A series of study visits were organised to the project’s demonstration sites. Over 100 people visited the small-scale upgrade facility in Uppsala; many people visited Cortus Energy in Köping; and 6 545 people visited Vafab.
At least 15 articles have been published about the project or its results. The project team also launched a website, and produced a range of information materials.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
