Brussels, 24/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - According to the latest EurObserv'ER barometer, biogas production in 2006 was up 13.6% compared to 2005 (i.e. 5 346.7 ktoe). This figure only includes production intended to be valorised and therefore does not include biogas burned off in flare stacks. Biogas is the gas produced when animal or plant organic matter ferments under unaerobic conditions. Such fermentation is also known as methanisation and naturally occurs in marshes for example, or spontaneously occurs in waste dumps containing organic waste. Fermentation is artificially brought about in digesters.
The EuroObserv'ER barometer shows that, as in 2005, the rubbish dump deposit represents the largest share of production (3116.2 ktoe). On the other hand, methanisation biogas is no longer predominantly represented by sewage purification plants, but by the “other biogas” category, which includes agricultural biogas, collective CHP (cogeneration) biogas units and biogas from the treatment of household waste. Gross electricity production from biogas is in very strong increase (+28.9%), in particular due to a considerable increase in electricity produced in CHP process installations.
In Germany, current development of primary energy from biogas is mainly achieved through the production of electricity from small agricultural methanisation units operating in CHP process. Primary energy production reached more than 1.9 Mtoe, principally valorised in the form of electricity. The United Kingdom (1.7 Mtoe in 2006) conserved its leadership in terms of primary energy production per inhabitant, i.e. 28.1 toe per 1,000 inhabitants vs. 23.3 toe per 1000 inhabitants in Germany. In France, biogas production essentially comes from rubbish dumps and sewage purification plants. However, the publication last July of new feed-in tariffs should permit creation of an agricultural methanisation sector.
Although several member states (United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg and Sweden) have made a considerable effort over recent years, this is not sufficient to reach the objectives set by the European Commission in 1997, namely 15 Mtoe in 2010. The authors of the report are counting on a total of 8.6 Mtoe in 2010. (lc)