Global Biogas Status, Challenges and Opportunities An Overview. Olivier Dubois, FAO GBEP Bioenergy Week Buenos Aires, October 2018

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1 Global Biogas Status, Challenges and Opportunities An Overview Olivier Dubois, FAO GBEP Bioenergy Week Buenos Aires, October 2018

2 Different Uses of Biogas - Old and New

3 Global Biogas Status: 1,27 EJ Source: WBA 2017

4 Global Trends in Biogas Production Huge global increase x4 in the last 15 years from around 300 PJ in 2000 to PJ in 2014 In Asia x7 China up by 16% between 2014 and 2015 Global potential could be as much as 6% of global primary energy supply ¼ of current consumption of fossil gas (WBA, 2016) Still only a fraction of biogas potential is currently exploited e.g. <15% in Europe, <5% in Asia

5 Importance of Biogas in Global Energy Consumption Source: WBA 2016

6 The Importance of Biogas in Global Energy Consumption is Very Small

7 Underexploited Biogas Potential Despite Tremendous Efforts and Support Example: China * Household * Large scale Less than 25% of potential rural households have biogas (Tong et al, 2015) Recent trends in large scale livestock farms and those with Biogas China -Tong et al, 2015

8 Household biogas constraints and advantages

9 Evolution of Small-scale versus Medium-to -Large scale Biogas e.g. in China Xiaojiao et al, 2016

10 Some Challenges for Larger Biogas Systems (i) Feedstock supply Ensure enough supply of good and affordable feedstock In urban areas, a lot of feedstock but scattered so logistical challenges In rural areas, need to concentrate source of feedstock and therefore need for big, knowledge intensive and costly farms + manage higher risks of pollution than for small-scale farms How to manage huge amounts of waste maybe more middle-size units better

11 Some Challenges for Larger Biogas Systems (con t) (ii) Digester operations Issue Interference between different types of bacteria Control of medium conditions bearing in mind different types of feedstocks Address different digestion speeds for different material Possible solution Separate operations using different types of bacteria Co-digestion of nitrogen-rich (animal manure) and carbon-rich materials (crop residues) Pretreat more difficult material to ease its digestion All this requires more knowledge and money for R&D

12 Some Challenges for Larger Biogas Systems (ii) Applications of Biogas Issue Transportation costs (biogas and slurry) Alternatives to household use of biogas where households have access to electricity/natural gas Important CO2 emissions from biogas production Possible solutions Biogas users need to be close to the plant but not always wanted or feasible - maybe more middle-size units Examples Post-harvest operations (cold chain, drying) Transport issue Electricity generation ( incl. CHP) Upgraded biogas for transportation (EU and increasingly Asia but this is expensive Use CO2 - for instance to grow algae that can be used to produce biomaterial and/or bioenergy

13 Some Challenges for Larger Biogas Systems (ii) Applications of Biogas Issue Possible solutions High operational costs Farmers as shareholders e.g. Hainan Province, China Combine with other types of RE Biorefinery: The same company produces biogas + other types of bioenergy + biomaterials High in knowledge and investment Competition with other types of RE Consider also co-benefits of biogas compared to those of other types of RE (e.g. bio-fertiliser) Low prices of fossil fuel Solutions are outside the biogas sector Like for households, high dependency on government support to make it work, at least at the beginning of the operation

14 What Size for Biogas Operations? Challenges and opportunities with all sizes All sizes can coexist - it depends on local conditions (e.g. energy needs and supply, available feedstocks, stage of agricultural development, degree of urbanization). Perhaps: Household scale in remote areas Others elsewhere Several middle-scale instead of one large scale to reduce waste pollution risks and reduce transport costs What matters is that biogas benefits are realized for people and the environment

15 Key factors for the success of bioenergy projects, including biogas Adapted to local circumstances and needs Feedstock supply Consistency and quality supply (quality and quantity) Clarity and agreement on costs Use of bioenergy/biogas Clarity on possible applications their challenges and opportunities Clarity/agreement on costs and sales price of bioenergy/biogas and by products throughout the value chain and related markets maybe government as referee Adequate communication between and inclusive decision making process by relevant stakeholders in the value chain Supporting policies and regulations

16 Concluding Remarks A lot of good biogas but there is a huge potential to produce a lot more There are challenges and opportunities with all types of biogas systems Different types of biogas systems can co-exist the choice should be made according to local circumstances and involve all relevant stakeholders of the biogas value chain

17 Concluding Remarks (con t) It is interesting to consider biogas in combination with other types of bioenergy and/or other types of renewable energy the use of biogas by-products FAO has quite some experience on sustainable bioenergy/biogas, and is ready to provide more support to sustainable biogas development

18 Thank you for your attention