The wide range of biogas solutions is an enormous strength, but also involves a complexity that can be difficult to grasp and manage in different contexts.
“The debate is often narrow, with a focus on phasing out fossil fuels, for example. But biogas solutions have an impact across society, contributing not only to renewable energy, but also to wastewater treatment, waste management, digestion of livestock manure and to more sustainable agriculture,” says Jonas Ammenberg, senior associate professor at Linköping University.
International cooperation
The report includes a comprehensive literature review, made largely by researchers at the Biogas Solutions Research Center at Linköping University. It was produced within the framework of the IEA Bioenergy Task 37, an international cooperation programme with representatives from different countries. Jonas Ammenberg is appointed by the Swedish Energy Agency as Sweden’s representative.
53 sustainability effects
In their study, the researchers identify 53 sustainability effects linked to different biogas solutions, across five areas of society:
- Waste and wastewater treatment
- Agriculture and rural areas
- Use of digestate/bio-manure
- Energy and climate
- Society at large
Different countries
Experts from five different countries describe the relevance of biogas systems and sustainability effects in their respective countries (France, Norway, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland). The report also presents lessons learned from some studies in Europe that have estimated the economic value of biogas solutions. Biogas systems are very valuable socio-economically.
“These studies emphasise that biogas systems are very valuable in a socio-economic context, but that biogas operators are primarily paid for the renewable gas and not for other products or added value to a reasonable extent.
The UN’s sustainability goals
Jonas Ammenberg stresses the importance of multi-functionality when it comes to biogas solutions. Methods such as multi-criteria analysis (MCA) enable more relevant and fair comparison between different systems and technical alternatives. Swedish studies in the transport sector show, for example, that biogas systems can contribute positively to many of the national environmental goals, as well as the UN’s sustainability goals.
“The multi-functionality of biogas solutions makes them highly competitive from a socio-economic perspective, compared to both non-renewable and other renewable alternatives. However, since there is no technology or energy carrier that solves all needs, it’s important to focus on how different alternatives are best combined in terms of resource efficiency.”
Not realistic
“Electrification of the entire transport sector, for example, is neither realistic nor the best option in terms of sustainable development,” says Jonas Ammenberg.
What about the electrification of buses, for example?
“Electrifying buses that run in city centres could be a smart thing to do, to benefit from lower noise levels and less local emissions. But in terms of sustainable development, it’s reasonable in many contexts to keep buses powered by biogas (biomethane) in less densely populated areas, such as regional traffic. At higher speeds, electric buses generate about the same amount of noise as internal combustion engine buses.”
