Regional Biogas Development Strategy and Action Plan - Tartu

“methane tax”. Development of the biogas sector would facilitate a diversification of the
economies of rural regions in offering agricultural producers new sources of income by planting
energy crops, which could be fertilized by fermentation residue from biogas production. In
addition to this, biogas production would also enable a more widespread use of extant crops
together with planting of new classes of energy production specific crops.
The impact of biogas on regional policy is associated with its acting as a catalyst for
developing micro networks connecting small municipalities which should diminish heating costs
and provide an additional source of employment in rural regions. The development of biogas
production can thereby serve as a positive factor in creating a more amiable living environment,
which in turn should result in increasing competitiveness (i.e. solving the odour problem,
creating a better cultivated countryside, etc). Biogas can also be produced by bio energy
cooperatives, which carry several additional benefits such as increased community cohesion,
autonomous energy production, resulting in increased disposable incomes for small households,
etc.
The impact of biogas production on economic policy lies primarily in its advantageous effects
on rural production, agriculture, construction, employment prospects, investments and fostering
entrepreneurship.
1.3 Biogas production technology
Biogas production technological solutions depends on substrates. Quantity of substrates
determines technical equipment volumetric dimensions and dimensions of the digester. Substrate
quality (dry matter content, structure, origin) is largely determined by the technology used in the
construction of biogas plants.
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