Biogas as motor fuel in Estonia - Baltic Biogas Bus project

Biogas as motor fuel in Estonia
BIOGAS AS MOTOR FUEL
Walbrzych
03.07.2012

Estonia
Population: 1 300 000
Area: ca 45 000 km2

Biofuels
Situation in Estonia
Mandatory targets set by the EU Directive
on the Promotion of the use of energy from
renewable sources:
At least 10% share of renewable energy in
final consumption of energy in transport by
2020.
Excise tax exemption for biogas only.
Estonia’s National Renewable Energy Action
Plan set’s a 2020 target : at least 10
percent share of bio-fuels of final energy
consumption in transport sector.
The share of biofuels in transport in
Estonia is amounted to 1.76%.

Biomethane in Estonia
Situation in 2012 - no biomethane in the market
The current CNG price (0.779 €/kg) doesn’t support it yet, but
the Government of Estonia is considering to adopt some
support mechanisms to promote biomethane used in transport.
The 60% of annual biomethane applicable potential forms 25%
of annual diesel consumption or 39% annual petrol consumption.
The number of NGVs has increased from 4 in 2009 to 200 in
2012
The number of public refuelling station increased from zero
(2009) to 2 (2011).

Usage of methane fuels in
Estonia (m3/year)
Tartu
Tallinn
Estonia

Biogas plants in Estonia

Production of biogas in
Estonia
Landfills
Manure
Sewage sludge

Gas filling stations in
Estonia

Today:
5 buses in Tartu City
2 buses in Tallinn Airport
In the near future (end of 2012):
7 buses in Pärnu City
6 buses in Narva City
Gas buses in Estonia

Estonian biogas potential
Estonia adopted National Renewable Energy Action Plan in 2010, which states that the
share of renewable energy has to increase to 10% of the gross final consumption of
energy in transport sector by 2020 in Estonia. The share of biofuels used in transport
has to increase 92 times, from 1 ktoe to 92 ktoe.
The total annual theoretical biogas production is 1322 million Nm³ and total annually
applicable biogas is 502 million Nm³.
The annual biomethane (98% CH4) production from applicable biogas amount is 301
million Nm³, which is more than one third of Estonian annual natural gas
consumption, 702 million Nm³. There could be 100-200 biogas plants in Estonia.

Potential of biogas and
biomethane in Estonia

Biogas strategy and action
plan
By Ministry of Communication and Economic
Affairs was initiated in the spring of 2011 a
working group tasked with developing
proposals for the introduction of biogas in the
transport system in Estonia.
Working group comprised a representative of
the Baltic Biogas Bus project.
The working group's proposals were
overhanded to representatives of the
Ministry of Communication and Economic
Affairs on 04.06.2012.
The proposals aim is to achieve a situation by
2020 in forming biofuels (biogas) at least 10%
of fuel used in Estonia's transport system.

Solutions. Decisions in National level.
Biogas as motor fuel
Green electricity & electric cars
Blending of petrol and diesel (10%)

Situation in public transport
Number of bus lines: 25
Buses in daily use: 50
(5 CNG and 45 diesel buses)
Responsible organisation:
Department of Communal
Services of Tartu City
Government
No biogas in the market today
Estimated consumption of
biomethane in the future:
2 300 000 m3/year

Targets set by Tartu City transport development
plan 2012-2020. Long term policy.
Increasing the role of public
transport
Increasing the number of buses
running on the gas. At least 50%
(hopefully 100%) of bus fleet will
be gasbuses from 2017-2018
Introduction of biogas in the
city buses

Situation in biogas production and
-infrastructure in Tartu
Under construction is a biogas
plant in Tartu water company
(estimated production : 140
m3/h)
Established pipes for gas in
Aardlapalu landfill (estimated
production: 500 m3/h)
1 filling station (CNG)
No bus depot for biogas buses
Established good contacts with
gas companies - Eesti Gaas,
Gasum, Gaasienergia

Biogas from city area
The city of Tartu is looking at ways to use Aardlapalu landfill gas
for city buses
If all (50) buses in Tartu public transport would use biomethane
the needed amount would be about 2 300 000 m3/year.
From municipal and industrial biowastes (including sewage sludge)
collected from city area we will get about 1 500 000 m3 of biogas
per year = about 800 000 m3 biomethane/year.
Biogas from landfill - about 1 800 000 m3 biomethane/year.
Tartu city is able to cover from resources available in the city
territory 100% of biomethane necessary to fuel city buses.

Conclusions
It is convenient to take in use natural gas
and natural gas infrastructure and later
switch to biogas.
State and local governments should be
initiators and pioneers.
It is important to use all resources we
have , espcially wastes. There are a great
positive socio-economical and
environmental impacts.
To do outreach work in national level
(Government, Parliament) to ensure a
support and lower taxation on biogas and
natural gas.

Thank you!
Baltic Biogas Bus Project
2009–2012
Jaanus Tamm
project manager
Tartu City Government