BIOGAS CAN DO IT - Fachverband Biogas e.V.

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THE BASICS OF BIOGAS
GAS AND ELECTRICITY YIELDS:
1 cubic metre (m³) biogas =
50 to 75 per cent methane
30 to 50 per cent carbon dioxide + other gases
5.0 to 7.5 kWh total energy
1 m³ biogas =
1.5 to 3 kWh electricity
1 hectare silage maize =
7,800 to 10,000 m³ biogas =
16,000 to 18,000 kWh electricity =
electricity for 4.5 to 5 homes
10 to 20 m³ digestion volume
1 tonne (t) silage maize = 0.8 t
fermentation product
1 head of cattle =
20 m³ liquid manure a year =
650 m³ biogas/year=
0.15 kW permanent electric output
(or conversely: Manure of 700 head of cattle is
needed for 100 kW)
An average 190 kW el. biogas plant supplies
450 homes with electricity and about 30
homes with heat. This avoids, on average, 650
tonnes of CO 2 and 20,000 kilograms of mineral
fertilizer.
INVESTMENT:
Depending on plant size:
4,000 to 7,000 euros per kWel. Investment for a 190-kW biogas plant, on
el.
average: 900,000 euros
SPECIFICATIONS:
Cogeneration unit efficiency
Electricity: 35 to 45 per cent
Heat: 35 to 60 per cent
Total: about 85 per cent
Average hours of operation of a
biogas plant
7,500 to 8,500 hours a year
Electricity consumption of the
biogas plant
5 to 10 per cent
Heat consumption of the biogas plant
20 to 35 per cent
Average plant size
390 kWel. Working time input in the operation of a
biogas plant
3 to 7 man-hours per kW per year
el.