Biogas Safety first!

Foreword
For the operation of biogas plants to be sustainable, efficient
and reliable, safety is a matter of crucial importance.
Biogas is classified as a highly flammable mixture of gases that can be harmful to
health when inhaled because of its toxic constituents. The process engineering systems
used in biogas plants can be highly complex. Given such many and varied hazards,
it is extremely important to have fundamental protective measures in place
in order to keep the risks from biogas plants for people and the environment to an
absolute minimum.
These Safety Guidelines for biogas plants provide a comprehensive description of
the issue of safety in biogas plants and point to various forms of practical assistance,
based to a large extent on the recommendations of the Technical Information 4 of the
Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG). The Safety Guidelines
therefore constitute an essential source of information for everyone involved
in the planning, construction, operation, maintenance and testing of biogas plants. In
addition, this publication – which came into being in cooperation with the Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH – is meant to provide a
basis for policy-makers to develop possible national frameworks and safety standards.
The Guidelines focus on biogas plants in the medium and large size segments. Micro
plants and domestic biogas plants are not discussed in detail in this publication.
Apart from raising awareness of the issue of safety, the aim of this brochure is also to
present proposals for internationally applicable safety requirements for biogas plants.
Attention is primarily directed at occupational health and safety, in other words the
protection of operators, employees and other individuals (third parties).
The Guidelines are basically divided into two main sections: general requirements,
covering important topics such as the various dangers and hazards presented by a
biogas plant, and specific requirements, such as those applying to parts and components
of a biogas plant. Furthermore, requirements for biomethane production are
also mentioned. In the final section, the German Biogas Association gives advice on
the development of standards for biogas safety.
Biogas has many advantages – it is decentralised, climate-friendly and reliable – and
is a safe form of energy, provided that certain rules are observed. Through this publication,
the German Biogas Association and GIZ hope to play a part in helping the
wide-ranging experience gained with this topic in Germany be put to use in advancing
the issue of safety in biogas plants on international markets.
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