Operating Performance of Full-Scale Agricultural Biogas Plants in Germany and China: Results of a Year-Round Monitoring Program
Source abstract
Abstract
Germany (DE) and China (CN) have different political approaches in supporting the biogas sector. Three German and three Chinese large-scale biogas plants (BGPs) were evaluated as part of a year-round monitoring program. Laboratory methods were utilized to analyze the chemical indicators. Results showed a stable anaerobic digestion process without system failures in all BGPs. The methane yield had a range of 0.23–0.35 m3CH4/kgODM for DE BGPs and 0.11–0.22 m3CH4/kgODM for CN BGPs, due to different substrates and working temperatures. Financial analyses indicated that DE BGPs are viable under their current feed-in tariffs contracts. Their financial internal rate of return (IRR) ranged between 8 and 22%. However, all CN BGPs had negative IRRs, indicating that they are financially unfeasible. Risk analyses illustrated that DE BGPs will face financial nonviability if benefits decrease by 9–33% or costs increase by 10–49%, or if a combined worse case (benefit decrease and cost increase) of 5–20% occurs. Incentives to BGP operations are particularly important in China, where the government should consider switching the construction-based subsidy to a performance-based subsidy system to motivate the operators. BGP monitoring is necessary to understand the performance, in addition to briefing policymakers in case a policy reform is needed.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production · Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal · Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnology, ZHAW School of Life Sciences and Facility Management, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
Institute of Farm Management (410b), University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Tropics and Subtropics Group (440e), Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Funding
Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe
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