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Biogas in Belgium, a SWOT analysis Bruno Mattheeuws. AGENDA. Federal state of Belgium Biogas-E vzw Biogas in Belgium Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Conclusions. AGENDA. Federal state of Belgium Biogas-E vzw Biogas in Belgium Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities
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Biogas in Belgium, a SWOT analysis Bruno Mattheeuws
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
Belgium • Population: 10 396 421 (2003) • Surface area: 30 528 km² • Federal capital: Brussels • Head of state: King Albert II • Prime Minister: Guy Verhofstadt • National day: 21st July • National languages: Dutch, French, German • Currency: Euro (€) • National Product: € 283,7 Billion (2004) • Annual growth rate: 2,7% (2004)
Belgium • 3-level structure • Federal state • 3 communities • 3 regions
Belgium • Energy & environment: regional matter • different vision and policy • different measures to stimulate renewable energy • Nuclear power and excises: federal matter
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
Biogas-E vzw • 2000: co-operation between a company and Technical University Kortrijk • 2000-2002: project ‘Platform for implementation of anaerobic digestion in Flanders’ • 2004-now: structural support from Flemish government Biogas-E vzw (non profit organisation)
Biogas-E vzw • Specialized in all aspects of anaerobic digestion • Legal • Technical • Subsidiary issues • Intermediary organisation between • Government, policy makers • Industry, technology • (future) owners and operators of an anaerobic digestion unit
Biogas-E vzw • Goals • Maximize the use of biogas potential present in Flanders • Increase public awareness and counteract not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) syndrome • Function as a neutral partner in projects concerning anaerobic digestion • On demand low cost advice concerning input streams, scaling, legal aspects, subsidies, yield,…
Biogas-E vzw • Tasks • Informing • Sensibilizing • Networking • Policy support • Advisory partner in projects • Important • Neutral • Independent • Focus on agriculture • Focus on energy crops, organic waste and manure
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
Biogas in Belgium • Flanders • 17 operational (16,2 MWe) • 6 being built (9,6 MWe) • Walloon • 4 operational (1 MWe) • 1 being built (2 MWe)
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
Strengths • Academic & practical knowledge • Universities • Companies • Good reputation • Knowledge is still expanding • New research aspects
Strengths • Basic technology proven and known • Easy to implement • Basis for further research in pre-treatment of biomass and post-treatment of biogas and digestate • Synergies with other technologies
Strengths • High efficiency for a wide range of non-lignin biomass • other bio fuels (specific input) • waste products of other industries • manure • energy crops
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
Weaknesses • Energy savings are only benefits considered hitherto Other policy objectives are left out (Kyoto, Nitrate directive 91/676/EEC) • Large knowledge has not been put in practice Few farm-scale digesters operational
Weaknesses • Differences between basis for green certificates between regions • Flemish region • Green certificates for every net MWh produced out of renewables • CHP certificates for every MWh primary energy saved with qualitative CHP • Walloon region • Green certificates based on CO2-ratio (CO2-emissions in renewable chain divided by CO2-emissions in classic chain • Max. 2 certificates/MWh
Weaknesses • Differences between basis for green certificates between regions • Brussels Capital region • Green certificates issued for each 217 kg CO2 reduction compared to a traditional installation • No limit on the number on certificates/MWh • Certificates can not be exchanged between regions • 4 Ministers of energy: 1 Federal + 3 regional
Weaknesses • Amount of nutrients by adding co-products Increase of nutrient problem already present in Flanders
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
Opportunities • Manure surplus in Flanders as input material • Ideal for stability in reactor • Free (or even at a gate fee) • Drying of digestate with heat AD is more and more seen as first step in manure processing (50% of planned installations use AD)
Opportunities • Circular on environmental planning • Possibility to construct an AD plant up to 60.000 tonnes in agricultural area • Some conditions have to be fulfilled • At least 60% of input material must be of agricultural origin
Opportunities • New CHP-resolution • Easier to be qualitative CHP (relative primary energy saving (RPE) >0% for installations <1MWe and RPE > 10% for installations ≥1MWewhereas before new resolution small CHPs had to have a RPE > 5%)
Opportunities • Ongoing research in pre- and post-treatment • Digestion of 100% energy crops • Synergies with other biofuel technologies (e.g. glycerol, waste products of bio-ethanol production,…) • Selling electricity to the day ahead market • Alternative use of biogas: transport fuel, injection in gas grid, fuel cells
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
Threats • Public acceptance • 33% of planned ongoing initiatives deal with protest from neighbours • 40% of last year’s initiatives have been cancelled or delayed over the last year, mainly due to protest • In many cases this protest is inappropriate or exaggerated • One protest stimulates others to do likewise • Uncertain how this trend will evolve
Threats • Investment support mechanism is uncertain • Resources are insufficient • Call system • Uncertainty on termination of nuclear power facilities • Instability of long term policy
Threats • Uncertainty on cost of input and output • Maize silage is already more expensive • Price for disposal of nutrients depends on policy Threatening for return on investment
AGENDA • Federal state of Belgium • Biogas-E vzw • Biogas in Belgium • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats • Conclusions
Conclusions • Excellent knowledge is greatest strength • Lack of operational (farm-scale) digesters and political structure of Belgium are biggest weaknesses • Manure surplus can be seen both as an opportunity and as a threat • The biggest threat as we speak is the lack of public acceptance
Thank you Filip Velghe Technological advisor filip.velghe@biogas-e.be Biogas-E vzw Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5 B-8500 Kortrijk T - +32 56 24 12 63 F - +32 56 24 12 24 www.biogas-e.be info@biogas-e.be Bruno Mattheeuws Policy and communication advisor bruno.mattheeuws@biogas-e.be