Biogas from Farm-based Biomass Sources Developments in Europe and the USLe biogaz derive de la biomasse d'origine agricole Developpements en Europe et aux Etats-Unis Biogas aus Biomasse von landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben Entwicklungen in Europa und den USALe biogaz derive de la biomasse d'origine agricole Developpements en Europe et aux Etats-UnisBiogas aus Biomasse von landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben Entwicklungen in Europa und den USA

• Published in: EuroChoices 2011-12, Vol.10 (3), p.18-23
• Main Authors: Hjort-Gregersen, Kurt, Blandford, David, Gooch, Curt A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1478-0917; 1746-692X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-692X.2011.00211.x

Biogas from Farm-based Biomass Sources Developments in Europe and the US One option for bio-energy production is biogas derived from anaerobic digestion of farm-based biomass, primarily livestock manure and energy crops, and from other organic sources, such as sewage and municipal waste. Biogas can contribute to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly methane, and improving water quality through the transformation of organic waste into fertiliser with less potential for nutrient run-off. There has been considerable activity in the exploitation of biogas in Europe. On-farm and centralised heating or power systems fuelled by biogas have been developed in several countries and some of the product has been injected into the natural gas distribution grid or used as vehicle fuel after further processing. In the US most of the development of biogas capacity has been associated with the processing of animal manure, particularly on dairy farms. Policies, such as preferential tariffs for electricity generated from renewable fuels, have played an important role in the development of biogas capacity. Future energy and climate change policies will be major factors in its further development. While biogas seems likely to play a relatively modest role in meeting future energy needs in Europe and the US, it can play a role in the management of organic waste.Original Abstract: Une option pour la production de bioenergie est le biogaz provenant de la digestion anaerobie de la biomasse d'origine agricole, principalement les effluents d'elevage et les cultures energetiques, et d'autres sources organiques comme les effluents urbains et municipaux. Le biogaz peut contribuer a la reduction des emissions de gaz a effet de serre, en particulier le methane, et a l'amelioration de la qualite des eaux en transformant les dechets organiques en engrais au potentiel moindre de ruissellement des elements nutritifs. Il y a eu une activite considerable d'exploitation du biogaz en Europe. Les systemes de generation d'electricite et de chauffage central sur l'exploitation a partir de biogaz ont ete developpes dans plusieurs pays et une partie du produit a ete envoye dans le reseau de distribution du gaz naturel ou utilise comme carburant automobile apres transformation ulterieure. Aux Etats-Unis, la plupart du developpement de la capacite en biogaz a ete liee a la transformation des effluents d'elevage, en particulier sur les exploitations laitieres. Les politiques telles que le