More of Norway could be powered by biogas

New one a report Turn Norway’s biogas over to the government today.

The background is, among other things, that biogas has become key to reducing European dependence on natural gas from Russia.

the report Calculate the potential for biogas today to be 6 TWh, and add that this could increase. The greatest potential is animal manure, biological waste and sewage sludge.

– This means that we can produce energy equivalent to 15-30 Alta power plants, without infringing on indigenous rights or making major intrusions into nature, says Ronar Bolsrud in Waste Norway.

What is biogas?

Biogas is created when organic materials, such as fertilizers, food waste, plant residues, waste water, etc., are broken down by microorganisms in an oxygen-free environment. Biogas is mainly composed of methane. During combustion, carbon dioxide and water are formed. Since the raw materials come from a biological material, combustion is considered to be CO2 neutral because it enters into the natural CO2 cycle.

Biogas can be used to produce electricity, heat and fuel. The most important raw materials (substrates) for biogas production are:

wet organic waste
Sewage sludge
fish slime
animal behavior
other organic materials

Gas yield is often better when different raw materials are combined.

Cattle manure and sewage sludge are a significant potential source for biogas production. Raw materials from forests are often less suitable for biogas production due to their higher cellulose and lignin content, which require further pretreatment.

After the microorganisms do their job and produce methane, you’re left with a liquid residue product called bioalabaster. Biohumidifier is a nutrient-rich block suitable as a fertilizer for plants.

Source: Norwegian Environment Agency

In February, someone else said a report That sludge that is now washed into the sea – that is, fish feces and leftover feed – could instead produce electricity for 600,000 households (3 TWh).

Last year, the European Union adopted a target to increase biogas production to 342 TWh by 2030.

No Norwegian target has been set, but the Norwegian Maritime Directorate has suggested the use of biogas on cruise ships.

– Now we have numbers on the table showing that “farmer’s gold” (fertilizers) will be an important part of the energy mix in the future, says Egil Cr Hoene, vice-president of the Norwegian Farmers’ Association.

– Why is Frederick Solvang broadcasting an entire broadcast on nuclear power?

At launch, the opposition in the Norwegian Parliament was also represented.

Everyone expressed their annoyance that biogas is no longer on the agenda.

During a subsequent panel discussion, Alfred Björlow (V) explained all the attention the nuclear energy alternative is receiving, while concrete biogas technology is under the radar.

– Why is Frederick Solvang in trouble? shipment About nuclear power and South Korean technology that will not contribute one iota to Norwegian value creation in the next 15 years? Asked.

He further explained that it is not knowledge that is important, but the “political will and ability” to set goals and direction.

It is understood that no further arrangements have been made for the use of available and existing waste resources for biogas production. The potential for 10 TWh by 2030 is far more realistic than nuclear power or new large-scale onshore wind power, says Truls Gulussen, president of the Nature Conservancy.

That’s what they say about the report

Asbjørn Torvanger, Cicero

– Biogas is very little on the Norwegian agenda, as a simple and sensible climate measure, with good and strong potential as only a few percent of the day is used, which should also be an area where Norway can improve technology.

Vilde Haarsaker, Assistant General Secretary of the Small Farmers Association

– It is positive that there has been more knowledge about the potential of biogas in Norway. For farming, this meant that they had calculated how much fertilizer was theoretically available, but had not looked at what was practically possible. For example, in some places in the country it would not be appropriate to set up large-scale co-processing plants, either because of the long transportation distances between farms and/or because of limited access to other raw materials. If one wants to set up a biogas farm, one would require amounts of fertilizer corresponding to a relatively large number of animals under Norwegian conditions. Thus, it will be very difficult for small and medium-sized farms to adopt the technology. We are concerned that the technology needs to be adapted to Norway’s resource base, not the other way around. In order to keep regions running across the country, farms couldn’t be too big.

Trols Gulussen, The Norwegian Nature Conservancy

– Biogas has great potential and it is understood that no further arrangements have been made to use available and existing waste resources for biogas production. The potential of 10 TWh by 2030 is more realistic and feasible than many other project ideas, such as nuclear power or new large-scale onshore wind power, and we hope that this time the industry will be heard.

Runar Bålsrud, Managing Director. in Waste Norway

We have now received another report that shows the huge potential of biogas. We can produce at least ten times more than Norway’s waste resources and produce energy equivalent to 15-30 Alta power plants – without infringing on indigenous rights or making a major breakthrough in nature. At the same time, we come to the use of bio-waste, which today by and large only goes to a landfill. This will also be an important step on the path from a linear economy to a circular economy. It is simply strange that politicians are clumsy and do not take up this possibility. Why don’t they?

Sigrun Aasland, Director of Zero

Biogas is a very important climate solution and a low hanging fruit that we talk about quite a bit. Biogas can help reduce emissions in transportation, marine and industry. Then both demand and production must be stirred up. We believe there is potential to produce 1.2 TWh of new biogas in 2030 from animal manure, food waste and fish waste. Although the use and production has increased, the potential is still great. Since neighboring countries such as Denmark have more favorable framework conditions, not only have we increased production there, but we are also currently sending raw materials out of the country. We expect the government to follow through on decisions from budget negotiations on banning fossil fuel burning in industry and climate requirements in the CO2 offset scheme, both of which could lead to increased demand for biogas.

Bjørn-Ole Juul-Hansen, leader of the National Meat and Poultry Industry Association

– In Norway, we are very far behind our neighboring countries in terms of investment in biogas. Not least because the Norwegian authorities are too “stingy” to support biogas projects. We have advocated the need to invest more to get maximum energy out of cattle manure – but so far very little has been done.

Sigrun Aasland, director of Zero, describes biogas as “low-hanging fruit we don’t talk much about.”

– Biogas can help reduce emissions. But she says we must then increase demand and production.

Høgre’s energy policy spokesperson, Bård Ludvig Thorheim, expressed disappointment that the Energy Commission, which presented its report in Februarydo not specify how much energy should come from biogas.

– Unfortunately. But he says this report is a good step in the way.

Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are increasing

In 2019, Norwegian agriculture participated in one Voluntary Climate Agreement With the state aiming to cut emissions in the sector by 20 percent.

But the goal is a long way off, and in the past two years the distance has become even greater.

The increase is mainly due to an increase in dairy-producing and lactating cows, and an increase in the amount of mineral fertilizers. He appears New figures from Statistics Norway.

– The Norwegian authorities are very stingy to support biogas projects, and therefore we are far from our neighboring countries, says Bjorn-Ole Juul-Hansen, president of the National Association of the Meat and Poultry Industry.

Bionova is the name of a new fund that will stimulate more renewable energy in agriculture.

– With Bionova, we get the chance to direct our efforts, advertiser Agriculture and Food Minister Sandra Burch last year.

– Biogas is a piece of cake

After the price of natural gas fell in the weather, biogas production became more profitable.

In May last year, an unusual climate alliance emerged when Terje Halleland (Frp) and Lan Marie Berg (MDG) duo “Halle-lan” pressed the government to deliver faster biogas truck fee cuts.

in December NHO reported That 12 percent of Norway’s truck fleet could run on biogas in 2030 – “if the price of biogas remains below the price of diesel”.

In a chronicle, the NHO’s managing director, Ole Erik Almlid, writes that biogas is “an egg for the Norwegian transport and climate industry”

He points out that biogas provides:

negative emissions
Circular economy in practice
competitive prices

– When we take into account all the climate impacts from production, transportation and avoidance of methane emissions, biogas vehicles are very good for the climate.