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Bioenergy in the mix with renewable energy resources
Renewable Energy Law | Proven Technology
Energy yielded from biomass plays an important part in the energy
mix of renewable energy sources like wind, hydro, solar and geothermal
power. Biomass can be stored and therefore it is available to be used
as needed. The short-term economic and technical potential of biomass
as an energy source, is decidedly greater than all other
types of renewable energy sources.
The possibilities for the utilization of biomass energy are diverse.
Agricultural products, as well as by-products and waste can be used to
produce fuel. Both possible sources offer clean energy use and many
other advantages. The production of renewable raw materials can assure
the stability of the agricultural industry and presents a great
opportunity for growth in this sector. Bio fuel production
plants use organic by-products and waste, thereby solving the problems
of energy supply and waste removal at the same time. In comparison,
conventional recycling systems such composting are often expensive and
require additional energy to operate.
Renewable Energy Law
In Germany, power plants that produce electricity from biomass fall
under the same stipulations of the Renewable Energy Law
(Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz–EEG) as wind power stations. According to
this law, the local power provider must allow renewable energy to
feed-in to the public power network. Compensation rates for the feed-in
bioenergy and the methods used to convert bioenergy into electricity
are outlined in the ‘Biomass Regulations’ (BiomasseVO).
An amendment to the EEG, which took effect on 01.08.2004, supports and
accelerates development in the field of biogas technology. This
amendment improves the feed-in compensation rate for small and
medium-sized biomass plants. It also establishes an additional
bonus when the energy produced is from renewable raw materials, or a
combined heat and power generator (co-generator) or for innovative
technological processes. top
Proven Technology
Parallel to the establishment of a statutory framework, there has
been significant advancements in bioenergy plant technology.
Today, the technology used in biogas production has proved to be sound
and reliable. At the moment, there are over 2,600 biogas plants in
Germany (as of 12/2005), which, in 2005, produced around 19 million
kilowatt hours (kwH) of electricity. The economic conditions for the
construction and operation of biogas plant were never as optimal as
they are today. top
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