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New Biogas Network Under Development

May 29, 2009 | 6 Comments

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Lünen, Germany [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] A new dedicated biogas distribution network is being built in the German city of Lünen. Powered by agricultural waste, including cow dung and horse manure, 90,000 residents will benefit from the development, which will make the town the first in the world to build and manage a biogas network.

"What makes this project exiting is the combination of Cogeneration with renewable energy in an urban environment." Peter Kindt, chairman of Alfagy Ltd

Fed by local farms, which deliver animal waste, as well as corn, wheat and grass, the feedstock is turned into biogas in anaerobic digesters. The gas is distributed over the city through a new biogas pipeline network being built underground with a horizontal drilling robot.

The gas network powers a series of 10 Schmitt Enertec Cogeneration units that feed electricity into the grid, and heat into local district heating networks.

The plant produces 6.8 MW, enough energy to supply 26,000 houses with heat and electricity.

Peter Kindt, the chairman of local heat and power provider Alfagy Ltd said: “What makes this project exiting is the combination of Cogeneration with renewable energy in an urban environment.”

The network is expected to deliver heat and electricity to customers by December 2009.

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6 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 6

natalie-villella-18262

May 29, 2009

Now that's a step in the right direction. Can they integrate their sewer "humanure" into the process? is the gas also available for home "appliance" use or just to the sour gas engine generators? More info, Please!

Comment
2 of 6

dursun-sakarya-36606

May 29, 2009

It's not clear at all why they're creating a new pipeline. Perhaps were isn't an existing NG pipeline. Electricity is easier to transport than gaseous fuel.

Comment
3 of 6

fred-linn-151968

June 3, 2009

---------"....... is the gas also available for home "appliance" use or just to the sour gas engine generators? More info, Please!"------------

The methane in biogas( CH4) is chemically exactly the same as methane in natural gas. Biogas can be used in any application that natural gas would be used in with no modifications needed and no loss of performance. Biogas and natural gas can also be mixed in any proportion with no modifications or loss of performance. If it can run on methane---it makes no difference if it is biogas, natural gas, or a mixture of the two.

--------"Can they integrate their sewer "humanure" into the process? "----------

There is no reason that they couldn't.

Schmitt Enertec Cogeneration

http://www.schmitt-enertec.com/cogeneration/company_video.htm

Comment
4 of 6

robert-mida-153930

June 3, 2009

To Natalie and Fred,

Yes, Fred, there is no reason that they "couldn't" use humanure.

A reason why they "shouldn't" are all the toxics in sewage sludge. Much more than excrement is involved here. You have lots of industrial waste that legally and illegally is dumped down the drain. Even many of our, yet perhaps less in Europe, household detergents and cleaning solutions end up in sludge.

The same is true for landfill gas operations. One small example in that case would be mercury present in the landfill, will turn into a much more toxic methyl mercury after capture and combustion.

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5 of 6

fred-linn-151968

June 4, 2009

---------"A reason why they "shouldn't" are all the toxics in sewage sludge. Much more than excrement is involved here. You have lots of industrial waste that legally and illegally is dumped down the drain."-------

An excellent reason to begin regarding and treating our sewage as a resource rather than allowing industrial pollution of our air, land and water.

What we put in the environment, ends up in us.

Comment
6 of 6

fred-linn-151968

June 4, 2009

Ooooopz----sorry about the double post---I wish they'd bring back the ability to delete your posts.

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