Title:
Energy-Crops-Based Biogas Plants in Greece: Economical Comparison of Maize and Sweet Sorghum Silages Used as Feedstock
Author(s):
Markou, G., Brulé, M., Balafoutis, A., Georgakakis, D., Papadakis, G.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Comparing storability and the energy yieldof biogas production from individual feedstock, energy crops perform better than most organic wastes such as manure and food waste and therefore in several European countries biogas is produced using energy crops. The most frequently used energy crop is maize silage. However, although maize has a high biomass yield, it requires high amounts of irrigation water, rendering it a very costly energy crop in the case of Southern European countries, such as Greece. Therefore an alternative energy crop in replacement to maize should be evaluated. A promising energy crop for Greece is sweet sorghum, which exceeds the biomass yield and requires less water and agrochemicals in comparison to maize. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate and to compare from an economic point of view these two potential energy crops as feedstock for biogas production. To service this aim, techno-economical assessments of detailed cultivation techniques and energy crop cost production were performed, and the overall investment and operational costs of biogas plants with various sizes were estimated. The results indicate that sorghum-based biogas plants would theoretically be economically feasible in Greece at750 kWel and higher electrical output, while maize-based biogas plants are feasible at sizes higherthan 1MWel(for a payback period of less than 10 years).
Keywords:
biogas, energy crops, feedstock, plant
Topic:
Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Cooling and Electricity
Subtopic:
Anaerobic digestion for biogas production
Event:
23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2DV.1.46
Pages:
851 - 857
ISBN:
978-88-89407-516
Paper DOI:
10.5071/23rdEUBCE2015-2DV.1.46
Price:
FREE
