Biogas development supported by digital tool

Swedish biogas production has the potential to increase from 2.3 TWh per year to around 10 TWh. This is a significant increase that can have far-reaching effects on the country's energy supply and environmental impact. Important key factors to drive the development of biogas plants forward are local cooperation efforts, reliable decision-making data and wise investments.

The development of a digital scenario simulation tool is a central and important component of the EU-funded biogas project BIOZE, and can be part of the solution for more transparent decision-making processes. By collecting and integrating data on geographical conditions, available resources, infrastructure and economic factors, the tool can generate realistic simulations and map different scenarios, to enable the development of biogas plants in specific local contexts.

- The difficulty of predicting and understanding the consequences of different decisions can be a challenge for decision-makers, investors and other stakeholders. With this powerful tool, it becomes possible to visualize these consequences, facilitating understanding and promoting a more inclusive and transparent decision-making process through improved dialogue between all parties," says BIOZE project manager Maria Olsson, from West Sweden Energy Agency, part of Innovatum Science Park.

Common platform requires transparency

Local discussions around infrastructure projects, including biogas plants, are often complex and involved parties have different perspectives, interests and knowledge. Finding a common platform to discuss and decide on biogas plants can be challenging and requires transparency, accessibility and openness. Here, local cooperation is necessary to move forward.

- By pooling knowledge and resources, local actors can work together to identify suitable sites for plants, resolve permitting issues and secure access to feedstock. Collaboration reduces investment costs through shared infrastructure and resources. "A key element of the Bioze project is to foster this collaboration to create a more sustainable and resilient energy future," says Maria Olsson.

Strong interest in digital simulation tool

Three sub-regional workshops have been carried out in Västra Götaland with the aim of gathering local actors and raising knowledge about biogas development. The digital tool for scenario simulation is an important part of the project and has attracted great interest among various actors, indicating the need for this type of support in local biogas development.

Maria Olsson expresses hopes to continue developing the tool and adapt it further to the Swedish context, with a desire to include food waste as a residual stream, which is unique to Sweden.

The Bioze project is funded by the EU through Interreg North Sea and has partners around Europe. In Sweden, the project is run by West Sweden Energy Agency , part of Innovatum Science Park.