New study shows: Great biogas potential in Skåne, Halland and VGR

There are already enough residual streams to produce 5 900 GWh of biogas in the three regions, equivalent to 80% of total natural gas consumption. Today, just under 800 GWh is produced in the same geography. If new substrates are also included, the potential increases by a further 3,600 GWh, according to a new study of biogas substrates produced by researchers from RISE and released to the public today. The aim of the study is to provide an overall picture of the potential and where the substrates are located to give the expansion of biogas production in the three regions a boost in the right direction.

Substrates are the organic materials used for digestion in biogas production. The study shows that we can produce around 5,900 GWh per year from the type of substrates used today but grossly underutilized, such as food waste, agricultural residual streams, manure and sludge from wastewater treatment plants. This means that the equivalent of 80% of natural gas use in the three regions could be replaced by domestically produced renewable biogas, by making more use of the residual streams already in the biogas cycle.

The potential from "future substrates" amounts to 3 600 GWh. This includes marine substrates such as algae, but also grass and grassland harvesting and industrial process water. In addition, a calculation of the potential from biological methanization* has been included in this calculation.

In total, the researchers see a potential of 9 500 GWh biogas production in the three regions. This corresponds to almost twelve times today's production of about 800 GWh. The importance of this is great given the troubled world situation that puts the spotlight on the energy issue and the climate issue that is becoming increasingly hot.

Expansion of biogas production requires political commitment and collaboration

Representatives from industry, researchers, politicians, farmers, gas producers and regions and county administrative boards met last week during the Green Gas Grid dialogue meeting to take part in the study and to discuss the opportunities and challenges of expanding biogas production in the three regions. Historically, biogas has mainly been used for the transport sector, but the potential is much greater than that and the benefits of producing and using biogas are many for agriculture, industry and society. Political commitment and collaboration are needed to unlock the potential that exists.

- The dialogue meeting has shown a number of interesting examples of how the potential and opportunities for biogas are increasing. Biogas has a given place when we now have to implement the climate transition, promote food production and increase domestic energy supply," says Regional Councilor Kristina Jonäng (C), Region Västra Götaland.

Biogas the natural choice in industry

The industrial group Perstorp, which participated in the dialog meeting, has a long-term goal of becoming climate neutral and to do so they need to replace about 1,500 GWh of natural gas in their production and for them biogas is the natural alternative.

- We are pursuing projects that could double the demand for biogas by 2030, which is why we initiated the biogas potential study. We wanted to know if there is potential to expand biogas production along existing pipelines, which the study confirms exists in these three regions. The day has been interesting, every time you have the opportunity to meet politicians and other actors in the value chain, you get new ways of thinking and it is very developing, says Urban Svensson, Global Purchasing Director, at Perstorp.

Agriculture a key player in the biogas chain

Of the potential, 2 290 GWh is in Västra Götaland, 625 GWh in Halland and 2 968 GWh in Skåne. By far the largest contribution comes from agricultural residual streams, such as straw and manure. Farmers are thus a valuable part of the biogas chain to realize the potential that exists.

- There is a real drive among both buyers and sellers of biogas. The substrate study shows that there is potential to produce more, but achieving the potential will cost money. So now it is important that the political rules are incorporated so that it becomes profitable to both produce and consume domestic biogas," says Lars Paulson, biogas producer in Falkenberg.

Great interest in dialogue, a willingness to collaborate and the realization that action from actors throughout the biogas chain is needed

- Today, we experience a great willingness to cooperate on biogas across industry boundaries. The meeting brought together key players and experts working at different stages of the biogas chain. This increases understanding and paves the way for progress on major issues such as licensing processes and how we can build business models that are sustainable throughout the chain - from farmer to user," says Sabine Täuber, Executive Director of Biogas Syd and one of the organizers of the dialogue meeting.