World Bioenergy Association launches Biogas Fact Sheet

Biogas - An important renewable energy source

The World Bioenergy Association would like to present its fifth publication ‘Biogas – an important renewable energy source’, as part of a series of documents intended to be utilized by the media and industry as verifiable, easily referenced source of information addressing global biogas usage and potential. The fact sheet discusses current and potential Biogas supply for a variety of uses or markets, including electricity, heat and transportation fuels.

The WBA advocates that Biogas production should be an important part of the strategy to reduce green house gas emissions and improve energy security everywhere, because biogas production uses feedstock that are otherwise wasted and left to decompose. This decay contributes to the increased emissions greenhouse gases into the atmosphere resulting in a number of environmental problems. Biogas also replaces fossil fuels which further reduces emissions of greenhouse gases.

“The global potential for biogas is very large. Estimations show that biogas could cover around 6 % of the global primary energy supply, or one third of the current use of fossil gas. Biogas can be produced in all countries around the world, as there are suitable feedstocks in all societies,” says WBA president Heinz Kopetz. “One large advantage with biogas production is that it often helps to mitigate other environmental problems, and reduce the volumes of waste”.

The deployment of biogas technology requires a decentralized approach involving many new entrepreneurs. The construction and successful operation of biogas plants need an integrated support policy by the governments comprising the following elements:

  • Training and education of the labor force
  • Monitoring and continuous improvements in the plant’s operation
  • Access to the electricity and the gas grid
  • Reliable long-lasting financial support in the form of tariffs for
    the electricity or biomethane sold to the grid and to vehicle fuels.

WBA advocates that each country sets up a biogas development plan with the target to use at least 30% of the biogas potential by 2030. Such a plan should not only contain quantitative targets but also an array of measures and a system of monitoring to reach the targets. This should be valid for countries in the developing world as well as the developed world.

The global institutions such as the organization of the UN with its affiliates, the World Bank, and the coming Green Climate Fund, should offer financing instruments that support small and medium sized biogas plants and not only large-scale applications.

WBA is convinced that such an integrated approach to the development of biogas would enhance the national energy security, generate employment (especially in rural areas) and contribute positively to climate change mitigation.

To download the press release click here
To download the fact sheet click here

Contacts
Heinz Kopetz, President WBA
Phone: +436506806988
Email: hg.kopetz@netway.at

Karin Haara, Executive Director WBA
Phone: +46705432641
Email: karin.haara@worldbioenergy.org

Andrew Potter, Communications Director, WBA
Phone:+442077136028
Email: andrew.potter@worldbioenergy.org

Source

World Bioenergy Association, press release, 2013-05-30.

Supplier

Green Climate Fund
United Nations
World Bank
World Bioenergy Association

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