Potential advantages in heat and power production when biogas is collected from several digesters using dedicated pipelines - A case study in the "Province of West-Flanders" (Belgium). (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hengeveld, E.J.; Bekkering, J.; Van Dael, M.; van Gemert, W.J.T.; Broekhuis, A.A.
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 149(2020)
• Page Start: 549
• Page End: 564
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Biogas CHP -- Scale dependency -- Electrical efficiency -- Biogas transport -- Biogas grid -- Centralized processing; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.12.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: In the case study "West-Flanders" costs of electricity and heat production are estimated if a dedicated biogas grid using pipelines would be implemented to centralize energy production in a region. Heat may not be used effectively at digester sites, e.g. because of a change in treatment of digestate. A large scale centralized combined heat and power (CHP) engine can produce additional electrical power at a hub, i.e. central collection point, and has lower specific costs compared to decentralized CHPs at digester sites. A biogas transport model is used to calculate transport costs in a grid. These costs, partly balanced by a scale advantage in CHP costs, are attributed to the additional electrical energy (80%) and heat (20%) produced. If the hub is at a digester site, costs of additional electricity can be as low as 4.0 €ct kWhe −1 and are in many cases below 12 €ct kWhe −1, i.e. in the same order of magnitude or lower than costs of electricity from biogas produced using separate CHPs at the different digester sites; costs of heat at the hub show to be lower than 1 €ct kWhth −1 assuming an effective heat use of 50%. In case a hub is situated at a location with high potential heat demand, i.e. a heat sink, transport of biogas from one digester only to a central located hub can provide 3.4 MWth of heat at 1.95 €ct kWhth −1 . For such a centrally located hub additional electrical energy costs show to be slightly higher, but with three or more digesters these costs are lower than 20 €ct kWhe −1 and heat costs are around 0.5 €ct kWhth −1 . With a centralized hub more renewable energy is produced, i.e. a more efficient use of biomass feedstock. It is concluded that costs for additional electricity and heat can be at a competing level and scale advantages in a CHP can be a driver to collect biogas at a hub using a biogas grid. Highlights: Modelling biogas collection in a regional grid to generate heat and power in a CHP. A large CHP at a hub has higher electrical efficiency at lower specific costs. Collecting biogas from digesters at a hub increases the total electrical power. Costs for additional electricity and heat at a hub can be at a competing level. Scale advantages in a CHP can be a driver to collect biogas using a biogas grid.