Biogas in Greece: Actual situation and perspectives

Christos Zafiris ΜSc

Agriculture engineer

Biomass dept

Thessaloniki, 29/09/2015

Contents

Biogas in the EU

Biogas in Greece

Biomass potential for biogas production in Greece

Barriers

Benefits of biogas

Requirements for the design and implementation of biogas projects

Investment opportunities

Legal status

Conclusions

It was in 1804 when John Dalton established the chemical constitution of methane.

But today we are talking about…

Optimization of the biogas process

Process Analytical Technologies and Chemometrics for AD Systems

Cryogenic upgrading for:

- LBG production

- Landfill gas upgrading

- CO2 recovery

Techniques for reducing methane slip

Fuel cell using bio-Η2

Production of Bio-SNG from lignin and straw

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 applied to upgrading biogases

Techniques for nutrient recovery from digestate

Biogas production in EU

Today there are 14,572 biogas plants with installed capacity of 7,857 MWe

The two countries with the largest biogas production in EU are Germany with 9,035 plants 3,543MWe and Italy 1,105MWe

Source: European Biogas Association-EBA

Energy perspectives EU

Recent Communication from the Commission: ”Towards an Integrated Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan (15/09/15)

10 actions to accelerate the energy system transformation and create jobs and growth

….2. Reduce the cost of key technologies with the use of biomass wastes in South Europe (along with photovoltaics, thermal solar and algae)

Source: European Commission

Source: ΛΑΓΗΕ-Operator of electricity market

RES & CHP Monthly Statistics 2013-2015 Capacity MW in GR

Source: ΛΑΓΗΕ-Operator of electricity market

RES & CHP Monthly Statistics 2013-2015 Electricity production GWh in GR

Biogas plants in Greece

Biogas plants of 44.13 MWe capacity are operating, mostly at solid waste landfills (SWL) and municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTP). The most important in:

SWL of Ano Liossia a co-generation plant of 23.4 ΜWe capacity is in operation.

MWTP of Psyttalia a co-generation plant of 11.4 MWe capacity is in operation.

SWL of Tagarades in Salonica a co-generation plant of 5 MWe capacity is in operation.

S/N

ENERGY TYPE

FUEL-TYPE Location

Thermal Capacity (MWth)

Electrical Capacity (MWe)

Annual Biogas Production

(m3/yr)

1 ELE SWL Thessaloniki 5.04 22,000,000

2 CHP MWTP Larisa 1.83 0.60 897,120

3 CHP MWTP Patra 0.70 0.02 577,012

4 HEAT MWTP Chalkida 2.21 240,000

5 HEAT MWTP Alex/poli 0.33 328,000

6 HEAT MWTP Rodos 0.58 90,000

7 CHP MWTP Hraklio 0.53 0.19 672,000

8 CHP MWTP Chania 0.29 0.16 200,000

9 CHP MWTP Athens 17.20 11.4 25,774,000

10 CHP SWL Athens 4.00 23.4 107,000,000

11 CHP MWTP Volos 1.11 0.33 0

12 ELE SWL Volos 0.00 1.25 3,783,632

TOTAL 28.77 42.401 161,561,764

Biogas plants in Greece

In addition, there are 6 plants:

4 plants which are agricultural units producing electricity (1.73 MWe) and

2 plants which are food industries producing only thermal energy (1.18MWth)

Biogas plants in Greece

S/N

ENERGY TYPE

FUEL-TYPE Location

Thermal Capacity (MWth)

Electrical Capacity (MWe)

Annual Biogas Production

(m3/yr)

1 HEAT FOOD Thessaloniki 0.64

2 HEAT FOOD Athens 0.40

3 CHP AGRI Preveza 0.15 0.98

4 ELE AGRI Veria 0.25 1,264,813

5 CHP AGRI Komotini 0.25 950,000

6 CHP AGRI Imathia 0.25 480,500

TOTAL 1.18 1.73 6,398,585

Biogas plants in Greece

Biogas plant in Ano Liossia 23.5 MWe

Source: HELECTOR

Biogas plant in Psyttalia 11.4 MWe

Source: EYDAP

Biogas plant in Tagarades 5 MWe

Source: HELECTOR

Source: ΤΕΤΩΡΟΣ

CHITAS FARMA S.A 1MW

Gasnakis Antonios S.A 0.25MW

Bioaerio Komotinis S.A 0.25MW

Karanikas Antonios S.A 0.25ΜW

Biogas agricultural plants

Biogas agricultural plants operational as of 2015

Source: ΤΕΤΩΡΟΣ

Seiti Bros S.A 0.5 MWe

Bioaerio Megaron S.A 0.5MWe

Expected to be operational in 2015. Βioenergeiaki Mantineias S.A

Source: KAFSIS - ΤΕΤΩΡΟΣ

Bio energy in the electricity market

Up to present, RΑΕ has issued 83 licenses for bioelectricity production, with total installed capacity of 441.4 ΜW.

146.5 MW (46 plants) refer to biogas production

• 7 licenses for MSW (41.33 MW)

• 7 licenses for water treatment plants (17.06 MW)

• 26 licenses for agricultural/animal breeding wastes (72.0 MW)

• 3 licenses for agricultural wastes (12.0 MW)

• 3 licenses for animal breeding wastes (4.12 MW) 294.9 MW (37 plants) refer to biomass combustion

plants

REGIONS

LICENCES TO TEST

PRIORITY CAPACITY (MW)

LICENCES WITH SINGED

CONTRACTS CAPACITY

(MW)

ATTIKI 46 66.67 4 24.3

MAKEDONIA-THRAKI 125 112 21 25

WEST GREECE 110 64.24 5 6.32

CENTRAL GREECE 119 103.4 7 11.9

TOTAL 400 346.31 37 67.52

Licence applications according to L.4152/2013

MAIN CATEGORIES UNITS

CAPACITY (MW)

ORGANIC WASTES (T/Y)

FUEL CAPACITY

(MW)

CATTLE 25,530 726,013

cattle 13,601,970 233

SOWS 2,560 147,920

Sows 2,277,072 36

SYSTEMATIC POULTRY 1,972 33,875,054 813,001 86

DAIRY ESTABLISH-

MENT 696 1,175,319 822,723 14

TOTAL 30,758 17,514,766 369

Theoretical biomass potential in Greece

Source: C. Zafiris/CRES

18 Mt animal wastes from cattle, pig and poultry

5.6 PJ annual energy production

Cattle breeding mainly in northern Greece

Pig breeding equally distributed over Greece

Poultry farming mainly in three regions

Potential daily production of animal wastes in Greece

Source: CRES/Biomass dept

Spatial planning of the Saws breeding farms in Greece

• 1000 saws

• 100 saws

Source: Union of pig breeders in Greece.

Based on our estimates the collection of 100,000 tons of organic wastes to feed a central biogas plant may come from cattle breeding farms located in areas of a radius around 75km. The selection of the cattle breeding farms and the potential location of the plants was mainly based on their biomass potential and their geographic location, using GIS.

Spatial planning of breeding farms in Greece

Source: C. Zafiris/CRES

Number of live and dead animals by Region

LIVE ANIMALS DEAD ANIMALS

REGIONS CATTHLE GOATS&SHEEP PIGS POULTRY CATTHLE GOATS&SHEEP PIGS POULTRY

ATTIKI 3.917 133.498 74 6.675

C. MAKEDONIA 187.830 1.524.380 10.792 76.219

E.MAKEDONIA&THRAKI 109.590 696.202 6.963 34.810

W.MAKEDONIA 39.210 569.178 2.925 28.459

IPIROS 66.544 800.599 4.641 40.030

THESSALIA 137.014 1.557.044 8.836 77.852

CENTRAL. GRRECE 35.583 567.673 1.694 28.384

WEST. GREECE 87.546 1.653.525 1.346 82.676

PELOPONNISSOS 18.599 963.718 536 48.186

ΙΟΝΙAN ISLANDS 5.689 214.221 82 10.711

NORTH AEGAIAN 10.980 539.242 401 26.962

SOUTH AEGAIAN 20.812 369.412 829 18.471

KRITI 2.699 2.952.718 102 147.636

TOTAL 726.013 12.541.410 1.365.000 93.375.979 39.221 627.071 68.250 4.668.799

30,500 tn dead animal≈2ΜWe

Agricultural residues

Theoretical potential : ~8.7 MT dm/year

Theoretically available potential: ~5.5 MT dm/year

Energy potential: ~99 PJ/year (~ 27.7 TWh)

Theoretical potential of straw

Theoretical potential ~1.150.000 MT DM/year (65MWe biogas plant)

Regions: Larissa,

Thessaloniki, Evros, Phiotida, Serres, Κozani, Κilkis

Theoretical potential residues of maize

Theoretical potential : ~604.000 MT DM/year (34ΜW)

Regions : Serres,

Κavala, Xanthi, Drama, Ilia, Etolia-Akarnania, Larissa , Trikala ,Pella

An example of a case-study

114 hectares sorghum (0,44%) 13.680 t of sorghum 0,9ΜW capacity 7.300 MWh electricity production 1.950 residences with green elec 2.000 t fibres 1GWh requires: 1,057 tons of maize and 25 ha in Central-North

Europe 1,057 tons of maize and 13.2 ha in GR 1,057 tons of sorghum and 9 ha in GR 18 GWh requires 162 ha sorghum in GR

Biogas production from growing crops

Regions

Land not cultivated for

various reasons Ha Tons/y ΜWe

MWe (1%)

MWe (3%)

E. Makedonia & Thraki 3,766 263,599 12 0.1 0.4

C. Makedonia 5,452 381,640 18 0.2 0.5

W. Makedonia 2,146 150,185 7 0.1 0.2

Thessalia 18,045 1,263,136 58 0.6 1.8

Ipiros 11,050 773,479 36 0.4 1.1

Ionian Islands 18,078 1,265,460 59 0.6 1.8

W. Greece 14,492 1,014,412 47 0.5 1.4

C. Greece 25,864 1,810,473 84 0.8 2.5

Peloponnissos 47,231 3,306,142 153 1.5 4.6

Attiki 8,659 606,158 28 0.3 0.8

N. Aegean 7,206 504,406 23 0.2 0.7

S.Aegean 13,316 932,106 43 0.4 1.3

Kriti 61,215 4,285,078 198 2.0 6.0

TOTAL 236,518 16,556,274 766 7.7 23.0

Exports of processed agricultural products from 113 SMEs in Imathia

Product Country

Net weight (tn) Track Container

Peach Germany 4,461 177 16

Fruit salad Germany 248 12

Apricot Germany 56 3

Mixed fruit Germany 106 6

Puree peach Germany 2,092 85

Purre apple Germany 510 25

Puree tomato Germany 294 5 8

Peppers in brine Germany 2,729 122 75

Total 10,495 435 99

General total 69,433 1395 1991

Solid waste 30% of feedstock = 30,000 tn of residue = 1,5 MWe

6m3 liquid waste / tonne of product = 420,000 tn of liquid waste = 1,6 MWe

Biogas from biodegradable MW REGION MSW (t/y) BMW (t/y) ΜWe

E. Makedonia & Thraki 278500 123376 5

C. Makedonia 933900 413718 17

W. Makedonia 153100 67823 3

Thessalia 411400 182250 7

Ipiros 96700 42838 2

Ionian Islands 147700 65431 3

W. Greece 308500 136666 5

C. Greece 307100 136045 5

Peloponnissos 137900 61090 2

Attiki 2492400 1104133 44

N. Aegean 81400 36060 1

S.Aegean 227500 100783 4

Kriti 428500 189826 8

TOTAL 6004600 2660038 107

Typology of urbanity-rurality

of the prefectures in Greece

Source: Skouras & Psaltopoulos

SMEs in the primary sector

CATEGORY

NUMBER

CATTLE FARMS 25,530

PIG FARMS 2,560

GOT AND SHEEP FARMS 79,667

HORSE FARMS 16,277

SYSTEMATIC POULTRY FARMS 1,972

SLAUGHTERHOUSES 153

POULTRY SLAUGHTERHOUSES 206

SMEs in the primary sector

CATEGORY

NUMBER

Cutting minced and meat preparation 419

Meat Products 400

Other primary livestock products 19

Bladder, intestine, stomach and by-products processing plants

23

Feed 155

CATEGORY

NUMBER

Dairy establishment 696

Milk collection centres 16

Producers of cow's milk 3,003

Producers of sheep’s milk 41,391

Producers of goats milk 15,915

Producers of goats & sheep’s milk

48,042

SMEs in the primary sector

CATEGORY

NUMBER

Fishery products 151

Fresh and frozen fishery products

101

Olive oil mills 2018

Olive kernels 32

Olive oil 380

TOTAL 239,126

SMEs in the primary sector

Wastes: 2,000,000t

Installed capacity: 40MW

Wastes: 60,500t

Installed capacity:1.5MW

Wastes: 680,000t

Installed capacity: 13.5MW

Wastes: 200,000t

Installed capacity: 4MW

Wastes: 34,000t

Installed capacity: 1MW

Wastes: 982,000t

Installed capacity: 19MW

Wastes: 800,000t

Installed capacity:15MW

Wastes: 730,000t

Installed capacity:14.5MW

Potential spatial distribution of biogas plants

Source: C. Zafiris/CRES

Agios Athanasios

Wastes: 2,000,000t

Installed capacity: 40MW

Pethymno

Wastes: 60,500t

Installed capacity:1.5MW

Foustani

Wastes: 680,000t

Installed capacity: 13.5MW

Oinophyta

Wastes: 200,000t

Installed capacity: 4MW

Anogeia

Wastes: 34,000t

Installed capacity: 1MW

Stratos

Wastes: 982,000t

Installed capacity: 19MW

Phillira

Wastes: 800,000t

Installed capacity:15MW

Filippiada

Wastes: 730,000t

Installed capacity:14.5MW

Potential spatial distribution of biogas plants

Ano Liossia

Landfill

Installed capacity: 23.5MW

Psyttalia (WWTP)

Wastes: 700,000t/day

Installed capacity: 11,4MW

Tagarades

Landfill

Installed capacity: 5MW

Plant in operation

Plant proposed

Possible Injection

point in natural gas

grid

Source: C. Zafiris/CRES

Barriers

Availability and supply of raw materials

Lack of public awareness

Social acceptance

Environmental licensing

PPC monopoly

Inefficiency of Greek policy framework (gate fee)

Huge bureaucracy

Absence of spatial planning for biomass plants

Lack of financial incentives

Benefits of biogas

Environmental

Reducing GHG-odour Recyclig nutrients Reducing land water pollution and pathogens

Μείωση εισαγωγών

Local development 0,25% R. Larissa 0.37% R.Evrou

86.000 tn=4ΜW,

Security of energy supply

36.400MWh=11.000 houses

Economic

New job creation

Reducing fossil fuel imports

Requirements for the design and implementation of biogas

projects

Institutional measures to implement the concept of 'gate fee'

Simplification of licensing procedures, setting up 'one stop shop'

Incentives for projects up 250kWe, according to the German model

Setting up of a price for the heat production, the solid (50-100 €/t) and liquid digestate (0-10 €/t)

Investment Opportunities

Unexploited Greek Biogas market. Unique investment opportunity due to the up-to-now totally unexploited Greek biogas production market, combined with the immediate need for decontamination of organic waste throughout the country. There is now sharply increasing interest in the biogas industry.

The Law 3851/2010 offers all necessary financial elements, as well as a very positive legal framework for the development of profitable biogas units.

High sales price of each ΜWh: 230 €/MWh without any development cost subsidy. The sales price has been in force since June 2010 following voting of new law 3851/2010 regarding Renewable Energy Sources (RES).

Legal status

Law 3851/2010

“Accelerating the development of Renewable Energy Sources to deal with climate change and other regulations addressing issues under the authority of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change”

Ministerial Decision (MD) digestion of biomass (Official Gazette 554 03/08/2013).

“Additional obligations for the environmental permitting process of power plants and thermal energy using biogas from anaerobic digestion of biomass (Official Gazette 554 03/08/2013)”.

L.4152 (09/05/2013)

L.4203 (01/11/2013)

Support system

< 3 MW ... to ... kW > 3MW <2MW ... to ... kW > 2MW < 2MW ... to ... kW > 2MW < 1MW 1ΜW to 5MW > 5MW

Feed-in tariff system Yes

Highest possible feed-in tariff €/MWh 230 209 131 108 131 108 198 170 148

Feed-in tariff with sudsidies €/MWh 209 190 114 94 114 114 180 155 135

Duration years 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

Landfill Sewage Biomass

Yes

Support system

Agriculture

A draft Law was adopted for the support and development of

the Greek economy under implementation of L.4046/2012

and other provisions

Legal status

Conclusions

Unexploited Greek Biogas market.

The Law 3851/2010 offers all necessary financial elements, as well as a very positive legal framework.

High sales price of each ΜWh: 230 €/MWh without any development cost subsidy. The sales price has been in force since June 2010 following voting of new law 3851/2010 regarding Renewable Energy Sources (RES).

The development and installation of biogas technologies is a promising alternative for the management of 18 million tons/year of waste, which in total is unallocated and unused

The biogas unit represents an integrated livestock and organic waste management system for power generation with substantial environmental and economic benefits.

Thank you for your attention

czafir@cres.gr

+30 - 210-6603261