Towards an Economy Based on Renewable Energy Generation: Is Biogas Part of the Solution?

Electricity generation based on biogas has seen rapid growth in the last years in Germany due to a favourable regulatory framework. For the provision of this renewable energy source, the agricultural and energy sector have to work closely together. With a linear programming model, developed at the Faculty of Agriculture at the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, changes of market parameters, efficiency gains and support schemes can easily be analysed for biogas plants on a farm level. The methodology is explained and the results for policy makers are presented in the light of the upcoming amendment of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) 2012. Finally, additional strengths for biogas as balancing power are identified.