Organic waste as a biomass resource - Biomass as Energy Source: Resources, Systems and Applications - page 115

6.3.4 Example for a local implementation strategy
When thinking about applying renewable energy strategies into regions, it is a matter of high
importance to consider several regional aspects beforehand. The development of biogas appli-
cations in the last decades in Germany gave clear impressions about risk of problems, if basic
aspects regarding biogas and its implementation are not being considered and regionally friendly
adopted. These aspects are not only of a technical nature; furthermore, there are highly impor-
tant social and economic backgrounds to be considered. Following a defined structure regarding
these issues reduces the risk for missing important aspects before the practical implementation
procedure starts.
The data needed for developing a regional biogas production strategy can be grouped as shown
below:
General data:

• Population, population density, degree of urbanization;

• Income structure;

• Climate, topographic signs;

• Structure of administration (city, municipality, region);

• Rate of industrialization;

• Regional Infrastructure (streets, rails, gas pipelines, grid, heat supply).

Energy data:

• Energy demand (heat, electricity, gas, fuel; calculated in per capita factor);

• Electricity, heat and fuel production;

• Energy prices;

• Energy imports;

• Energy grids (heat, electricity, gas);

• Energy market structure and organization (energy providing companies, state owned, non-

corporate, quantity);

• Locations of electricity, heat and fuel production.

Agriculture data:

• Area distribution (agriculture, forests, cities, agricultural areas);

• Crop growing species, resulting fertilizer demands;

• Already existing farm-located biogas applications for determination of already existing hot

spots for further biogas technology implementation.

Substrate aspect data:

• Waste arising (calculated in per capita factor);
• Waste fractions, suitable wastes for biogas utilization;
•

Alternative biomass resources (such as energy crops).

Waste sector data:

• Sorting, Waste pick-up service, Collection points;
• Waste disposal;
• Landfill sites, composting sites, Waste to energy infrastructures (e.g. incineration, anaero-
bic digestion, etc.) for determination of already existing hot spots for further or new biogas
technology implementation.

Before starting detailed planning of technical implementation, the local conditions should be
collected in the described way and as detailed and with reference to as many actual data bases as
possible.