Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
increase in cereal prices in 2007/2008 caused a deceleration of uptake in the biogas sector
in both Germany and the Czech Republic. Public criticism regarding bio-energy spread
through the media (the food versus fuel debate), and biogas was increasingly questioned in
terms of its efficiency and CO 2 balance. This downturn was counterbalanced in 2009 by a
new EU Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (RES)
(2009/28/EC), which amended and repealed the two previous Directives (European
Commission, 2009), and led to a resurgence in new biogas plants in Germany and the
Czech Republic. The new Directive set binding national targets for all Member States to
reach an overall RES contribution of 20% in the EU's gross final energy consumption, by
2020 (Schwarz et al. , 2012). Binding national targets were set at 13% in the United
Kingdom (20% in Scotland), 18% in Germany and 13.5% in the Czech Republic.
In the Czech Republic, a second wave of biogas production (2009 to 2013) occurred in
response to this increased state renewable energy target but within a more established
(stricter) regulatory environment than previously. The period has also seen Czech
companies lobbying the government for support and attempting to gain market share
through production of associated technologies. Biogas became the fastest growing
technology in the Czech RES field, contributing 15.9% of the overall RES production in
2012 (CZBA, 2013). Included in the new regulations are environmental impact issues,
including uses for the heat generated through anaerobic digestion (in the first wave, heat
was a seldom-considered by-product). This has led farmers to consider business
diversification options to make use of the heat. However, the boom for RES technology
collided with the economic potential of the country to financially support the transition.
Uncontrolled growth of photovoltaics resulted in opposition of the RES in general, on the
basis that they increased electricity prices. Although a new Act on RES was passed in 2012,
setting up new and innovative ways of integrating biogas technology on farms (including
organic farms) and utilization of waste heat (for example for drying crops, heating
greenhouses), the Czech Government decided in 2013 to discontinue support for RES once
their 2020 target is met. Renewables in this study site represented 10.6% of energy
consumption in 2011, an increase from 2% in the 1990s.
In Germany, the amendment of the EEG in 2009 led to another acceleration in the
development of the biogas sector. Changes in the compensation system favoured a more
effective use of manure and residual materials, and bonus payments for smaller plants with
up to 500 kW were introduced (and funding for large 'biogas parks' was eliminated) (Bruns
et al. , 2009). Within the framework of the 'Energy Turnaround' ( Energiewende ), the
'Energy Concept 2050' ( Energiekonzept 2050 ) was enacted in 2010 with the overall
objective of achieving an energy supply primarily from renewable sources by 2050. The
Fukushima nuclear disaster led to further resolutions in 2011. The EEG's 3 rd amendment in
2012 supported facilitation of 'mini' biogas plants of up to 75 kW, which encouraged the
establishment of farmer-operated plants for the purpose of using on-farm biomass. In 2011,
there were ca. 7,000 biogas plants throughout Germany, and the share of renewables in
primary energy consumption rose from 1.3% in 1990 to 10.9% in 2011 (BMU, 2013).
In Scotland, Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) were introduced in 2010, specifically targeting
developments of less than 5 MW. The measure is thus oriented towards smaller-scale
developments, including those sponsored by communities and farmers. The Scottish
Government also established a Renewables Action Plan in 2009, which set targets for
renewable energy production, specifically including community production. Community
collaboration was also encouraged by a 2009 support scheme (CARES) but has had limited
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