Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Environmental aspects of using animal manure as an energy source Jørgen E. Olesen

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Manure as an energy source Manure contains organic matter (VS – volatile solids), which may be used as an energy source. Anaerobic digestion (biogas) can provide electricity and heat, and at the same time reduce other emissions from manure. Burning (incineration) of the solid parts of the manure may also produce energy and reduce some emissions

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Manure sources in Denmark (million tons per year) The energy potential i biogas in the slurry has been estimated as 14.2 PJ, and the potential for biogas from all manure is about 25 PJ.

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Flows affecting GHG emission from manure handling

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Factors affecting emissions of N 2 O and CH 4

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Mitigation of GHG emissions - animal manures

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Biogas Energy production (electricity and heat - substitution of fossile energy sources – depends on addition of other organic energy sources) Reduced methane emissions (requires collection of methane after the biogas reactor) Reduced nitrous oxide from the manure after field application Easier handling and improved N use efficiency in the field Possible to combine with treatment of other organic wastes

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Current trends in biogas in Denmark½ The building of new biogas plants in Denmark has virtually stopped. The reason for this is a number of current barriers for the futher implementation: – The subsidy on the electricity production from biogas has been reduced – It is often difficult to get the location of a new biogas plant approved due to resistance from the local community – Increasing difficulties in obtaining low-cost energy rich wastes for improving biogas production

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Manure flows with and without biogas

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Scenarios for biogas production

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Scenarios for biogas production PigsCattleOrganic waste Reference Biogas I Biogas II

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Centralised biogas plants in Denmark

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Energy production from biogas plants in Denmark

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Current trends in biogas in Denmark The building of new biogas plants in Denmark has virtually stopped. The reason for this is a number of current barriers for the futher implementation: – The subsidy on the electricity production from biogas has been reduced – It is often difficult to get the location of a new biogas plant approved due to resistance from the local community – Increasing difficulties in obtaining low-cost energy rich wastes for improving biogas production

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Incineration of solid fraction of separated slurry Reduction in GHG emissions (kg CO 2 -eq. per ton slurry) from incineration of separated solid fraction.

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Conclusions Both biogas from manure and burning of solid manures can produce energy with a potential of >25 PJ in Denmark. Both biogas and burning of solid manures will reduce other greenhouse gas emission (methane and nitrous oxide) Biogas will also lead to increases in utilisation of the nitrogen in the field applied manure. There are a number of barriers for implementation that needs to be dealt with and there is currently a need to subsidise the technology

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences More information at