Promotion of Biogas Production and Development in Latvia Astrida Celmina Ministry of the Environment Republic of Latvia

Content Advantages for biogas production Barriers for biogas production Biogas installations Biogas potential (feedstock, agriculture land) Biogas production programme Support instruments

Advantages for biogas production Prevention of air, water and soil pollution Return of nutrients, water and energy Recovery of biodegradable waste by producing new products Economic development of rural areas Nature protection issues

Barriers for biogas production High investments costs Low electricity price Lack of policy support Lack of knowledge and experience Lack of co-operation between private companies, local authority and state institutions

Biogas installations Total capacity – 7.5 MW Companies:  “Riga Water” in Riga using sludge from waste water treatment plant (2 MW)  “Eco Getlini” in Riga collecting biogas from landfill (5 MW)  “Liepajas RAS” in Liepaja region collecting biogas from landfill (450 kW) Planned capacity + 1 MW (Liepaja region)

Description of biogas potential - feedstock (data from 2004)  Liquid manure, dung: 5.8 Mio t  Organic waste: Household: 0.4 Mio t Animal waste: Mio t Sludge from waste water treatment plants: 0.18 Mio t (0.036 Mio t dry matter)  Total 290 Mio m 3 of biogas = 1.4 GWh energy

Description of biogas potential – agriculture land (data from 2004 ) Total area suitable for agriculture purposes:  2.3 Mio ha for agriculture (37% from total area)  1.7 Mio ha arable land (27% from total area) From 1 ha – 14 MWh/year electricity Total arable land – 2,5 TWh/year electricity Total agriculture land – 0,8 TWh/year electricity

Biogas production programme Policy planning document prepared by Ministry of Environment (will be ready end of 2005) Part of the Renewable Resources Strategy Main idea – to consolidate environmental, nature protection, economical, social and rural issues Tasks – to establish support instruments scheme and to implement measures / activities

Support instruments – administrative / legal Policy planning documents Legal acts Prohibition of biodegradable waste storage in landfills

Support instruments - fiscal Taxes (emissions) and tax releases Charges Tariffs for electricity production State support programmes (co-financed from Structural Funds) Grants Subsidies CO 2 credits

Support instruments – information and communication Programmes for knowledge and technology transfer Information activities Capacity building