1. BIOSURF inter-association workshop Stefan Majer, DBFZ
„Assessment of environmental impacts from the production and use of biomethane“
BIOSURF inter-association workshop
Stefan Majer, DBFZ

2. The DBFZ in a nutshell
non-profit research institute, founded by the federal german ministry for food and agriculture
approx. 200 employees
focus on biomass conversion technologies, applied R&D
decision support and strategy development for policy, industry, etc.

3. The DBFZ - research departments
UFZ = Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)

4. Motivation
In the recent years, the demonstration of GHG mitigation effects from the production and use of biofuels has gained significance importance:
EU RED (EU Directive 2009/28/EC):
10% target for energy from renewable sources in the transport sector by 2020
Sustainability requirements for biofuels
FQD (Fuel Quality Directive 2009/30/EC):
Definition of a GHG reduction target in the national “mixture” of transportation fuels
UK:
Biofuel must meet a GHG emission target of 34.8 g CO2/MJ Heat or 60% GHG savings against EU fossil fuel average

5. How to proof the GHG-mitigation criteria
According to EU RED Annex V three options do exist:
use the default values included in Annex V
Biogas* from municipal organic waste 73%
Biogas* from wet manure 81%
Biogas* from dry manure 82%
(* in the form of compressed biomethane compatible with natural gas)
calculate the GHG-mitigation potential with actual values
combine actual values with dissagregated default values

6. Calculation with actual values
cultivation
processing
transport
use
CO2-capture
surplus electricity
source: DBFZ
According to EU RED Annex V

7. Tools for GHG accounting (examples)

8. Exemplary results Biggest impacts from
feedstock production (fertiliser production and application),
energy consumption (influenced by national emission factors) and
local methane emissions (leakage, digestate storage in open ponds)
GHG emissions in gCO2-Eq./MJ Biomethane
GHG-mitigation potential in %
source: DBFZ 2014

9. Main challenges
Main challenges with regard to GHG calculation as part of the sustainability certification for Biomethane:
Allocation of by-products
GHG mitigation effects from the use of agricultural wastes and manure
Uncertainties related to data (methane leakage, N2O emissions, credits)

10. Support provided by Biosurf
Assessment and Improvement of the knowledge base for the quantification of different GHG mitigation effects linked to biomethane production.
Development of a number of recommendations for the adaptation of the RED GHG calculation methodology and
Discussion of the most prominent drivers for emissions and potential GHG reduction measures

11. Workshop Questions
What are your experiences with LCAs for Biogas/Biomethane production and use?
What are the most pressing issues and challenges with regards to GHG-calculations that should be addressed within the Biosurf project?
methodology
data ??
What kind of products would be helpful for you? What do you expect?
guidelines
focus on specific issues (manure, methane leakage, reference systems, etc.)?

12. Thank you for your attention!

13. WP 5 Tasks (1)
Methane emission reduction due to processing agri by-products (Task 5.1)
source: DBFZ

14. WP 5 Tasks (2) 14
Methane emission reduction due to processing organic waste (Task 5.2)
source: DBFZ

15. WP 5 Tasks (3) 15
GHG emission saving due to replacement of chemical fertilisers (Task 5.3)
source: DBFZ

16. WP 5 Tasks (4)
source: DBFZ 16
GHG emissions caused by biomethane production (Life Cycle Analysis) (Task 5.4)

17. WP 5 Tasks (5)
source: DBFZ 17
Methodology for entitlement to CO2 certificates (Task 5.5)

18. What are we doing in Biosurf?
Assess and Improve the knowledge base for the quantification of different GHG mitigation effects linked to biomethane production.
Definition and assessment of a number of exemplary biomass-to-biomethane-value-chains with regards to their environmental impacts.
Based on these assessments:
a number of recommendations for the adaptation of the RED GHG calculation methodology can be developed and
the most prominent drivers for emissions can be identified and described.
Development of guidelines on calculating entitlement to CO2-certificates for biomethane. 18