Cost optimisation of biomass transformation in the biogas process
2009
Csipkes, M., University of Debrecen (Hungary). Centre of Agricultural and Engineering Sciences. Dept. of Economic Analysis and Statistics | Gal, T., University of Debrecen (Hungary). Centre of Agricultural and Engineering Sciences. Coordination Centre for Logistics | Szendrei, J., University of Debrecen (Hungary). Centre of Agricultural and Engineering Sciences. Coordination Centre for Logistics | Nagy, L., University of Debrecen (Hungary). Centre of Agricultural and Engineering Sciences. Dept. of Economic Analysis and Statistics
Nowadays, energy production is characterised by the domination of fossil energy sources. However, increasing costs, exhausted resources and environment pollution enforce significant changes within the energy sector in the following 10 years. In Hungary, huge amounts of by-products and waste are produced in the agricultural sector. [5] Their usage and effective management can provide energy sources in a long-term, at the same time fostering regional job creation [8]. In our research the input, transformation and output activities of a biogas plant were modelled with the GNF (Generalised Network Flow) method. The plant is based on a 1000-sow farm with slurry system. Other inputs in the area can comprise silage maize, sweet sorghum, grass silage, and by-products of green pea processing. Transforming process in the biogas plant has two steps. During the first step, the input material is digested, while during the second step, transforming processes are carried out according to the various utilisation forms of the biogas and the fermented manure. Products from the biogas production are as follows: clean biogas, electricity, heat, and their combinations. The fermented material can be utilised in homogenised form, or as separated liquid and dry phases. Our aims were to optimise the processes with minimum costs. The analysis of shadow prices and the sensitivity analysis lead to the determination of marginal costs of the input materials and economic transport distances. This model allows decreasing the cost of biogas production as well as deciding on the plants to be grown, thus increasing the competitiveness of green energy production.
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