ENERGETIC EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF THE AGRICULTURAL BIOGAS PLANT WORKING AS PEAK INSTALLATION

Biogas sector in Europe is the most stable producer of electric energy among renewable sources. The previsions of the future usage of biogas plants underline its work as energy storage installations (in chemical form of CH4) and energy production as "peak installations". This paper presents the analysis of energetic and economic efficiency of the agricultural biogas plant working as a peak installation (800 kW per 16 hours/day) contrary to basic scenario of continuously work (24h/day) with the power 500 kW. Both analyzed installations need the same amount of biogas and generate also similar amount of energy (approximatively 12 MWh/day). The cost of technical modifications of linear into peak installation is 350 kEUR and is related mainly to the necessity of bigger CHP unit, additional volume for gas storage over digestate tank and additional heat storage reservoir. Yearly profit of peak installation (800 kW) is 263 kEUR higher comparing to linear. In the guarantied 15-years support period this means 3,957 kEUR of additional profit which is more than 50% of the new peak biogas plant.