Biomethane developments in Trentino - ITALY

European workshop on biomethane

DIAMANT Conference & Business Centre

Boulevard A.Reyers 80,

1030 Brussels

Tuesday, 11.03.2014

Silvia Silvestri

Head, Biomass and Renewable Energy unit

FONDAZIONE EDMUND MACH

Contents

• National framework

• Biogas and Biomethane in Italy

• Trentino province as site application of BIOMASTER

• Opportunities for biomethane development

• Future steps

• Conclusions

ITALY: national framework (1/3)

In 2011 the biogas produced from MSW,

agricultural and co-digestion plants was

29,5% of the total (1095,7 ktep)

1095,7

323,9

16,2

755,6

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

Landfill gas SS gas Other biogas Total

kte

p

2008 2009 2010 2011

The overall framework is highly conducive to biomethane: Italy is

the 3rd Country in Europe for biogas production

In 2012 the number of agricultural biogas

plants (≤ 1MWel) increased up to 994

due to the high incentives for CHP.

The biogas potential is about 20 TWh/year (3300 MWel) which corresponds to

8 billion m3 of biomethane/year (source: CRPA)

(CRPA, 2013) (EUROBSERV’ER, 2012)

1000

ITALY: national framework (2/3)

31.500 kms of NG grid

1000 filling stations with NG pump (2013)

790.000 NG vehicles (2013)

13% of vehicles for public transport (2011)

2 upgrading plants for biomethane production

When 1/3 of the biogas produced will

be used as biofuel for transport

2 billion kg bioCH4/year

4,2 kg NG/100 km Consumption in combined cycle

Tank methane: 72 liters (13,1 kg)

1.1 Mio Fiat Panda / year

(322.000 with 1/3 of the actual

production)

(on an average of 30’000 km)

1.1 Mio Fiat Panda / year

(322.000 with 1/3 of the actual

production)

(on an average of 30’000 km)

The Italian industry is leader in the

innovation technology for NGV components (Source: S. Bozzetto)

The biogas plant and upgrading in S.Giovanni Persiceto (BO)

GENTILMENTE CONCESSO DA PERSICETO BIOENERGIA

Decree 5 Dec. 2013 (Off.Gazette. nr. 295, 17-12-2013)

On 5 December 2013 a Ministerial Decree was issued defining incentives for the production of biomethane that is:

• injected into the gas transport and distribution gas grid;

• used in natural gas filling stations for transport;

• used in high efficiency cogeneration plants.

The incentives apply to the new plants (20 years) and to the existing plants in a reduced amount; the double counting will be considered for special types of waste (as food waste) and by-products.

The direct use (not in the NG grid) of biomethane in FS realized by the producer will get an increase in the incentive for 10 years.

Some regulations are still waited for the concrete boosting of the market.

ITALY: national framework (3/3)

NEW

Biogas and Biomethane

About Trentino

Alpine Region with a high touristic vocation

- Area 6,207 km², 533,394 inhabitants (2012)

- 60% of the territory is woodland

- Mountain agriculture

- 70% is over 1000 meters above sea level

- Hydroelectric and wood biomass are the main used RES

- 2 farm AD plants in operation (250 kW and 150 kW)

- 1 consortium farm biogas plant under approval (300 kW)

- 1 AD and composting plant for food waste (26.000 tons/year)

- 85,5 % of population is covered by the gas grid

- 5 CNG filling stations

- 34 CNG buses (in Trento) + 8 new

- 3,000 CNG private vehicles (for Trentino and Alto Adige)

Overview

Aims of project – Carried out activities

Site 1: Primiero

Feasibility, planning, construction

and operation of 1 biogas + BM plant

+ FS in Primiero and Vanoi

1. Tecn. evaluation for grid injection

2. Techn. proposal for upgrading + FS

Strategy for 100 BM vehicles (15

buses, private cars and 1 tractor) + 5

hydro-methane vehicles

Site 2: Cadino

Feasibility upgrading + FS for 1

biogas plant on the Adige Valley

Feasibility study for 1 centralized

biogas plant + upgrading + FS

in stand-by

3 hydro-methane vehicles:

1 Motorway A22 + 2 Dolomiti Energia

Tender for 8 NG buses

Technical partner

10

Site 2: the Cadino plant - presentation

In 2012 Bioenergia Trentino Srl realized the first Anaerobic Digestion and

composting plant in Trentino for the treatment of 50% of the food waste

produced and source selected.

Food Waste 25.715 tons/y

Yard waste 8.500 tons/y

CH4 56-60%

CHP 1 MWel

Good quality compost: 15.000 t/y

0,00%

10,00%

20,00%

30,00%

40,00%

50,00%

60,00%

70,00%

80,00%

90,00%

85,80%81,91%

71,58%

79,40%82,02%

72,97%

58,68%

80,14%

61,03%

67,32%68,26%74,62%

72,63%76,69%

73,83%

VAL DI FIEMME PRIMIERO BASSA VALSUGANA

ALTA VALSUGANA PIANA ROTALIANA, CEMBRA … VAL DI NON

VAL DI SOLE GIUDICARIE ALTO GARDA

VALLAGARINA VAL DI FASSA ISERA

ROVERETO TRENTO PROVINCIA DI TRENTO

74% Separate collection

Small size upgrading technologies

Membrane Tecnology

Biogas input: 115 Sm3/hour

Biomethane: 64 Sm ³/hour

Direct use in FS because of to high

costs for injection into the NG grid

Site 2: the Cadino plant – option on biomethane

35% of the biogas

produced

1,024,450 Sm3/year

Biomethane area

Future steps

1. Address the first technical evaluation with a

detailed characterization of the biogas produced

(amounts and quality).

2. Define the upgrading technology, related costs and

business plan.

3. Define possible final users and market for the

biomethane produced.

4. Promotion of the best practice of full recycling of

food waste into good quality compost, energy and

biomethane as a sustinable option.

Conclusions

• ITALY confirms as a country with a high potential in terms of biomass

suitable to AD. The new decree will permit to improve the chain with the

biomethane production first of all for the transport use.

• In TRENTINO the mountain territory, the small scale of farms and the

distribution of biomass need adaptation of technological solutions both for

the biogas and biomethane plants.

• BIOMASTER was effective in promoting biomethane at national level by

direct participation to the elaboration of the new law and by information and

training actions at different level.

• In TRENTINO, also to the BIOMASTER activity, the new planning tools

recently approved (Energy Plan, Biomass Action Plan, 2013) include

biomethane and hydromethane as biofuels ready to be introduced on the

territory starting from demonstration sites of application.

Silvia Silvestri, FEM – Fondazione Edmund Mach

Biomass and Renewable energy Unit

Via E. Mach,1 38010 San Michele all‘Adige (Trento)

ITALY

silvia.silvestri@fmach.it

www.biomaster-project.eu

Thank you for your attention!