Anaerobic digestion plants connected upstream of composting plants: technology, costs and efficiency

The IFEU Institute for Environment and Energy Research in Heidelberg and other partners were contracted by the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety to report on the 'Improvements for a sustainable development of biogas production and use in Germany�. In the context of this project the IGW Engineering Company Witzenhausen and the Witzenhausen Institute assessed the economic efficiency of integrating an anaerobic treatment unit into existing composting concepts.

 

The approach included

• Assessment of the existing asset of composting plants in Germany,

• Estimate of operational expenses of biowaste composting,

• Inquiry of manufacturers of anaerobic technology regarding the investment and operational expenses of their systems,

• Estimate of operational expenses of an upstream anaerobic treatment unit,

• Estimate of revenues depending on the granted bonuses as well as the different concepts of energy utilization,

• Overall assessment of the economic efficiency of an integration,

• Recommendations on measures to develop biogas production from biowaste.

 

As the study revealed, the integration of an anaerobic digestion plant as upstream unit in composting plants became more interesting in recent times. Based on the Renewable Energies Act EEG with its different bonuses and depending on the specific technology and utilization concept, revenues of 20 to 35 € per ton biowaste could be reached. However, these revenues are facing additional investment and operational expenses that cannot compete with the self-financing operation of an exclusive composting.

 

 

Rechtliche und praktische Unsicherheiten bei der Durchführung des europäischen Klimaanpassungsrechts durch das Bundes- Klimaanpassungsgesetz (KAnG)
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (6/2025)
In the context of the European Climate Law (EU) 2021/1119), the Governance Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and the Nature Restoration Regulation (EU) 2024/1991, the KAnG came into force on July 1, 2024.

Transformatives Klimarecht: Raum, Zeit, Gesellschaft
© Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft mbH (6/2025)
This article contends that climate law should be conceived as inherently transformative in a double sense. The law not only guides the necessary transformation of economy and society, but is itself undergoing transformation.

Maßnahmen zur Klimaanpassung sächsischer Talsperren
© Springer Vieweg | Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH (5/2025)
Die Landestalsperrenverwaltung des Freistaates Sachsen (LTV) betreibt aktuell insgesamt 87 Stauanlagen, darunter 25 Trinkwassertalsperren. Der Stauanlagenbestand ist historisch gewachsen und wurde für unterschiedliche Zwecke errichtet.

 

 | Datenschutz 

 | Impressum