Analysing key constraints to biogas production from crop residues and manure in the EU

The journal paper presents a spatially explicit method for making regional estimates of the potential for biogas production from crop residues and manure, accounting for key technical, biochemical, environmental and economic constraints.

Some findings include:

• The EU biogas production potential from crop residues and manure is about 0.7 EJ/year, nearly double the current EU production of biogas from agricultural substrates, most of which does not come from residues or manure. 
• The potential could easily be 50% higher or lower, depending on the stringency of economic, technical and biochemical constraints.
• The potential is particularly sensitive to constraints on the substrate mixtures' carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and dry matter concentration. 

To read the paper in full – click here