Conference Presentation | Conference presentations and posters | Biogas
Evaluation of methane emissions from different Austrian biogas plants using harmonised methods including an open-path technology
Published 2019
Citation: Wechselberger V, Huber-Humber M, Meixner K, Knoll L, Hrad M. Evaluation of methane emissions from different Austrian biogas plants using harmonised methods including an open-path technology. 17th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Calgari Italy. Sep 2019.
Abstract
Although the number of studies investigating the contribution of anaerobic digestion facilities to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has increased during the last decade, reliable data with respect to gaseous process losses from these management practices, particularly at commercial scale, is scarce (Liebetrau et al., 2013, Reinelt et al., 2017, Hrad et al., 2015). The dynamic and fugitive nature of methane emissions, changing operating conditions, and different as well as not standardised measurement approaches compromise the precise quantification of the overall emissions from full-scale biogas plants. However, reliable and verifiable emission data from biogas or biomethane facilities are required in order to optimise and improve the plant-specific process efficiency as well as future technology developments. In addition, precise and comprehensive measurement data from full-scale waste treatment facilities are needed for more accurate emission factors (EFs) estimates, which are required for annual reporting according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines (IPCC, 2006).
Within the European project “EvEmBi - Evaluation and reduction of different biogas plant concepts” (2018-2021, funded within the 11th ERA-NET bioenergy call) 15 partners from 5 European countries evaluate the existing technologies at biogas plants regarding their methane EFs and develop emission reduction strategies, respectively. The focus of the Austrian research group within this project is the evaluation of Austrian bio-waste plants.
In a first step, emissions from single sources as well as overall plant emissions are quantified. For the latter, the Austrian team uses an open-path technology (Open-Path Tunable-Diode-Laser-Spectroscopy) together with meteorological data (ultra-sonic anemometer) and inverse dispersion modelling (Backward Lagrangian Model). In order to determine comparable EFs, the applied methodologies are based on a measurement guideline developed in the previous project “MetHarmo – European harmonization of method to quantify methane emissions from biogas plants” (funded within the 9th ERA-NET bioenergy call). In addition, the determined EFs of the individual plant concepts are transferred to EFs of the entire plant inventory of the particular countries. For that, a model for EF quantification is used which is based on statistical information on the emissions from different plant components as well as on the distribution of certain technologies present in the participating countries. Furthermore, for the particular biogas plants emission reduction strategies are developed, implemented and verified.
In this presentation, the harmonised approach, first emission results from the Austrian measurement campaigns as well as emission reduction strategies are presented.