Biogas potential of agriculture

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the biogas potential of agriculture in the typical Russian region. The design of this study was completed using the main kinds of agricultural production of the Tambov region as the feedstocks for biogas production. Average amounts of the feedstocks were calculated on the base of data for the period 2009–2018. The quantities and revenues of electricity, heat, and biofertilizers from biogas produced from various substrates were estimated and mapped for each of the twenty-three municipal districts of the region. Results revealed an average total monetary biogas potential of 88.52 × 10 9 RUB for the Tambov region per year, where 75.43% are provided by electricity and heat energy and the remaining 24.57%—by biofertilizers, therefore, biogas potential of the Tambov region is comparable with biogas potential of a European country. Such feedstocks as sunflower silage, cereal grain, and cereal straw were defined as the most attractive substrates in the region. At the same time, the most of feedstocks being the main farmers’ commodity production are debatable to be used as substrates; as for Russian farmers, biogas production is a new and not well-known technology. Nevertheless, the developed calculation method can now be applied by local authorities of the Tambov region and other regions of the Russian Federation as the base to develop the biogas sector in the most promising areas by supporting farmers and business structures and attracting investments in biogas technology.