Economic Analysis of Pellet Production in Co-Digestion Biogas Plants

Dávid Nagy, Péter Balogh, Zoltán Gabnai, József Popp, Judit Oláh and Attila Bai
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Dávid Nagy: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Péter Balogh: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Zoltán Gabnai: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
József Popp: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Judit Oláh: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Attila Bai: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi Street 138, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: In our paper we examine the economics of a technological process which utilizes the separated biogas plant digestate as the primary material and, as auxiliary material, the waste heat produced by the cogeneration process, to produce a marketable pellet which can be used in two ways (to supply soil nutrients and heat energy). Using multivariate linear regression model we developed an equation for the biogas yield from the modelled production recipe and expected nutrient pellet prices, and sensitivity analysis were also performed for the substrate dry matter content. We found that pellets can be produced at a cost of 88–90 EUR/ton with a 6 to 10% dry matter substrate content and that, primarily, sales of pellets for heating justify pelleting; producer’s own use and use for nutrient purposes can only be justified in exceptional cases. In the case of dry solid content above 5%, the process does not require the total amount of waste heat; some of this can be used to cover other heat requirements.

Keywords: biogas; manure; economics; pellet; waste heat (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:5:p:1135-:d:144400

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