Sustainability of Vehicle Fuel Biomethane Produced from Grass Silage in Finland

Saija Rasi, Karetta Timonen, Katri Joensuu, Kristiina Regina, Perttu Virkajärvi, Hannele Heusala, Elina Tampio and Sari Luostarinen
Additional contact information
Saija Rasi: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Survontie 9 A, FI-40500 Jyväskylä, Finland
Karetta Timonen: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Maarintie 6, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
Katri Joensuu: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Maarintie 6, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
Kristiina Regina: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Bioeconomy and Environment, Tietotie 4, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
Perttu Virkajärvi: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Halolantie 31 A, FI-71750 Maaninka, Finland
Hannele Heusala: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Maarintie 6, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
Elina Tampio: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Production Systems, Maarintie 6, FI-02150 Espoo, Finland
Sari Luostarinen: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Bioeconomy and Environment, Tietotie 4, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Increasing demand of fossil-free fuels in the transport sector drives towards using new biomass sources in fuel production. Municipal waste as a substrate is used in many countries in biomethane production, but the amount of waste can cover only a small portion of the fuel used. In Europe, the new renewable energy directive (RED II) was established December 2018 to ensure the sustainability of renewable fuels. The directive includes typical and default greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for several potential substrates, such as biogas from manure or maize silage, which the biogas plants can use to verify their emissions directly or to calculate their emissions using the methods provided. However, such default value for grass silage as biogas substrate is lacking. We defined the conditions needed to fulfil the sustainability criteria of the directive when producing biomethane for vehicle fuel using grass silage as the feedstock in Finland. The emission reduction targets are not easy to achieve in Finland when using grass cultivated exclusively for energy production. The reduction targets can be achieved, however, if the grass is cultivated due to an improved crop rotation, where the grass is co-digested with manure and/or energy sources with zero emissions for the process can be applied.

Keywords: biogas; biomethane; grass silage; manure; RED II directive; sustainability; vehicle fuel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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