Justification of the Use of Biogas for Power Generation in the Republic of Belarus

The development of biogas technologies in the Republic of Belarus takes place within the framework of power construction and the formation of a raw material base, which is determined by the peculiarities of economic development. Currently, biogas is produced using two main waste fermentation technologies: wet technology for processing organic livestock waste and dry technology for converting solid household waste. The first category includes 16 biogas plants with a total capacity of 21.219 MW, the main raw materials for which are organic waste from  animal husbandry, characterized by high humidity. The main equipment used in these plants are bioreactors. The second category of biogas complexes includes 21 biogas plants with gas piston units with a total installed capacity of 32.463 MW. Their main raw material for them is household solid waste, from which landfill gas is produced. Additional equipment, viz. cogeneration plants in both technologies makes it possible to increase the power efficiency of biogas production. According to the results of the assessment of the theoretical and technically possible potential of biogas from livestock waste while maintaining the number of livestock in agricultural organizations at the level of the beginning of 2023, there is a possibility of annual replacement of 1,325 million m³  and 982 million m³ of natural gas in the fuel balance of our country, respectively. In the last few years, there has been an urgent need to reorient the production activities of biogas complexes due to the commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. The change in the country’s energy structure has made significant adjustments to the functioning of alternative power engineering, including the production of biogas, primarily according to its target indicators. The issues of alternative energy production in the new conditions remain significant, since electric and thermal energy produced from biogas can and should be used for the operation of equipment, water heating, dehydration of the resulting vermicompost, and other local purposes. The environmental advantages  of biogas technologies remain highly relevant, i.e., effective management of organic waste from large livestock farms, which can significantly reduce pollution of soils, surface and groundwater, atmospheric air with organic pollutants, near livestock complexes. In the Republic of Belarus, there is now a need  to change the production activities of biogas complexes, primarily due to the appearance of nuclear power produced at the Belarusian nuclear power plant in the country’s energy balance.

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