The green gas market is under pressure. Rising demand and lagging production are creating opportunities for new suppliers. This presents opportunities for livestock farmers. Manure digestion, long considered a technical afterthought, is suddenly becoming a serious option. According to DLV Advies, the time is ripe to enter the market.
Green gas producers currently receive between one and two euros per cubic meter, depending on subsidies and installation scale. This is close to the cost price, making it financially unattractive for many farmers for a long time. But circumstances are changing rapidly. The planned blending requirement starting in 2027, which obliges energy suppliers to add a percentage of green gas to the natural gas grid, is creating structural demand. This requirement means that green gas is guaranteed to find a market, at more stable prices.
For farmers, this can mean the difference between an unprofitable and a profitable investment. This is especially true if they choose a system that not only produces biogas but also captures nitrogen using an ammonia stripper. This technology removes ammonia from the digestate, the residual flow after anaerobic digestion. This not only generates energy but also limits nitrogen emissions.
The choice of how the biogas is used is crucial. Using biogas in a combined heat and power plant directly generates electricity and heat for the farm, which can be attractive if energy consumption is stable. Upgrading to green gas enables supply to the gas grid, but requires additional technology and scale. This decision requires careful consideration. The choice depends on the amount of available manure, the farm's energy consumption, and the possibilities for connecting to the gas grid.
A profitable digester typically requires at least twenty thousand tons of manure per year. This means that larger companies or cooperative livestock farmers are primarily candidates. Nevertheless, interest is growing, according to DLV Advies. This is especially true because manure digestion not only contributes to the energy transition but also helps solve the nitrogen surplus in livestock farming.
Besides producing energy, manure digestion also offers a way to dispose of manure. After processing, the digestate can be exported to areas where nitrogen is still needed. This transforms manure from a problem substance into a raw material.
The combination of higher gas prices, climate obligations, subsidy options, and pressure on nitrogen emissions makes manure digestion a strategic choice for farmers. According to DLV Advies, now is the time to investigate whether your own farm is suitable. Because the scarcer green gas becomes, the more favorable the terms for those who can supply it.
Source: DLV Advice
Photos: Pixabay
