EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE OF BIOGAS AND BIOMETHANE PRODUCTION FROM WASTE ACCORDING TO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLE IN AGRICULTURE

Abstract

The article analyses the production of biogas from agricultural waste in the context of the circular economy. It is noted that waste-free biofuel production technologies can provide up to 50% of all farm incomes. The types of raw materials from which biogas production was carried out in the countries of the European Union in 2022 and their structure in different countries were investigated. It has been proven that in the structural ratio of the types of raw materials used for biogas production in the EU countries, energy crops and agricultural waste are leading. The volumes of biogas and biomethane production in the EU countries in 2021 are depicted and 16 countries are identified, which are the largest producers of biogas and biomethane relative to the total gas consumption among the countries of the European Union. A comprehensive analysis of the support and stimulation schemes for biogas and biomethane production was carried out in the context of the European Union and other European countries. The program documents in the field of energy of the European Union, which provide the reduction of consumption of fossil energy sources, the accelerated introduction of renewable energy sources (hereafter – RES) in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and the achievement of climate neutrality of the European Union by 2050, have been analyzed. It was determined that biomethane will be the most promising type of biofuel in the future. The potential of biomethane production in the EU countries until 2030 according to the production technologies is presented. A number of measures are proposed for the policy of stimulating biomethane production in order to achieve the growth in biomethane production in the countries of the European Union in 2030 – 40 billion cubic meters, in 2050 – 151 billion cubic meters. Attention is focused on additional types of raw materials for the production of ecologically clean biomethane (biomass from marginal or polluted lands and seaweed), as well as the latest technologies – hydrothermal gasification of wet raw materials, including organic waste and residues. EU countries are offered to include in their national climate and energy plans measures to stimulate the development of the biomethane industry.