Regulatory framework
In effect since 2009, a directive from the European Parliament and the Council on the Promotion of Renewable Energies supports the expansion of renewable energies across the European Union. The directive set a 2020 target of meeting 20 % of the final energy consumption in the European Union with renewable energies. In Germany, the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) has produced a regulatory framework within which the young biogas industry has been able to flourish. The EEG ensures priority is given to electricity that is produced from renewable sources and fed into the public grid, as well as guarantees proper payment with a feed-in tariff fixed for 20 years.
The German biogas industry can expect some changes from 1 January 2012 when the latest EEG amendment comes into force. In future, remuneration will be geared towards the various categories of energy resources utilised. The amendment stipulates that the use of corn will be capped, and a high level of energy recovery will be a precondition for the operation of biogas plants. Another change will provide more support for smaller agricultural biogas plants – output capacities of 75 kW with a minimum of 80 % liquid manure usage. Greenhouse gas producing methane emissions from open liquid manure tanks will be reduced significantly thanks to the use of liquid manure in biogas plants to produce energy.
Other countries require their conventional energy producers to fulfil a renewable energy quota by purchasing green energy certificates from plant operators on national exchanges specially set up for this purpose.
