Biomethane, as a local alternative to natural gas produced from biodegradable waste, offers significant potential for decarbonising the energy sector. However, despite its obvious environmental and economic advantages, many myths and half-truths still persist about it. Take a look at some of the most common ones.
7 myths about biomethane
1. Biomethane production requires large agricultural areas
One of the most widespread myths about biomethane is that it can only be produced in agricultural biogas plants that process purpose-grown biomass. However, currently in the Czech Republic, biomethane production plants are predominantly waste-processing rather than agricultural. These do not focus on processing purpose-grown crops, but on kitchen waste or gastro-waste of plant and animal origin.
“For the production of biomethane, it is not necessary to occupy and deplete land by growing specific crops for its production. Up to two million tonnes of biodegradable waste are produced in the Czech Republic annually, and by sorting it and then processing it into gas, electricity and heat, approximately 1,000 GWh of biomethane could be produced annually,” explains Tomáš Voltr, CEO of the Energy financial group.
2. Bio-waste and gastro-waste are the same
Although it may seem that bio-waste and gastro-waste are one and the same, they are actually two different types of waste that also need to be separated into two different types of sorting containers. Purely in terms of concepts, bio-waste (or organic waste) is an umbrella term for all biodegradable waste, including kitchen waste, i.e. gastro-waste. However, so-called ‘gastro’, i.e. for example vegetable and animal waste from kitchens, does not belong in the bio-waste bins. Only waste of plant origin is put in them, as their contents go to composting plants, which cannot process animal waste. Gastro-waste, on the other hand, goes to low-emission energy treatment in biogas plants.
“To facilitate the sorting and collection of kitchen waste, we have already deployed dark brown containers marked ‘gastro waste’ in more than 20 Czech towns and villages through the ‘Třídím gastro’ project. Unlike the bio-waste containers, all animal and vegetable waste can be disposed of in their original packaging,” says Ondřej Černý, Director of EFG Logistics.
3. Biomethane production is expensive and dependent on subsidies
Biomethane production is widely believed to be expensive because it cannot survive without guaranteed support. However, the truth is that these projects can be efficiently implemented without any subsidy.
“We know from our experience with the construction and operation of the biomethane plant in Rapotín as the first ever facility of its kind in the Czech Republic that the production of so-called green gas from organic waste can be economically viable even without state support. We have not used any subsidy for biomethane in any of our energy facilities. It is just always necessary to carefully analyze the inputs, outputs and the possibilities of selling the produced gas,” explains Tomáš Voltr, CEO of the Energy financial group.
4. Biomethane destroys gas pipes
There is sometimes concern that the biomethane cannot flow in the conventional gas distribution system because it would endanger or damage it. However, biomethane is identical in composition to natural gas and can be easily and safely distributed into the existing network, stored and used for heating in the colder months.
“The quality of the biomethane supplied to the grid is constantly checked by a chromatograph due to strict rules set by the distributor. This makes it possible to use this green gas in gas boilers, household appliances and other devices without the need to modify the technology used,” explains Martin Janda, Director of EFG Production.
5. Biomethane production is noisy and smelly
In the past, some biogas plants could actually cause noise and odour because they were improperly designed or operated. However, with technological advances, the reality is now different. Modern biomethane plants use sound insulation and closed fermenters, so noise and odour are absolutely minimised. In addition, these facilities are regularly inspected and maintained to meet strict environmental standards.
“To eliminate odours from the processed waste, the halls of our biogas plants are equipped with advanced air purification systems. When building our facilities, we also comply with noise limits, which include, for example, a minimum distance of 500 m from residential areas,” says Pavel Bureš, Technical Director of the Energy financial group.
6. Biomethane plants waste the gas they generate
Myths also include the claim that biomethane plants do not use the gas produced efficiently and simply burn the surplus on flaring. In reality, biomethane plants are designed to maximise the use of the gas they produce. Flaring is just a standard safety feature.
“The flaring is used to burn off excess gas that could be dangerous for any reason. The emissions from the combustion of this amount of gas, which is negligible compared to the total production, are incomparably lower compared to the production of waste emissions from landfills that escape into the atmosphere. The proof of low-emission operation and production of electricity, heat and biomethane is the so-called ISCC certification, which, for example, our Rapotín biomethane plant has successfully obtained for the fifth year in a row,” says Martin Janda.
7. Biomethane does not have sufficient potential in the Czech Republic
The fact is that biomethane production is becoming a priority for many European countries as a way to achieve climate goals and energy independence. But despite having more than 600 biogas plants in the Czech Republic, making us one of the major biogas producers in Europe, we are still lagging behind in biomethane production as a fully renewable alternative to natural gas. So far, only ten plants in the Czech Republic produce biomethane. However, we produce around two million tonnes of biodegradable waste annually, which creates the potential to operate around 66 waste-processing biogas plants with a total annual production of 100 million m3 of biomethane.
By the end of 2025, the Energy Financial Group plans to operate a total of seven stations producing up to 100 GWh of this so-called green gas. The holding should thus be able to process up to 100,000 tonnes of otherwise unusable, almost exclusively landfilled organic waste per year at its stations.
