Technical Report

Drivers for Successful and Sustainable Biogas Projects

International Perspectives

Report of a symposium held on March 26, 2020

May 2020

On March 26th, 2020, speakers representing the IEA Bioenergy Task 37 group shared their work and expertise in seven distinct presentations. These experts shared their biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) experiences in well-developed biogas sectors on a variety of topics, from feedstock, policy, technology issues, to the circular economy. Symposium participants had the opportunity to learn about the history of, and lessons learned in, the biogas-renewable natural gas-green gas industry in specific countries as well as future perspectives for the development of this industry. This symposium (which was held online due to the covid-19 pandemic) was made possible by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy Task 37 Group and was hosted by the Canadian Biogas Association (https://www.biogasassociation.ca) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The following document provides a summary of the ideas, presentations, and lessons that presenters shared with the wider biogas community via this symposium. The Canadian Biogas Association is grateful to the IEA Bioenergy Task 37 group, to the seven presenters, and to the audience of over 200 participants who contributed to the success of the Symposium.

The drivers for successful and sustainable anaerobic digestion projects are country and context specific. The challenge that such projects face – in all countries – is how to make anaerobic digestion projects financially viable. We know from countries that have biogas plants that supportive policies are required in a number of areas, including waste management, renewable energy and climate change mitigation. To make these projects work, financial assistance, such as capital grants and multi-year power purchase agreements with a significant premium, is needed to attract the necessary investment.

As a member of IEA Bioenergy Task 37, Canada is privileged to learn from the experiences of other countries who have longer established biogas industries. In turn, Canada can share the lessons it has learned from the different provinces on the conditions that will enable the development of anaerobic digestion in a context of low energy prices and low population density (i.e. high land per capita).

In this symposium we heard from seven IEA Bioenergy Task 37 Member countries – Australia, Finland, The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Ireland. Collectively they painted a picture of how the right combination of feedstocks, technologies and policies are required for a successful and sustainable project. The solutions are not “one size” fits all, but country specific. The final presentation by the Task Leader, Professor Jerry Murphy, presents both today’s benefits of anaerobic digestion being a negative emission solution and future opportunities for biogas production to be part of a country’s clean energy supply and a source of renewable biofertiliser, making agriculture even more circular.

Un grand merci is extended to Canadian Biogas Association who organized this symposium in Toronto, and then – when travel was no longer possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic – quickly turned around and converted the event into a three-hour online symposium. The dedication of Jennifer Green, Paulina Szlachta, and all of the Task 37 country representatives who stayed up to deliver their presentations – outside of normal work hours – is to be commended.