Technical Report

Potential for Manure-based Anaerobic Digestion – Motivations, Barriers and Approaches in Six Countries

March 2025

Summary

Manure is a sustainable substrate for energy provision. The report updates the status of anaerobic digestion of manure in six IEA Bioenergy Task 37 Member countries, Canada, China, Finland, France, Norway, and the UK, emphasizing the importance of using manure as a source for renewable energy production.

The analysis of anaerobic digestion of livestock manure across the six countries reveals both challenges and opportunities.

1. Current manure generation and utilization

Significant and pretty stable or a little declined amounts of livestock manure is produced in the six countries, primarily from cattle, swine, and poultry, with production patterns varying based on regional agricultural practices. Farm sizes increase, number decrease.
Only about 1%~3% of livestock manure is used for anaerobic fermentation to produce biogas, indicating a significant underutilization of this resource for renewable and clean energy production.
Most manure, including the manure after biogas extraction, is used for field application to add nutrients and fibres to the soil.
The potential for biogas production from manure is vast but varies by region with significant opportunities identified, particularly if combined with other organic waste streams, but many facilities struggle with operational efficiency.

2. Motivations for adopting anaerobic digestion

The driving factors for manure anaerobic digestion are environmental concerns (e.g., reducing water and soil pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions), chemical fertilizer replacement, financial incentives (subsidies for renewable energy) and then the foreseen profit, and the desire for energy independence and sustainability in agricultural practices.
The global methane pledge and national strategies for climate change mitigation has posed new driving forces for manure biogas production by 2030.

3. Challenges and opportunities to manure biogas expansion

Under the new situation of coping with climate changes, the first common obstacle to expanding manure biogas is the awareness of biogas importance and contribution to global methane pledge. With a full aware of this by policy makers and financial investors, new political, infrastructural and financial tools will be created to promote and guarantee the manure biogas flourishment.
Economic viability is the second challenge. High capital costs for infrastructure, low-energyvalue feedstocks, limited financial incentives specifically for manure biogas, and insufficient value realization for biogas ecological contributions, make manure biogas difficult to be attractive.
Regulatory constraints are a common challenges in all countries. Complex permitting processes, over-claim on safety and construction, differences in regional regulations, and the classification of manure as waste, which necessitates additional compliance measures but does not have waste-treatment subsidies like city waste.
Geographical distance from existing gas and electricity grids impacts the feasibility of manure biogas and poses logistical challenges. The super large scale biogas plants on the super large livestock and poultry farms needs to transport the digestates for a long distance. Considering the low nutrients in the digestates, it causes economic deficit to the biogas plants.

4. Sustainability and circular economy

Anaerobic digestion can help mitigate agricultural pollution, convert waste to renewable energy, and recycle nutrients. All the six countries are recognizing the importance of implementing anaerobic digestion of livestock and poultry manure as a strategy to contribute to a circular economy. For instance, Finland aims to enhance nutrient cycling and energy independence, aligning manure biogas with broader agricultural and environmental goals.
The biogas facility should be seen as an essential constituent in the circular economy agricultural system. Its output must not be focused on energy yield alone but also, as a source of valuable bio-fertilizer to be recycled back onto agricultural land which is the starting point for feed for animals which produce the manure. Beside the provision of energy and the reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

5. Comparative learnings between the six countries

Solutions and experiences from various countries demonstrate different approaches to managing manure for energy production, highlighting unique regional challenges and successful case studies. Norway could adopt collaborative approaches seen in Finland; the UK could benefit from Finland’s focus on nutrient recycling and the establishment of supportive regulations. Countries like China demonstrate the potential for significant biogas production through large-scale investments and supportive public policies. Further, biogas plants play the compensation role in the energy network.

6. Future directions for livestock and poultry manure biogas production

There is a necessity for clear, long-term policies that specifically target manure utilization in anaerobic digestion to overcome existing barriers and encourage investment. Improvement in community awareness, education regarding benefits, and financial mechanisms could enhance the acceptance and expansion of biogas technology.
The collective potential of enhancing anaerobic digestion practices has significant implications for climate change mitigation, energy production, and sustainable agricultural systems. For substantial progress to be made, there must be a coordinated effort among stakeholders, including government bodies, the agriculture sector, and technology providers, to create supportive frameworks and incentives.
To fully exploit the potential of manure biogas, the report suggests enhancing policy frameworks, increasing public and private investments, and fostering educational initiatives to support farmers in implementing sustainable practices.

In summary, achieving the vast potential of manure biogas requires addressing the barriers and challenges outlined in the report. Each country’s unique context shapes its approach, but shared learning and effective policy-making can lead to meaningful advancements in manure biogas conversion.

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