Biogas production as an element of sustainable development of rural areas in EU and Poland

Abstract

The article is devoted to the issue of sustainable rural development, with particular focus on biogas. It presents legal regulations in this area used in the European Union, including Poland. Additionally, the article provides the results of operational tests (conducted in 2011-2012) of a small biogas plant with total capacity of two reactors 411 m3. The cost of electricity production was on the level of 113.76 PLN•MWh-1 and heat production costs - 206.06 PLN•MWh-1. The construction cost of biogas plant was equal 1100 PLN per cubic meter. The exploitation costs of biogas plant were 42450 PLN•year-1 as the cumulative costs: the annual cost of installation maintaining 27 000 PLN•year-1 and cost of use of the biogas plant was 5450 PLN•year-1. The calculated profit from the sale of produced electricity was 100622 PLN•year-1. The calculation has been prepared in accordance with the level of prices in Poland in the years 2011-2012.

Keywords

• sustainable development
• res (renewable energy sources)
• rural areas
• biogas