3. What are the potentials of biogas?

Against the background of climate change and energy policy, there is a growing demand for sustainable, renewable and indigenous energy sources in Europe.

Using materials for energy production, which otherwise are considered wastes or which disposal costs money, is convincingly clever. In addition to the environmental benefits, the rising prices of conventional energy and the growing requirements for waste management of organic materials are further arguments in favour of biogas production.

But use of animal manure, organic waste and other types of biomass as energy sources will depend to a large extent on availability. Availability and implementation is strictly dependent on national and EU agricultural, environmental and energy policies. Co-digestion of animal manure and other types of suitable organic waste in biogas plants is an integrated process. On the background of renewable energy production, the process includes intertwined environmental and agricultural benefits, such as

savings for the farmers
improved fertilisation efficiency
less greenhouse gas emission
cheap and environmentally sound waste recycling
reduced nuisance from odours and flies
possibilities of pathogen reduction through sanitation, all this connected to renewable energy production

Natural gas, oil and solid fuels dominate the primary energy supply of Romania with an aggregate share of 74% of the total. Total consumption has been slightly increasing over the last 3 years, having exhibited a significant decrease over the period 1990-1999. The shares of oil and natural gas have shown an important reduction since 1990 and the supply of oil is now below EU-27 average of 38%. In contrast, renewable sources have been steadily increasing, accounting for the 12% of gross inland consumption, which is much higher than the EU-27 average of 6%.

40 % of Romania is agricultural area and ca. 30 % forest, but only 10 % of the biomass are used for energy production. Currently biomass is merely used for heating purposes, direct burning for cooking and hot water preparation accounting for the largest share.