Oldenburg, 8th November, 2007
EWE starts biogas upgrading
Energy group brings biogas to its customer network
The energy group EWE (Oldenburg) has started biogas conditioning therewith confirming her continued obligation to the field of renewable energy. Yesterday (8th November) EWE inaugurated, in Werlte (in Lower Saxony), the first biogas upgrading plant in Northern Germany. The plant brings biogas to the quality of natural gas before feeding it to the local gas network. The plant is coupled to the biogas power plant which was in operation since 2002, but which EWE took over in 2006. Thus the incoming biogas is upgraded in the plant attaining the quality of natural gas and the gas is directly fed to the gas grid. Therefore, biogas can now be used on a wider scale. So far, besides the generated electricity and thermal energy, EWE has also since 2004 and 2005 been operating Wittmund and Surwold biogas power plants.
"Biogas is an important component in the future energy supply. EWE´s pioneer work in the area of renewable energies must not only be seen through the commissioning of the concentration plant, but also with regard to climate protection" asserted Dr. Thomas Neuber, EWE – Directorate of Procurement and Production, on Thursday in Werlte. Biogas is a CO2 neutral energy source. That is, the amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere from burning biogas is rather thought to be as much as that which plants would normally use for their growth or be released naturally from decomposing or rotting animal waste.
Together with the wastes from the food processing industry, the plant can feed about three (3) million cubic meters of biogas into local gas network annually. This amount is enough to supply about 2,000 households with gas for a year.
According to Dr. Neuber, the supply of biogas fits in very well with EWE´s range of products. Thus for example, EWE-daughter `NaturWatt´ plans to supply biogas to its clients. The distribution however, is not likely to start before end of 2007.
Further more biogas can prospectively run a co-generation unit and under this framework, for example contract services shall be used for EWE’s Direct-Heat-Service. Although EWE is the proprietor of the company it also maintains and takes care of contingency repairs. The customers only pay for the effective heat.
"We intend to promote biogas fuel further. We will in future blend the convectional natural gas with 10% biogas in over 50 filling stations within EWE´s supply area between Ems Weser and Elbe" said Dr. Neuber. From our own information EWE plans to have more biogas upgrading plants in operation, thus engaging in the area boosts the potential of biogas as the next future energy.
