Repowering existing biogas plants is becoming increasingly significant

EnviTec Biogas reacts with new range for biogas plant operators
“Making what’s good even better” – this is the brief formula behind repowering existing biogas plants. “Our range for increasing the efficiency of older biogas plants using modern components has met great interest among our customers. This year we already expect to receive orders worth 10 million euros in this area,” says Jürgen Tenbrink, the board member responsible for Technology at EnviTec Biogas AG. Thus since April the newly formed “Repowering” department has been exclusively involved in optimising existing biogas plants – and with great success. In the first half of 2012 alone the expert team has already been able to provide help and advice to 20 operators. “By the end of the year we expect a further 20 orders,” emphasised Christian Ernst, Head of Sales at EnviTec Biogas.

Opportunity for further financial development
By setting up a new department the biogas plant builder has reacted to the great demand in this area. This has recently been strengthened by the rise in the privilege limit. This change has given old plants the chance for further economic efficiency. For example, this can involve the addition of an extra combined heat and power unit (CHP), or exchanging an old CHP for a new one with higher output. Operators can also proverbially “step on the gas” in substrate treatment. Targeted treatment of the substrate achieves higher quantities of gas from the input thus significantly improving the overall efficiency of the plant. This also saves the operator money due to lower input purchases. “A further option can also be using our gas treatment plant EnviThan,” explains Ernst. Gas treatment with membrane technology is suitable for plants with low raw biogas quantities and can thus be an interesting alternative to electricity generation.

Optimisation
An individual decision about which concept is the right one for the plant operator is always made. What is authoritative in drawing up a repowering concept is therefore thorough consultancy and viewing the plant on site. This produces many different possibilities to increase the overall efficiency of a plant. Whether this concerns an EnviTec plant or a plant from another provider does not matter. Using a process analysis, a precise review is made to identify which option is the best to make a plant more cost effective. Only then will the cost effectiveness be recalculated and a tender submitted. The customer decides how things will go from there. However, one thing is certain for Christian Ernst: “It is our target to offer our customers the optimum in further developments and technical innovations again and again, making their plants even more efficient. This is the attraction of repowering for us and it also convinces our customers.”

Visit www.envitec-biogas.de for more  information.

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