Comparison of Biogas Supply Chains Using the Example of the Conditions of a Municipality

Due to scarcity of oil fields and the constant rise of energy needs of the industrialized countries, alternatives of power supply must be found. In addition, the rising energy demand provides a drastic increase of CO2 emissions, which among other reasons are also responsible for the climatic change. In the climatic protection package valid since 2008 a reduction of up to 40% in CO2 levels is aimed by the year 2020 . In order to achieve this objetive, an increase of the portion of renewable energies is intended for the energy and heat supply. In the past five years the portion of renewable energies of the total energy consumption in Germany has doubled and is now 8,6 percent . Waste management carries also a large portion of CO2 emissions in Germany besides industry. So called biogenous waste from nearly all areas such as households, industry and the waste water treatment indicate a great potential for energy supply and reduction of CO2 emissions (See Figure1).