A Geographical Information System (GIS) based methodology for determination of potential biomasses and sites for biogas plants in southern Finland

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 113; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Höhn, J., Lehtonen, E., Rasi, S., Rintala, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biogas; Biomass; Biomass potential; Biomethane; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Geographic information systems; GIS; Natural energy; Optimization; Plants (organisms); Regional assessment; Satellite navigation systems; Spatial distribution; Waste management; Finland; GIS; Biomass potential; Biogas; Biomethane; Regional assessment; Methodology; Information system; Geographic information system; Biomass
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.07.005

•The biomethane potential in southern Finland is over 3TWh.•Agricultural biomass accounts >90% of the biomethane potential in study regions.•The GIS method can be used for detailed biogas plant planning.•The GIS provides tools for e.g. land locations, cost and emission calculations. The objective of this study was to analyse the spatial distribution and amount of potential biomass feedstock for biomethane production and optimal locations, sizes and number of biogas plants in southern Finland in the area of three regional waste management companies. A Geographical Information System (GIS) based methodology, which also included biomass transport optimisation considering the existing road network and spatially varied biomass sources, was used. Kernel Density (KD) maps were calculated to pinpoint areas with high biomass concentration. The results show that the total amount of biomass corresponds to 2.8TWh of energy of which agro materials account for more than 90%. It was found that a total of 49 biogas plants could be built in three case regions with feedstock available within maximum transportation radius of 10 or 40km. With maximum of 10km biomass transportation distance, the production capacity of the planned plants ranges from 2.1 to 8.4MW. If transportation distance was increased to 40km, the plant capacities could also increase from 2.3 to 16.8MW. As demonstrated in this study, the studied GIS methodology can be used for identification of the most suitable locations for biogas plants by providing the tools for e.g. transportation routes and distances. The methodology can further be used in environmental impact assessment as well as in cost analysis.