Poland's Enea and sugar producer KGS assess biomethane plants at sugar factories

Polish energy group Enea and food company Krajowa Grupa Spożywcza (KGS), which owns sugar factories, announced on 27 October at the Ministry of State Assets in Warsaw that they will cooperate on assessing biomethane plant projects. Biomethane is a gaseous fuel purified from biogas that can be used where natural gas is currently burned. For farmers it could open a new market, but the terms of cooperation have not yet been defined.

Planned capacity

The combined capacity of the planned installations could reach about 60 MW, with production potential of up to 1.2 TWh a year. Feasibility studies are to cover six locations linked to seven KGS sugar factories. Work will proceed in stages, starting with the two sites that have the greatest investment potential. Preliminary assumptions suggest a single site could produce about 18.2 million cubic metres of biomethane a year, equal to roughly 200 GWh. These figures are estimates and must be confirmed by technical and economic analysis.

Feedstock and farmers

The feedstocks mentioned include manure, sugar beet pulp and potato pulp. For farms this could mean extra ways to dispose of natural fertilisers or sell certain by-products. However, the companies have not yet published prices, quality requirements, transport rules or contract terms, and the collection of such materials from farmers has not been agreed. Profitability will depend on feedstock availability, transport costs and the plants' technological requirements.

Model and next steps

Under the initial assumptions, the plants would run in a hybrid model, producing electricity and heat for their own needs alongside biomethane. Commercial use of biogas in cogeneration and transport is also being considered. The agreement itself does not mean a decision to build all the plants; each project will be assessed technically and economically. No construction schedule has been presented. State Assets Minister Wojciech Balczun stressed possible benefits for energy security, while Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka pointed to the role of domestic biomethane in reducing dependence on fossil fuels.