Poland to invest in innovative agricultural biogas plants
Twenty farm-scale biogas plants based on innovative Polish technology, which will allow agricultural substrate management and their conversion into electricity and biomethane will be built under a letter of intent signed at the agriculture ministry on Wednesday.
The letter of intent on cooperation to this effect was signed by ORLEN Poludnie from Poznan, western Poland, active in production of biofuels and biocomponents, Poznan University of Life Sciences and the National Support Centre for Agriculture (KOWR), which supervises Poland's largest farms where the biogas plants are to be built.
The implementation of new investments will improve the economic efficiency of companies belonging to KOWR, Minister of Agriculture Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski said at the signing ceremony. It will also serve to increase the competitiveness of Poland's agriculture and contribute to the achievement of climate goals, he added.
According to Deputy Minister of State Assets, Zbigniew Gryglas, this is an important project not only for agriculture, but also for the entire economy. "The area of energy, which so far has been 'lying fallow,' will now be developed," he said.
It is estimated that the potential of substrates from Polish agriculture will allow for the production of around 7 billion cubic metres of biogas, one third of the domestic demand, he noted.
The value of the programme is to reach at least PLN 0.5 bln (EUR 113 mln), and the return on investment is foreseen in four to five years.
Under the agreement concluded on Wednesday, ORLEN Poludnie will serve the general contractor of the project, while Poznan University of Life Sciences will provide the innovative technology to be used in the construction of the biogas plants.
