Biogas as a source of energy

by Boris Komovnikov

The TACIS project "Reduction of the quantity of greenhouse gas, which is formed at the testing ground of the City of Kaliningrad" was implemented by the municipal enterprise "Ecological Centre EKAT-Kaliningrad" in association with Kalmar (Sweden), the establishment Sustainable South-Eastern Sweden and the Kaliningrad branch of "Mariyskiy NPZ". Within the framework of the project the following activities were fulfilled:

• The preliminary theoretical estimations were carried out by the Swedish experts in order to plan the practical work;
• The Kaliningrad dump was investigated; the biogas examples were taken and its components were studied;
• Preparation of the report on the costs of biogas elimination and utilization, reduction of its negative impact on environment and the technical recommendation concerning the project realization;

Five test wells were drilled within the testing ground territory in order to take the examples of biogas from both of them. By carrying out the laboratory researches the level of methyl hydride contained in the wells was figured (from 64% to 81%).

The data on the wells is presented in the following table:

The total biogas volume is estimated to 11 millions square meters per year. In order to obtain the information on the waste decay level and the impact on environment the well filtrate probes were taken. The results of the leached water (filtrate) laboratory researches revealed the active process of biogas formation.

The theoretical estimations showed that about 11 millions square meters of biogas are formed yearly at the Kaliningrad dump. This number is equal to 7 energy megavolt. Biogas quality and quantity allow to use it as a material for heat and electric energy production.