Switching to manure-based energy could very well be one of the answers to South Africa’s energy crisis. So says Andrey Belousenko, director of business development at R Schmitt Enertec GmbH, a world-renowned manufacturer of gas engines, generator sets, and cogeneration units from Germany. Belousenko answered some questions on the matter with Cape Business News.
CBN – Let’s go through the basics: what is biogas, how is it produced, and why is it more beneficial than natural gas?
Belousenko – I’ll tell you more. In some ways, it’s even more beneficial than solar and wind. It is a 100% eco-friendly fuel produced by the natural fermentation of biomass.
It is a case of taking something completely useless and turning it into vital necessities – electricity and heat. Biogas can be produced from crop residues, manure and sewage, food production waste, and even our breakfast leftovers.
We once supplied combined heat and power (CHP) units to the city of Lünen, Germany, and now all 90 000 residents can use electricity and heat produced from cow and horse manure and other organic materials from local farms.
CBN – Do you have other biogas projects?
Belousenko – We’ve delivered about 20 biogas-powered generators and cogeneration units to customers in 10 countries. That’s just for biogas.
In total, Enertec’s reach is much wider – about 40 countries. We’ve been in the market for a long time and what sets us apart from competitors is our flexibility. The same products can run on almost any type of gas: biogas, LPG, syngas, flare gas, and of course, natural gas.
So, if a customer buys our CHP for natural gas, they’re not limited. They can always switch to biogas later.
CBN – We were talking about how to make it. What happens with the collected waste?
Belousenko – It’s crushed, mixed with water, and sent to a special facility without oxygen, where it is left to bacteria. As they process the organic material, they release methane and carbon dioxide – a ready fuel that just needs to be collected and delivered to consumers.
CBN – But you have to clean the gas first, don’t you?
Belousenko – That depends on the generator. Our units can handle impurities and work efficiently on gas with a high methane content. This means that biogas doesn’t need to be purified to the level of natural gas.
This simplifies and reduces the cost of production, making it accessible and attractive. For South Africa, this is exactly the technology that can help overcome the current crisis.
Biogas plants produce energy continuously, providing homes, businesses, schools and hospitals with a renewable and reliable alternative that is not subject to international logistics challenges and gas price fluctuations. Unlike solar panels and wind turbines, biogas plants can operate 24 hours a day in any weather.
CBN – Given that South Africa is one of the world’s top 15 emitters of carbon dioxide, this is a powerful argument.
– And the potential is huge! According to a study by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the potential for biogas in the agricultural sector in South Africa is estimated at 2 500 megawatts of electricity.
The study also found that there is potential for the development of approximately 8 000 biogas digesters in the livestock sector alone, which could generate significant amounts of electricity and organic fertiliser.
It is important to note that the agricultural sector is not the only source of organic waste that can be used to produce biogas. The waste sector in South Africa also produces significant amounts of organic waste, such as food waste and sewage sludge, that can be used for this purpose.
Local Support is key for reliability and after-sales support on gensets
In South Africa, Enertec has partnered with local supplier Energas Technologies who has over 23 years’ of experience in the oil and gas industry as an equipment supplier. The Energas maintenance team is trained to service and support the Enertec engines that are operational at a few sites in Gauteng area.
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