THE POTENTIAL FOR AGRICULTURAL BIOGAS PRODUCTION IN POLAND

The purpose of this study has been to determine the potential volume of raw materials generated by agriculture in Poland that can be used to produce biogas. The principal feedstock supplied to agricultural biogas plants consists of agricultural waste biomass (animal faeces, waste products from agricultural and food processing production, etc.) and biomass from dedicated plant production, i.e. the one whose target is to grow and harvest energy crops. Biogas plants located at farms should contribute to energy safety and diversification of revenue in rural areas. The construction of a biogas plant in a specific location should be preceded by an analysis of the availability of raw material for biogas production. Poland has a large potential capacity of securing sufficient quantities of feedstock for biogas generation, and the estimated amount of methane thus obtained (5.2 billion m(3)) should cover around 47% of the domestic demand for natural gas. Poland is now at the initial phase of producing biofuel from biogas.