TY - GEN A1 - Baena-Moreno, Francisco Manuel A1 - González-Castaño, Miriam A1 - Arellano-García, Harvey A1 - Ramirez Reina, Tomas T1 - Exploring profitability of bioeconomy paths: Dimethyl ether from biogas as case study T2 - Energy N2 - Herein a novel path is analysed for its economic viability to synergize the production of biomethane and dimethyl ether from biogas. We conduct a profitability analysis based on the discounted cash flow method. The results revealed an unprofitable process with high cost/revenues ratios. Profitable scenarios would be reached by setting prohibitive DME prices (1983–5566 €/t) or very high feed-in tariffs subsidies (95.22 €/MWh in the best case scenario). From the cost reduction side, the analysis revealed the need of reducing investment costs. For this purpose, we propose a percentage of investment as incentive scheme. Although the size increase benefits cost/revenues ratio, only the 1000 m3/h biogas plant size will reach profitability if 90% of the investment is subsidized. A sensitivity analysis to check the influence of some important economical parameters is also included. Overall this study evidences the big challenge that our society faces in the way towards a circular economy. KW - Biomethane production KW - Biogas upgrading KW - CO2 utilization KW - Green energy production KW - Waste valorization KW - Dimethyl ether Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.120230 SN - 0360-5442 VL - 225 ER - TY - GEN A1 - González-Arias, Judith A1 - González-Castaño, Miriam A1 - Arellano-García, Harvey A1 - Lichtfouse, Eric A1 - Zhang, Zhien T1 - Unprofitability of small biogas plants without subsidies in the Brandenburg region T2 - Environmental Chemistry Letters N2 - The circular economy is calling for the rapid use of already-developed renewable energies. However, the successful implementation of those new fuels is limited by economic and political issues. For instance, in the Brandenburg region, Germany, biogas production from anaerobic digestion of biomass and wastes is a current alternative. However, the upgrading biogas to biomethane is still challenging and the economic viability is unknown. Therefore, we performed an economic analysis for biogas upgrading to biomethane in the Brandenburg region. Five biogas plant sizes were analyzed by the method of discounted cash flow. This method yields the net present value of the projects, thus revealing the profitability or non-profitability of the plants. Results indicate profitable outputs for medium and large plants, with net present values between 415 and 7009 k€. However, the smallest plants have net present values from -4250 to -3389 k€, thus needing further economic efforts or subsidies to reach profitability. Indeed, biomethane prices should range between 52.1 and 95.6 €/MWh to make these projects profitable. Combinations of 50% of investment subsidized and 11.5 €/MWh feed-in tariffs subsidies could make the projects reach profitability. These findings reveal that political actions such as green policies and subsidies are needed to implement green energy. This case study should serve as a potential tool for policy-makers toward a sustainable bioeconomy. KW - Biomethane production KW - Biogas upgrading KW - Green energy KW - Brandenburg development KW - Waste valorization KW - Energy independence Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01175-7 SN - 1610-3661 ER - TY - GEN A1 - González-Castaño, Miriam A1 - Hani Kour, M. A1 - González-Arias, Judith A1 - Baena-Moreno, Francisco Manuel A1 - Arellano-García, Harvey T1 - Promoting bioeconomy routes: From food waste to green biomethane. A profitability analysis based on a real case study in eastern Germany T2 - Journal of Environmental Management N2 - Profitability studies are needed to establish the potential pathways required for viable biomethane production in the Brandenburg region of Germany. This work study the profitability of a potential biomethane production plant in the eastern German region of Brandenburg, through a specific practical scenario with data collected from a regional biogas plant located in Alteno (Schradenbiogas GmbH & Co. KG). Several parameters with potential economic influence such as distance of the production point to the grid, waste utilization percentage, and investment, were analyzed. The results illustrate a negative overall net present value with the scenario of no governmental investment, even when considering trading the CO2 obtained throughout the process. Subsidies needed to reach profitability varied with distance from 13.5 €/MWh to 19.3 €/MWh. For a fixed distance of 15 kms, the importance of percentage of waste utilization was examined. Only 100% of waste utilization and 75% of waste utilization would reach profitability under a reasonable subsidies scheme (16.3 and 18.8 €/MWh respectively). Concerning the importance of investment, a subsidized investment of at least 70% is demanded for positive net present values. Besides, the sensitivity analysis remarks the energy consumption of the biogas upgrading stage, the electricity price, and the energy consumption of biogas production as major parameters to be tackled for the successful implementation of biogas upgrading plants. The results here obtained invite to ponder about potential strategies to further improve the economic viability of this kind of renewable projects. In this line, using the CO2 separated to produce added-value chemicals can be an interesting alternative. KW - Biomethane production KW - Biogas upgrading KW - Green energy KW - Governmental incentives KW - Waste valorization Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113788 SN - 0301-4797 VL - 300 ER -