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Biogas production plant based on brewery’s wastewater
Published on 29 October 2020
Estonia
Eesti
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About this good practice
A. Le Coq was founded in 1807, it is the oldest beverage producer in Estonia, whose product range includes 11 different product groups. The largest of these is the product portfolio of beers, followed by juice, water and soft drinks and the other product groups. A. Le Coq holds the leading position on the Estonian drinks market in the categories of beer, juice, and long drinks and ranks a strong second in the production of water, soft drinks and cider.
The company's main resources that can be optimized are water, wastewater, natural gas and electricity. Almost 200 000 m3 of wastewater with the highest price range is directed to city’s sewage network annually. In order to reduce the burden on the urban wastewater network and increase the resource efficiency of the company, it was advised in resource audit to build anaerobic cycle biogas plant. In addition to reducing its environmental impact, the plant is also economically profitable for the company. Some of the natural gas imported to produce heat can be replaced by the biogas produced on site (100% of biogas produced on site is used on site for heating).
The company's main resources that can be optimized are water, wastewater, natural gas and electricity. Almost 200 000 m3 of wastewater with the highest price range is directed to city’s sewage network annually. In order to reduce the burden on the urban wastewater network and increase the resource efficiency of the company, it was advised in resource audit to build anaerobic cycle biogas plant. In addition to reducing its environmental impact, the plant is also economically profitable for the company. Some of the natural gas imported to produce heat can be replaced by the biogas produced on site (100% of biogas produced on site is used on site for heating).
Expert opinion
Due to its technical nature, this good practice would normally not be included in this database for policy makers.
There is however a certain added value in the sense that it provides a concrete example for a renwable energy / efficiency / circular economy measure introduced at a local company.
Indeed, breweries typically have a lot of organically loaded waste water that can serve easily as energy source for a biogas plant, thus turning the problematic waste that is costly to discard into a valuable resource.
As biogas plants require significant upfront investments which are made up by very low running costs over a long time, public co-financing in form of a partial grant as in the case of the Estonian Ministry of Environment’s measure “Resource efficiency of enterprises” is a good measure to unlock private investment.
Similar investment subsidies for resource efficiency measures in SMEs could be introduced at regional levels in other regions seeking to make their companies more productive and greener at the same time.
There is however a certain added value in the sense that it provides a concrete example for a renwable energy / efficiency / circular economy measure introduced at a local company.
Indeed, breweries typically have a lot of organically loaded waste water that can serve easily as energy source for a biogas plant, thus turning the problematic waste that is costly to discard into a valuable resource.
As biogas plants require significant upfront investments which are made up by very low running costs over a long time, public co-financing in form of a partial grant as in the case of the Estonian Ministry of Environment’s measure “Resource efficiency of enterprises” is a good measure to unlock private investment.
Similar investment subsidies for resource efficiency measures in SMEs could be introduced at regional levels in other regions seeking to make their companies more productive and greener at the same time.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
2,5 M€ for total investment. Grant 1,1 M€ by Estonian Ministry of Environment’s measure “Resource efficiency of enterprises” from the Structural Funds of EU. Measure supports investments in resource-efficient solutions and resource audit of enterprise - prerequisite for investment aid.
Evidence of success
In addition to reducing wastewater disposal costs and its environmental impact the plant is also economically profitable for the company. Approximately ~230 thousand m3 or 13% of the natural gas imported from Russia to produce heat can be replaced by biogas produced on site (100% of biogas produced on site are used on site for heating) that reduces emissions by 4300 tCO2.
Potential for learning or transfer
Potential transfer to other breweries and other food industries.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
other
Estonia
Eesti
Contact
Energy expert