Exploring the environmental consequences of roadside grass as a biogas feedstock in Northwest Europe

Abstract

The Russo-Ukrainian war has highlighted concerns regarding the European Union's (EU) energy security, given its heavy dependence on Russian natural gas for electricity and heating. The RePowerEU initiative addresses this challenge by targeting a significant increase in biomethane production (up to 35 billion m³ by 2030) to replace natural gas, aligning with the EU methane strategy's emission reduction and air quality improvement goals. However, the use of energy crops as biogas feedstock has raised land-use concerns, necessitating a policy shift towards alternative sources such as agro-residues, livestock manure, and sewage sludge. This study investigates the environmental impacts of using roadside grass clippings (RG) as an alternative feedstock for biogas production, focusing on selected regions in Northwest Europe (Belgium, Netherlands). The aim is to evaluate the environmental performance of RG as a mono- or co-substrate for biogas production, comparing it to the current practice of composting. Additionally, the study assesses the environmental impacts associated with biogas end-use in these regions. The results indicate that co-digestion of RG with pig manure offers a more environmentally friendly alternative compared to mono-digestion of RG or the existing composting practice. This finding is primarily attributed to the avoided emissions resulting from conventional pig manure management. Furthermore, in terms of climate change impacts concerning biogas end-use, the study identifies that combined heat and power (CHP) systems are preferable to biomethane recovery in regions with a natural gas-based electricity mix. However, for reducing fossil resource use, biomethane recovery emerges as the preferred option. By providing insights into the environmental performance of RG as a biogas feedstock and evaluating the impacts of different biogas end-use options, this study offers insights to policymakers for the development of sustainable energy strategies in Northwest Europe.

Keywords: Biogas; Biomethane; Climate change; Energy transition; Grass; Life cycle assessment.