Biogas Go Global will help increase uptake of biogas technology in the United States by introducing Danish policy, business and technology innovations and forming strategic partnerships with US industry stakeholders.
Knowledge sharing between Danmark and The United States
The Danish biogas industry has experienced remarkable growth over the last several years. The framework conditions formulated under the Energy Agreement from 2012 has triggered a 300 % increase in biogas production from 2012 to 2018. The US biogas market has also seen substantial growth of late driven primarily by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, California Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the implementation of state-level food waste bans. The Danish biogas market provides a unique platform for replication. The Danish public and private sector along with other key stakeholders are seeking collaboration opportunities with trade partners to share their experience and expertise in this field.
Three Danish partners from the private and public sector have created the Biogas Go Global Alliance with the purpose of contributing to reciprocal knowledge sharing between Denmark and the United States on biogas production. The purpose of Biogas Go Global is to improve framework conditions, create new business models and reduce the financial risks of biogas production, thereby accelerating the green transition in both countries. The initiators behind the project is Food & Bio Cluster Denmark and the Danish Innovation Network for Bioresources (INBIOM) in cooperation with the Danish North American Trade Council’s Waste, Recycling & Biogas Advisory (WBA) and the Danish Energy Agency.
With the knowledge that exists within Denmark on biogas production, this alliance aims to break down the following barriers:
- Federal and State Policy / Funding Parity: Biogas should be subject to the same conditions as those that apply to other forms of renewable energy such as solar and wind. Comprehensive energy and climate policy needs to be in place to acknowledge the additional environmental benefits of biogas production.
- Feedstock Aggregation and New Models for Manure Management: Contractual visibility is a key issue for investors and project developers. An evaluation of various alternatives and best practices to addressing this issue can create model rules and model frameworks. This can lead to new business models and approaches that support more flexible and economically viable ways of handling distinct organic fractions including manures.
- Not In My Back Yard: Investors, neighbours and other stakeholders are somewhat reluctant to support biogas production due to a lack of knowledge and experience with best of class operational management of biogas plants as well as the important environmental advantages of biogas production. Through knowledge sharing, this alliance can demonstrate successful biogas projects supported by local communities.
- Financial Risk and Uncertainty: The barriers mentioned above create financial risk and uncertainty, which makes it hard to attract financing from public and private investors. The alliance will evaluate how financial risk has been addressed in Denmark and the U.S. and make prioritized recommendations to further mitigate such risk in different areas.
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