F1 – Biogas plant with combined heat and power unit

Description:
Fuel consumption and emissions are to be reduced with the generation of heat and electricity as well as through the energetic use of the farmyard manure
Impact | |
---|---|
CO2 | |
N2O | |
CH4 | |
Energy | |
Resources |
What it does:
Production of renewable energy from biomass can save larger amounts of CO2 and CH4
How to get it done | |
---|---|
What is to be done | The plant combination, organization, feasibility and profitability must be clarified for the respective region. Such a project has to be seen as regional initiative |
Impact | High |
Potential to be realised and possible conflict of interest | Demanding in terms of realisation and in terms of future operations. Needs to be a regional initiative |
Roadmap and time horizon | 5-10 years |
Cost | Business plan to be developed per plant |
Investment | A small heat and power unit starts at €5’000. Combined with a biogas plant cost between 250’000 and several millions are possible |
Financing | Bank loan, agricultural investment funds, national schemes |
How to measure, assess impact and whom to talk to | |
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Impact | High impact through savings of CO2 and CH4 coming from renewable energy production and better manure management |
What to measure | Energy produced and energy production efficiency |
How to measure | Amount of energy measured and tracking of farm operations to operate plant and the respective emissions created |
Solution providers | Check for local providers |
Farmer acceptance | Low (0% of farmers in AgroCO2ncept have implement measures by 2020). Financial stimulus needed |
References | AgroCO2ncept (www.agroco2ncept.ch) |
F2 – Photovoltaics

Description:
Power generation through photovoltaics is intended to reduce the consumption of fossil raw materials and, accordingly, CO2 emissions
Impact | |
---|---|
CO2 | |
N2O | |
CH4 | |
Energy | |
Resources |
What it does:
Broadly applicable measure for the production of renewable energy and reduction of CO2 emissions
How to get it done | |
---|---|
What is to be done | Carrying out a survey of potential and searching for partners / customers |
Impact | Medium |
Potential to be realised and possible conflict of interest | Needs planning and to get into local support schemes. Might be in conflict with local building code |
Roadmap and time horizon | 1-5 years |
Cost | Business plan to be developed per plant and installation |
Investment | There is an invest of €2000-3000 per kWP. Own consumption and use as well as support scheme needed to be profitable. In general bigger plants and installations are having a better ROI. |
Financing | Bank loan, agricultural investment funds, national schemes, crowd funding |
How to measure, assess impact and whom to talk to | |
---|---|
Impact | Medium impact through the production of renewable energy and reduction of CO2 emissions |
What to measure | Energy produced |
How to measure | Electricity and energy produced |
Solution providers | Check for local providers and promotors such as Swissolar (www.swissolar.ch) |
Farmer acceptance | Medium (24% of farmers in AgroCO2ncept have implement measures by 2020). Financial stimulus and own consumption to be covered are needed |
References | AgroCO2ncept (www.agroco2ncept.ch) |
F3 – Energy wood (central heat plant)

Description:
Power generation through photovoltaics is intended to reduce the consumption of fossil raw materials and, accordingly, CO2 emissions
Impact | |
---|---|
CO2 | |
N2O | |
CH4 | |
Energy | |
Resources |
What it does:
Replacement of fossil fuels with firewood from own forest management
How to get it done | |
---|---|
What is to be done | Examination of whether and how regional wood can be increasingly used for power and heat generation and which technical systems are suitable for this purpose |
Impact | High |
Potential to be realised and possible conflict of interest | Needs heat demand and replacement of oil heating in the area |
Roadmap and time horizon | 5-10 years |
Cost | Business plan to be developed per plant and installation |
Investment | There is an invest of min €30’000 for such a heating plant and can go into millions depending on size |
Financing | Bank loan, agricultural investment funds, national schemes, crowd funding |
How to measure, assess impact and whom to talk to | |
---|---|
Impact | High impact through the replacement of fossil fuels with firewood from own forest management |
What to measure | Energy produced |
How to measure | Energy produced |
Solution providers | Check for local providers such as Heitzmann (www.heitzmann.ch) |
Farmer acceptance | Medium (24% of farmers in AgroCO2ncept have implement measures by 2020). Energy demand and replacement of oil heating in region needed |
References | AgroCO2ncept (www.agroco2ncept.ch) |
F4 – Pyralysis Plant

Description:
Improvement of the calorific value of wood chips with lower CO2 emissions as well as production of plant charcoal as a C sink
Impact | |
---|---|
CO2 | |
N2O | |
CH4 | |
Energy | |
Resources |
What it does:
Replacement of fossil fuel and prerequisite for the production of plant carbon for long-term sequestration of CO2 in the soil
How to get it done | |
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What is to be done | Plan facility with local architects. Get informed on plant and technology providers. Get ready to have biomass to be transformed. Look into markets to sell or use charcoal or biochar. Get all permits. Ensure financing |
Impact | High |
Potential to be realised and possible conflict of interest | Demanding in terms of realisation and in terms of future operations |
Roadmap and time horizon | 5-10 years |
Cost | Running cost to maintain plant and operations to get and handle biomass |
Investment | Plants cost between 250’000 – 600’000 without facility to be built that needs to include biomass handling, plant space, heat usage, heating network |
Financing | Bank loan, agricultural investment funds, national schemes |
How to measure, assess impact and whom to talk to | |
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Impact | High impact of charcoal production and its use as a carbon sink, feed additive and manure treatments as well as a sustainable source of energy to heat or drying products |
What to measure | Carbon content of final product and energy production |
How to measure | Amount of energy and charcoal/biochar produced |
Solution providers | Biomacon (www.biomacon.com),
3R agrocarbon (www.3ragrocarbon.com),
PYREG (www.pyreg.de) |
Farmer acceptance | High (4% of farmers in AgroCO2ncept have implement measures by 2020) |
References | APD Auen Pflege Dienst AG with Biomacon-Plant (www.a-p-d.ch), HolzenergieGUT in Desibach |