COSTS-BENEFITS ANALYSIS OF A SMALL-SCALE BIOGAS PLANT AND ELECTRIC ENERGY PRODUCTION

Ilaria Zambon, Francesco Gallucci, Daniele Sarri, Luigi Pari, Mariangela Salerno, Andrea Colantoni

Abstract: The present work concerns the economic and financial evaluation of a small biogas plant (power plant of 250 kWel), with reference to the case of a biogas plant fed with a bio-matrix classifiable as both a by-product and a product. The study was focused on the comparison of several incentive systems that have followed over time. According to the analysis carried out using some economic indicators, results revealed that the investment profitability was descending passing from the old all-inclusive rate to the current incentive scheme. Furthermore, it is possible to emphasize that the use of products, rather than by-products, penalizes investment by reducing the incentive rate, thus putting the investment in a high financial risk. Thanks to the present study, it can
be assumed that the small biogas production plants enable positive benefits in social, economic and environmental terms.

Keywords: biogas; costs and benefits; economic investments; profitability indexes

Date published: 2017-07-07