Project
Nature Energy is embarking on a biogas revolution
Nature Energy’s biogas plant in Holsted, Jutland, Denmark. Photo: Nature Energy
One of the world's largest biogas producers, Nature Energy, is on an exciting international development adventure to disseminate Danish experiences with biogas to the rest of the world.
March 10, 2023
- SDG: #7, #11, #12, #13
- SECTORS: Energy
- COUNTRIES: Denmark
- CLIENT: Nature Energy
Nature Energy is a Danish-based company that is currently one of the largest biogas producers worldwide. The company operates 13 biogas plants in Denmark with several new plants currently in development. Annually, they process over 4.4 million tonnes of biomass, which consists of waste and residual products from agriculture, food production, and households.
At the facilities, the waste is converted to 181 million cubic meters of CO2-neutral biogas, which helps to replace fossil fuels. In 2022, Nature Energy was able to produce biogas equivalent to the heat consumption of 157,000 households.
“With our biomethane plants, we produce a stable supply of green gas and ensure agriculture efficient and valuable fertilizer based on the degassed biomass. This makes the entire energy production circular and profitable in a strong partnership with the local agriculture and business community,” says Ole Hvelplund, CEO of Nature Energy.
"We are collaborating with Nature Energy to achieve their goal of phasing out natural gas in the gas grid with biogas."
Lotte Weesgaard, Senior Project Manager at NIRAS.
Biogas must replace natural gas
Biogas represents significant potential, both in the transition to renewable energy and in reducing Denmark's dependence on imported natural gas. Already, several hundred thousand Danish households with gas heating systems connected to the existing natural gas distribution network are ready to receive and heat their homes with biogas. However, this transition requires a significant increase in the number of Danish biogas plants.
"We are collaborating with Nature Energy to achieve their goal of phasing out natural gas in the gas grid with biogas. This will contribute to displacing fossil fuels in Denmark's energy supply," says Lotte Weesgaard, Senior Project Manager at NIRAS.
NIRAS provides complete and interdisciplinary consultancy services to Nature Energy, ranging from the early planning stages to the commissioning of biogas plants. Furthermore, NIRAS is often involved in connection with modifications, expansions, and ongoing improvements. The latest new developments involve implementation of carbon capture on the biogas plants enabling Nature Energy to enter the production of green fuels through power-to-x-processes.
"We make energy production circular and profitable in a strong partnership with the local agriculture and business community."
Ole Hvelplund, CEO of Nature Energy.
Danish experience must be exported
Nature Energy is currently on an exciting international mission with Shell as their new owner (acquired in November 2022). The mission is focused on disseminating biogas to the rest of the world. The company already has a plant in the Netherlands, and several plants will be established in Europe and North America in the years to come.
"I find it incredibly motivating to be a part of this development. As a consultant for Nature Energy, we follow their projects from analysing the site for a new biogas plant to the final commissioning of the plant. This collaboration has developed into a long-term relationship, which is very motivating. It's an exciting journey to contribute to, and I really enjoy it," says Lotte Weesgaard.
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