Sugar beet pulp as a substrate for the production of biogas

The present work is a study of possibilities in producing biogas from sugar beet pulp. The sugar beet pulp is a relative efficient substrate. Biogas yield obtained from it reaches 584 m3/ ton of oDM. Moreover, the methane content in biogas ranges from 50 to 55%. This guideline is based on sugar factory located in Poland. The above mentioned factory plan to use their own by- products, which are sugar beet pulp, beet roots and molasses. The biogas plant is to have capacity of 1.55 MW. Very important factors in present study are economical issues. In order to build a plant it is needed to calculate foundations, materials, miscellaneous and engineering costs. Overall cost of biogas plant is about 5 mln Euros. Annual expenses, outcomes and incomes are calculated in present study. The main reason of biogas plant is producing and selling thermal and electric energy. In case of building such a big undertaking a bank loan can be needed. The bank loan is explained on this example. Total sums of loans and bank interests as well as the investment payback time are presented in this book.