The cultivation of renewable raw materials on arable land is challenged by the ongoing fuel-versus-food debate resulting from increases in maize cultivation, shorter crop rotations and land competition. Accordingly, the current legal framework for biogas production in Germany focuses on limiting cultivation of traditional biogas substrates, such as silage maize, and promoting the use of various alternatives, such as waste materials and by-products. One new sustainable substrate alternative is the use of cereal straw compacted to pellets. Although straw pellets generally have good fermentation properties, they are still rarely used in German biogas production. Since earlier research on agricultural production practices in general has shown that farmers can be divided into groups regarding their acceptance behaviour and the speed to successfully adopt innovative practices and technologies on their farm, this study addresses the research question: How can biogas plant operators in Germany be categorised with regards to their intention to use straw pellets as innovative and sustainable substrate alternatives? In order to answer this question an exploratory factor analysis and subsequent hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted with survey data obtained from German biogas plant operators (n = 309) in early 2021. Based on variables indicating the intention to use and use behaviour regarding straw pellets in biogas plants, four clusters are identified. Plant operator’s innovativeness, perceived risk and the influence of social environment show differences between the clusters. Additionally, the characteristics of the innovation “straw pellets”, such as economic performance and sustainability, were assessed differently by the four clusters of German biogas plant operators. While the clusters do not show significant differences in the socio-demographic characteristics, they do so in the farm characteristics (farm activities besides biogas production, size of the plant, the proportion of slurry/dung and silage maize). According to the results two of the four clusters have a higher acceptance of straw pellets, which also means that they are earlier in considering the actual use. The initiation of regional working groups, information campaigns and financial incentives can support plant operators, especially in the two clusters of potential early adopters, in accepting straw pellets. This should ultimately result in a faster and wider use of straw pellets as substrates in the whole biogas sector.
Der diesjährige Marktbericht Bioenergie gibt einen Überblick über aktuelle klima- und energiepolitische Themen mit einem Schwerpunkt auf Deutschland. Nach einem starken Rückgang des Weltwirtschaftswachstums und damit des weltweiten Energieverbrauchs im Jahr 2020 in Folge der COVID-19-Pandemie, war das Jahr 2021 durch eine leichte Konjunkturerholung gekennzeichnet, die sich wiederum auf die internationalen Energiemärkte ausgewirkt hat. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden zu Beginn des Berichtes energiepolitisch relevante Ereignisse im Jahr 2021 zusammengefasst, ehe die erneuerbaren Energien in den deutschen und internationalen Energiemix eingeordnet werden. Daran anschließend wird auf die land- und forstwirtschaftliche Produktion von Biomasse für die energetische Verwertung sowie die energetische Nutzung von biogenen Rest- und Abfallstoffen eingegangen. Des Weiteren werden aktuelle Entwicklungen an den Biokraftstoffmärkten sowie die Entwicklung der Strom- und Wärmeerzeugung aus biogenen Festbrennstoffen und der Biogaserzeugung in Deutschland thematisiert. Zum Abschluss des Berichts werden Agri-Photovoltaik-Anlagen als Chance für die Landwirtschaft und die Energiewende in Deutschland diskutiert. This year's Bioenergy Market Report provides an overview of current climate and energy policy issues with a focus on Germany. After a sharp decline in the global economy and energy consumption in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 is characterized by a slight economic recovery, which has had a corresponding impact on the international energy markets. After outlining the events from 2021 that are relevant to energy policy, renewable energies are contextualized within the German and international energy mix. Along with a description of biomass production in agriculture and forestry, usage of biogenic residual and waste materials is also described. The section on the energetic use of biomass deals with current developments in German biogas production and biofuels markets, as well as electricity and heat generation from biogenic solid fuels. The report concludes with a chapter on agrophotovoltaics as an opportunity for agriculture and the energy transition in Germany.
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