Agricultural Biogas as a Sustainable Energy Source for Non-Agricultural Regions: The Case of Lubuskie Province, Poland

A major milestone for the European Union in reducing the environmental impact of its economy was the announcement of the European Green Deal. This strategy emphasizes that energy is the cornerstone of sustainable economic development and that its main objective is to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is clear that energy production must come primarily from renewable sources. The Polish biogas market is still small compared to neighboring countries, with around 300 biogas plants, including landfill gas recovery systems and facilities at wastewater treatment plants. However, agricultural biogas plants offer significant opportunities for growth. Both the agricultural and processing industries generate large quantities of by-products that serve as good substrates for biogas production. This article presents the characteristics of one Polish province in terms of agricultural biogas potential. It discusses the availability of substrates for biogas production, including biodegradable waste and plant- and animal-based materials. On this basis, the potential for agricultural biogas production was estimated. It was found that the main obstacle to the development of agricultural biogas plants in the Lubuskie Province is the considerable fragmentation of farms.