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The REMONDIS Group’s locations
Discover the world of REMONDIS with its approx. 900 branches and associated companies in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Biogas – A Sustainable Energy Solution
Biogas is created through the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, including agricultural residues, food scraps, and manure. This process produces methane and carbon dioxide, which can be utilized as renewable fuel for electricity, heating, and as an alternative to natural gas. Having demonstrated its effectiveness for over 25 years worldwide, biogas technology is adaptable to various settings, from small farms to large municipal systems. It notably reduces CO₂ emissions compared to fossil fuels and captures methane, preventing its release into the atmosphere.
Additionally, the byproducts, such as digestate, serve as nutrient-rich fertilizers that improve soil health and decrease reliance on synthetic fertilizers. In essence, biogas is pivotal for sustainable waste management and greenhouse gas reduction. It supports the transition to a circular economy by converting waste into valuable resources and advancing environmental sustainability.
Our Commitment to Biogas Technology
Inspired by the success of our German colleagues in biogas operations, REMONDIS Taiwan is committed to leveraging biogas technology to drive a successful energy transition in Taiwan. We efficiently convert biowaste into biogas and digestate, harnessing biogas for green energy applications such as power generation and heating, while using digestate as a high-quality organic fertilizer to enhance soil health and reduce dependence on synthetic alternatives. Our dedication extends to investing in advanced technology, forming local partnerships, and training personnel, all while focusing on measurable environmental and economic benefits. As we look to the future, we aim to expand our biogas initiatives, increase production capacity, and explore new applications, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and contributing to Taiwan's circular economy.
Biogas Production Process
Biogas is a renewable fuel produced through anaerobic digestion of organic materials like municipal waste, industrial residues, and agricultural by-products in specialized plants. Microorganisms break down organic matter without oxygen, yielding methane and carbon dioxide. Biogas serves multiple purposes: generating electricity in CHP plants, providing direct heating, and as purified biomethane for transport. The process also yields digestate, a nutrient-rich fertilizer that enhances soil health and fertility when used on farmland. Biogas helps reduce fossil fuel dependency, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and supports sustainable waste management and agriculture practices.
MiniDigester – Our Experimental Project
In January 2023, we introduced the MiniDigester, a compact 1.5 m³ system that efficiently ferments various organic wastes, optimizing conditions like temperature, duration, and pressure. This proven technology replicates all processes found in full-scale digesters, including feeding, heating, stirring, and gas collection—using technology identical to that in over 400 operational biogas plants. It facilitates testing of various organic wastes under real fermentation conditions, providing crucial data on fermentation status and gas yield. Tailored for co-digestion biogas projects, it tests substrates from the food industry, canning industry, agriculture, and animal husbandry.
Since its introduction, the MiniDigester has excelled in sustainable energy and waste management. To date, it has significantly processed organic waste, yielding biogas that reduces CO₂ emissions and enriches soil health. Combining pig and cattle manure with kitchen waste has notably improved biogas production and fertilizer quality. In May 2023, the system enhanced its efficiency by integrating food waste with cow manure, resulting in a substantial boost in biogas output. As an experimental project, our initiative promotes co-digestion to advance waste treatment in Taiwan's biogas plants. The system supports long-term trials, university experiments, and serves as a demonstration tool at exhibitions.
10.5 tons of organic waste processed
654 m³ of biogas produced
significant CO₂ emissions saved
Technical Support for the FUBAO Project
The FUBAO project, dedicated to producing biogas and converting it into electricity, is a significant step forward in enhancing Taiwan's renewable energy capabilities. By transforming organic waste into energy, the FUBAO facility supports environmental conservation and contributes to Taiwan's transition towards a more sustainable energy infrastructure. Based on the current energy structure in Taiwan, generating 10 million kWh of electricity typically results in 5,308 tons of carbon emissions. However, this biogas power plant presents a remarkable alternative, capable of reducing carbon emissions by 170,637 tons for the same amount of electricity generated. The substantial reduction is achieved through processing 109,500 tons of cattle manure annually, which would otherwise contribute to environmental emissions if left untreated. We are pleased to contribute our expertise and resources to this project, supporting an innovative approach to sustainable energy in Taiwan.
109,500 tons of organic waste processed
200,000 m³ of biogas produced
170,637 tons CO₂ emissions saved (for 10MkWh electricity)
Biogas in Germany – RETERRA and ReFood
REMONDIS Taiwan is part of the bigger RETHMANN group, which includes the RETERRA and ReFood-activities. Together, we are treating more than 3 million tons of organic waste every year in composting-, biomass power, and biogas plants. The RETHMANN group started investing in biowaste treatment plants, including biogas plants, more than 30 years ago. We at REMONDIS Taiwan are happy that we have direct access to and support from the German headquarters to transfer biogas treatment technologies and know-how to Taiwan. We are planning to invest in that field in Taiwan to help build up the market as soon as possible. Furthermore, we are targeting Taiwan’s biowaste, such as household kitchen waste, agricultural waste (e.g., manure, slurry) and commercial food waste (e.g., retail food waste). We are offering to provide integrated services from collection to treatment, and to operate professional, safe, and hygienic biogas plants for at least 15 to 20 years.
Biogas Plants in Germany
FES Frankfurt
Process: Tunnel composting / plug-flow method
Capacity: Processes 83,000 tons of waste annually
Input: Biowaste, organic commercial waste
Output: Finished compost, fresh compost, liquid fermentation product
Annual Gas Production:
– Raw Biogas: Approximately 6 million m3
– Biomethane: Approximately 22,000,000 kWh
Annual Energy Production:
– Electricity: Approximately 1,700,000 kWh
Reterra Singen
Process: Tunnel composting
Capacity: Handles 87,500 tons of waste annually
Input: Biowaste, green waste
Output: Activated compost, garden compost, liquid biocompost
Annual Gas Production:
– Raw Biogas: Approximately 6.4 million m3
Annual Energy Production:
– Electricity: Approximately 14,700,000 kWh
ARN BV Weurt
Process: Tunnel composting, dry fermentation (Pfropfenstromverfahren)
Capacity: Processes 70,000 tons of waste annually
Input: Biowaste, green waste
Output: Fresh compost, biomethane, liquid CO₂
Annual Gas Production:
– Raw Biogas: Approximately 3.7 million m3
– Biomethane: Approximately 22,300,000 kWh
Environmental Benefits of Biogas
Carbon Footprint: Biogas vs. Fossil Fuels
Future Outlook
Our Vision for Sustainability in Taiwan
We aim to significantly grow biogas facilities across Taiwan, from large-scale to small-scale operations, to meet rising renewable energy demands and enhance energy security. By adopting co-digestion of diverse organic materials, we enhance biogas production through improved nutrient balance and digestion efficiency, leading to higher yields and better waste management.
Biogas and its byproducts face low market acceptance and limited sales channels, affecting profitability. We advocate for supportive policies, including financial incentives and streamlined regulations, to boost market uptake and facilitate the use of digestate.
We strive to align our biogas initiatives with Taiwan's broader sustainable development goals, including reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and advancing environmental sustainability.
Our Strategic Steps
We aim to enhance biogas production efficiency by investing in advanced technology and optimizing processes. Each plant will process 300 tons of biowaste daily, generating 46,000 kWh of energy. Our goal is to improve conversion rates and energy output, ensuring reliable and high-quality biogas production.
We plan to expand biogas applications by developing infrastructure for its use in power generation, heating, and transportation. By converting biowaste into biofertilizer and other products, we address waste management challenges and offer additional benefits like improved soil health and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
Our focus is on advancing both sustainable energy and waste management through biogas projects. This includes enhancing waste-to-energy processes, supporting relevant policies and incentives, and fostering local partnerships to drive environmental sustainability and maximize the impact of biogas technology.
