OPEN ACCESS
During the last 5 years, more than 30 cogeneration plants where biogas is burned have been built in Latvia. The biogas plants help Latvia to comply with the European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/28/EC [1] on the promotion of renewable energy initiated on 23 April 2009. The directive states that the share of renewable energy must reach 40% of the total final energy consumption by 2020. By using biogas produced in biogas plants, the share of renewable energy in Latvia has increased. At the same time, the production of biogas is new for this country; therefore, there has been a lack of a systematic approach in the planning procedure of biogas plants. An environmental evaluation of biogas plants during the planning process is essential. According to Latvian legislation, an Environmental Impact Assessment screening has to be performed during the biogas plants planning step. Within the research, quantitative and qualitative criteria for biogas projects evaluation are developed.
Biogas projects, impact assessment, EIA, renewable energy, impact signifi cance, Latvia
[1] European Commission, European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/28/EC of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, Official J. L 140, pp. 16–62, 2009.
[2] Rutz, D., Mergner, R. & Janssen, R., Sustainable Heat Use of Biogas Plants. A Handbook. WIP Renewable Energies: Munich, Germany, 2012.
[3] Blumberga, D., Veidenbergs, I., Romagnoli, F., Rochas, C. & Zandeckis, A., Bioenerģijastehnoloģijas. RTU Institute of Energy Supply and Environment, Latvia, 2011.
[4] Pubule, J., Bergmane, I., Blumberga, D. & Rosa, M., Development of an EIA screening phase for biogas projects in Latvia. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 162, pp. 75–86, 2012. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2495/EID120071
[5] Karklins, A., Review of Latvian biogas market. Future plans. Proceedings of 4th Latvian Green Energy Forum. RTU: Riga, 2011.
[6] Karklins, A., Actualities in production of biogas in Latvia and Europe: Proceeding of Biogas projects development and possible risks conference. Latvian Biogas Association: Riga, 2012.
[7] Toro, J., Requena, I. & Zamorano, M., Environmental impact assessment in Colombia: Criti-cal analysis and proposals for improvement. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 30, pp. 247–261, 2010. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2009.09.001
[8] Kornov, L. & Prapaspongsa, T., Environmental Impact Assessment II. Aalborg University: Aalborg, 2011.
[9] Koornneef, J., Faaij, A. & Turkenburg, W., The screening and scoping of environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment of carbon capture and storage in the Netherlands. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 28, pp. 392–414, 2008. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2007.08.003
[10] Pubule, J., Blumberga D., Romagnoli F., et al., Analysis of the environmental impact assessment of power energy projects in Latvia. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 23(2), pp. 199–203, 2012. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777831211204930
[11] Wood, G., Thresholds and criteria for evaluating and communicating impact significance in environmental statements: ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’? Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 28, pp. 22–38, 2008. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2007.03.003
[12] Blumberga D., Dzene, et al., Biogas. Handbook. University of Southern Denmark Esbjerg: Esbjerg, Denmark, 2011.
[13] European Commission, Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste, Official J. L 182, pp. 1–19, 1999.
[14] European Commission, European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98/EC of 19 November 2008 on Waste, Official J. L 312, pp. 3–30, 2008.
[15] Waste Management Law: Republic of Latvia Law//Official Journal of RL “Latvijas Vēstnesis”, No. 183(4375), 17.11.2010.
[16] Daublein, D. & Steinhauser, A., Biogas from Waste and Renewable Resources. An Introduc-tion. Second, Revised and Expanded Edition. Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, 2011.
[17] Law on Pollution: Republic of Latvia Law//Official Journal of RL “LatvijasVēstnesis”, No. 51(2438), 15.03.2001.
[18] Rutz, D. & Güntert, D., Biogas Checklist for Administrative Bodies. WIP – Renewable Ener-gies: Munich, Germany, 2012.
[19] Protection Zone Law: Republic of Latvia Law//Official journal of RL “Latvijas Vēstnesis”, No. 56/57(771/772), 25.02.1997.