An idyllic workplace: the Bröker GbR biogas plant is located between Gronau and Ochtrup in the agricultural region of Westphalia.
The family farm’s biogas plant supplies the neighbouring houses with energy from green electricity.
The Brökers manage their 220-hectare flagship farm across generations. ‘When working the land, some of which is very loamy and clayey, great importance is attached to soil-conserving and time-adapted cultivation. The farm also has 1400 fattening pigs and 280 fattening bulls,’ reports Sebastian Bröker, who is the third generation to run the farm.
‘With the introduction of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) in 2004, we then looked closely at the issue of renewable energy generation. After careful consideration and an economic assessment, we decided to build a biogas plant and a 100 kW photovoltaic system. I then founded Bröker Biogas GbR together with my father and the plant was commissioned in 2005.’ says the passionate farmer about the initial phase.
The biogas plant built by PlanET consists of a fermenter and a post-digester, each with a capacity of 1,200 cubic metres.
The substrate mix of 80 % self-produced maize silage, whole crop grain silage and liquid manure from the company’s own animal production is used to produce the 2.3 million standard cubic metres of biogas. The gas produced in the biogas plant is almost H₂S-free and fires two SCHNELL pilot jet engines and a small Deutz pilot jet engine. ‘In retrospect, the decision to rely on pilot jet CHP units was exactly right. The promised higher electrical efficiency could be achieved in the long term and our expectations were more than fulfilled,’ says Sebastian Bröker, describing his experiences with satisfaction.
A local heating network supplies the stables, neighbouring houses, various dryers for wood, grain and maize and a fermentation residue dryer. This means that 90% of the heat can be utilised sustainably throughout the year.
‘My wish for the future is that we receive an offer for an economic succession plan for our biogas plant,’ says Mr Bröker. He is currently examining whether positive or negative flexibilisation is worthwhile. ‘After all, you can also flexibilise negatively by simply generating half the amount of energy with less expensive substrates such as liquid manure,’ says the always cheerful farmer, explaining a less investment-intensive business model for the future.
