UABIO proposals on regulating the usage of digestate as fertilizer – Law of Ukraine “On Pesticides and Agrochemicals”. Letter 512
One of the important areas of work of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine is the production and energy utilization of biogas.
The total formation of digestate at biogas plants in Ukraine today is about 2 million tons and will increase with the number of biogas plants in Ukraine.
The optimal way of digestate usage is to apply it to the fields to increase soil fertility, crop yields, which reduces the consumption of mineral fertilizers. However, the term “digestate of biogas plants” needs to be regulated. In general, the digestate of biogas plants formally falls under the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Pesticides and Agrochemicals”. So it is determined as not a target, but only as a by-product. That’s why digestate of biogas plants can not meet these requirements of law due to unpredictability and variability of its composition.
That is why the UABIO team has developed a draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine” On Pesticides and Agrochemicals “.
- Full text of UABIO’s letter № 512 on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Pesticides and Agrochemicals” (in Ukrainian).
- Annex 1: Draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Pesticides and Agrochemicals” on state registration of the digestate from biogas plants”(in Ukrainian);
- Annex 2: Comparative table to the draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Pesticides and Agrochemicals “on state registration of the digestate from biogas plants”(in Ukrainian);
- Annex 3: Explanatory note to the draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Pesticides and Agrochemicals” on state registration of the digestate from biogas plants”(in Ukrainian).
Main aspects of issue
Despite the prospects in this area, in recent years only 25 biogas plants with a total capacity of about 60 MW have been built in Ukraine, which is only 21% of the target for biogas plants defined in the National Renewable Energy Action Plan until 2020.
The reasons for the slow development of the sector are the insufficient level of financial support, technological risks, the relative complexity of the organization and maintenance of biogas plants, which requires effective management of both raw materials for biogas production and digestate.
UABIO proposals
We propose to include the term “digestate from biogas plants” and abolish the legal requirements for state registration of digestate from biogas plants as an agrochemical.
Proposals are sent to the acting Minister of Energy of Ukraine Yurii Boiko, acting Head of the State Agency for Energy Efficiency of Ukraine Kostiantyn Gura, and Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine Ihor Petrashko.
The position of the UABIO is prepared, discussed, and agreed upon by the members of the UABIO, which produce more than 50% of all energy from biomass and biogas in Ukraine.
