Jarošovice composting plant in Czechia starts biomethane production

The Jarošovice composting plant in the České Budějovice area has started producing biomethane. It is thus expanding its output and becoming the first multifunctional facility in the Czech Republic combining a composting plant, a biogas plant and a biomethane plant. Jiří Netík, the project's founder and partner, told reporters. The facility's monthly biomethane output is around 2,000 MWh, equivalent to just under 200 cubic metres of gas.

The Jarošovice composting plant was established 20 years ago. It has gradually expanded its output. “We are trying to close the entire cycle, which means accepting waste, processing it, producing energy and fertiliser that can be used in fields to enrich the soil again. We then use the resulting gas for injection into the grid or for our own needs,” Netík said.

Jarošovice is the eighth facility in the Czech Republic to produce biomethane. Others include Rapotín in the Šumperk area, Litomyšl in the Svitavy area, Mladá Boleslav and Horní Suchá in the Karviná area. “But no one else in the country has a multifunctional facility like ours. There are various biogas plants or biomethane plants. But in our case, it is a synergy that is also linked to the energy sector,” Netík said. The cost of building the facility in Jarošovice was CZK 185 million. The composting plant received two grants for it and took out a loan of around CZK 85 million. “We expect the investment to pay back within five years,” Netík said.

The Jarošovice composting plant accepts and processes 60,000 tonnes of waste annually. This accounts for 60 percent of the entire South Bohemian Region's waste output. It includes biodegradable waste, sludge from wastewater treatment plants, and waste from kitchens and canteens. Since it began operating, the composting plant has processed almost 420,000 tonnes of waste and produced more than 150,000 tonnes of compost. “We collect material from 700 canteens, practically across the entire South Bohemian Region. We also obtain products from food companies from various unsuccessful batches,” he said.

By the end of January this year, 15 projects had applied to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for support to establish biomethane production and use in the Czech Republic. Together, the applicants requested CZK 600 million in grants. The state will continue subsidising further projects with European funding, intending to spend up to CZK 1 billion on them.