Guide
Micro and home biogas plants
You don't need an industrial plant to make biogas. Micro biogas plants are compact systems built for a single farm, often delivered as ready-made containers and running mainly on manure. Here's what they are, who they suit, and what to watch out for.
What is a micro biogas plant?
A micro biogas plant is a small scale biogas plant: the smallest kind built to produce useful energy on a farm. It's sized around one farm's daily manure, with the heat and power used on site. Many are modular, so the system can be planned around what you have today.
Container biogas plants
Many micro plants come as container systems: the main equipment is built and tested in a factory, then delivered to the farm and connected on site. That usually means:
- Less construction work on the farm
- A faster, more predictable installation
- A compact footprint next to existing buildings
Micro biogas plants running on manure
Most micro plants are designed to run mainly on manure and slurry, the material a livestock farm already has every day. That keeps things simple: no buying in feedstock, and a steady, predictable supply.
Home and backyard biogas
Small home biogas units do exist, and in some warm countries they're common for cooking gas. In colder climates, very small systems struggle to stay warm enough in winter, and a gas installation at home still needs to be safe and comply with local rules. For most people in Europe, a micro plant sized for a farm makes far more sense than a backyard kit.
Who a micro biogas plant suits
- Livestock farms with a steady supply of manure all year
- Farms that use a lot of heat or electricity themselves
- Farms that want energy for their own use, rather than to run an energy business
- Farmers looking for something manageable alongside daily work
What a micro plant can and can't do
It can turn your manure into heat and power for the farm, and give you digestate for your fields. The heat and power come from a combined heat and power unit, often called a biogas generator.
It can't run without a steady daily supply of material, and it won't turn a small farm into a power station. It's a tool to use your own resources better, not a money machine.
What decides the cost
- The size of the system
- Whether it's a container system or built on site
- How you'll use the energy: heat, electricity or both
- Groundwork, connections and installation
- Permits, and any grants or subsidies available
Indicative prices start from €230,000 for a micro plant up to 20 kW. See indicative prices. Your final price is confirmed once we've assessed your farm.
