Biogas : opportunities to improve safety and safety regulation

T ansac ions o he VŠB - Technical uni e si y o Os a a Sa e y Enginee ing Se ies Vol. VII, No. 2, 2012 36 BIOGAS: OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND SAFETY REGULATION Oli ie SALVI1, Ch is ine CHAUBET1, Sébas ien EVANNO2 1 Eu opean Vi ual Ins i u e o In eg a ed Risk Managemen (EU-VRi), S u ga , Ge many, [email p o ec ed] 2 Ins i u Na ional de l’En i onnemen Indus iel e des Risques (INERIS), Acciden al Risk Di ision, Ve neuil-en-Hala e, F ance, [email p o ec ed] Abs ac : The p oduc ion o biogas is posi ioned as ene gy which can no only gene a e a sou ce o enewable ene gy bu also which ecycles was e. In he con ex o sus ainable de elopmen , he place o biogas is he e o e essen ial. Se e al ques ions abou sa e y issues, he ha moniza ion o he egula ions and he need o de elop s anda ds a e discussed in his pape , based on he esul s o a wo kshop on biogas sa e y and egula ion o ganized in No embe 2010 and he ac i i ies o he Eu opean Wo king G oup on Biogas Sa e y and Regula ion c ea ed a e he wo kshop. The isks co esponding o he biogas p oduc ion and use ha e been amed using iNTeg-Risk me hod and ools. Se e al de i ci s o isk managemen ha e been iden i i ed and a s a egy o imp o e isk managemen p oposed by he wo king g oup is p esen ed a he end o he pape . Key wo ds: Biogas, Sa e y, Regula ion, Risk managemen . In oduc ion Biogas is a p omising ene gy esou ce in he con ex o he new Eu opean Ene gy S a egy 2020. I ep esen s a alo iza ion o was es (wa e o biomass) and can be p oduced all o e Eu ope o a g ea a ie y o applica ions: anspo , s a iona y ene gy use, hea and combus ion. The main eme ging isk issues ela ed o he quick de elopmen o biogas, which is l ammable, oxic, and possibly pa hogen (mic obiological haza d), a e: - he di e si y o p ocesses ( om was e wa e ea men o solid was e ea men , o biomass alo iza ion by a me s) wi hou e e ence documen clea ly de i ning a in e na ional le el he s a e o he a ega ding sa e y, - he lack o clea egula ions and s anda ds ega ding sa e y o biogas p oduc ion and use, and he lack o en o cemen o he exis ing occupa ional heal h and sa e y egula ion (including ATEX), - he lack o o ganized communica ion channels o sha e he expe iences (nea -misses, acciden s, and also posi i e expe iences) be ween he indus y playe s, bu also wi h he usual s akeholde s such as au ho i ies, insu ance companies, he public. N.B.: The smell which is o en conside ed as an en i onmen al issue is no add essed speci i cally in his documen . The Eu opean Wo king G oup on Biogas Sa e y and Regula ion (EWGBSR), c ea ed a e he Wo kshop o ganized by EU-VRi and INERIS in Pa is in No embe 2010, has joined he iNTeg-Risk p ojec in 2011. This p ojec p o ides a amewo k, me hods and ools o s a s uc u ing he sec o om a isk managemen poin o iew. The pa icipa ion in he p ojec is pe o med by ha ing “Biogas sa e y and egula ion” as a new ERRA (Eme ging Risk Rep esen a i e Applica ion) whose objec i e is o accompany he deploymen o biogas in Eu ope wi h a high le el o sa e y. I means ha he app oach and ools de eloped wi hin iNTeg- Risk ha e been implemen ed in he wo king g oup. These me hods and ools a e help ul o manage he eme ging isks o biogas and hey cons i u e a ull es o he esul s o iNTeg-Risk p ojec . This pape p esen s he ideas de eloped in a “b ie i ng pape ” p epa ed by he EWGBSR. I desc ibes he eme ging isk issues ela ed o he p oduc ion o biogas. The objec i e o he “b ie i ng pape ” is o aise awa eness abou he eme ging isks among policy make s and isk manage s a co po a e le el. I is aimed a p o iding syn he ic in o ma ion on sa e y issues ela ed o biogas o he a ge g oup abou possible solu ions based on he implemen a ion o he iNTeg-Risk solu ions, and he e o e i migh suppo he launch o u he ini ia i es on isk managemen ela ed o biogas. Fi s o all his pape p o ides a gene al p esen a ion o he ends o biogas p oduc ion in Eu ope and he legisla ion cu en ly in o ce. Secondly, he main biogas sa e y issues a e p esen ed Resea ch a icle p. 36 - 43, DOI 10.2478/ 10281-012-0010-0 T ansac ions o he VŠB - Technical uni e si y o Os a a Sa e y Enginee ing Se ies Vol. VII, No. 2, 2012 37 as well as he ends in e ms o acciden s in Eu ope. Then he applica ion o he iNTeg-Risk app oach and ools is desc ibed wi h e en ually some p oposals o imp o ing isk managemen . Ma e ials and me hods Biogas de elopmen and Eu opean policy con ex • Backg ound in o ma ion Biogas is an ene gy esou ce de eloping e y as in Eu ope. In 2010, p ima y ene gy p oduc ion om biogas enjoyed an annual g ow h o 31.3 % o each a p oduc ion o 20.9M oe (Obse ’ER, 2011). The e a e h ee majo p oduc ion channels: - Sewage sludge gas ep esen s 9.8 % o o al p oduc ion (1.1 M eo). - Land i ll gas ep esen s 26.8 % o o al p oduc ion (2.9 M eo). - The emaining 63.4 % a e p oduced om o he deposi s which co e pu pose-designed ene gy con e sion me haniza ion plan s (decen alized ag icul u al plan s, municipal solid was e me haniza ion plan s, co-diges ion and mul i-p oduc plan s). This impo an inc ease in biogas p oduc ion bene i ed mainly o: - Elec ici y p oduc ion ha ep esen ed 30.3 TWh in 2010 which is 20.9 % up on 2009. - To al hea consump ion ( om he ans o ma ion sec o and o sel -consump ion by he end-use ) ha amoun ed o 1.5 M oe. - Ano he ype o biogas eco e y, biome hane injec ion (pu i i ed biogas) in o he na u al gas g id ha is booming in a numbe o coun ies such as Ge many, Sweden, and he Ne he lands. The de elopmen o “ uel-g ade biogas” (na u al gas quali y) p o ides ano he possible opening. The Eu Obse ’ER su ey indica es ha he membe s a es a e al eady ahead o hei elec ici y a ge and in line wi h hei hea consump ion o ecas s. Indeed, he Na ional Renewable Ene gy Ac ion Plans (NREAPs) a ge a p oduc ion o elec ici y om biogas sou ce up o 64 TWh in 2020 (43.9 TWh in 2015 and 28.7 TWh in 2010) and he biogas hea is a ge ed o each 4.5 M oe in 2020 (2.7 M oe in 2015 and 1.5 M oe in 2010). Howe e much o he g ow h in p ima y ene gy p oduc ion om biogas is happening in Ge many (61 % o he p ima y ene gy p oduc ion). Con a y o he o he s, Ge many has made he choice o p omo e he use o ene gy c ops. Poli ical decisions o de elop he biogas sec o , bo h in egula ion and i nancial e ms a e c ucial i he a ge s a e o be me , bu he public accep ance o he new ene gy sys ems is also an impo an componen ha has o be se iously aken in o accoun . • Biogas p oduc ion Biogas is p oduced om was e in biogas plan s o anae obic diges e s (Sal i e al., 2011). The anae obic diges ion is he p ocess which ans o ms o ganic ma e in o biogases such as me hane and ca bon dioxide. The e a e se e al p ocesses o he p oduc ion o biogas depending on he ype o o ganic was e used. Indeed, biogas could come om se e al so s o aw ma e ials: - Sewage sludge, - Food was e, - Was e om ood indus y, - Manu e om cows, pigs e c., - Residues om ag icul u e, - ”Ene gy” he bs and plan s like maize, - Dis ille y by p oduc s, - O ganic ac ion o municipal solid was es. The amoun o biogas o he quali y o he biogas which will be p oduced depends on he so o aw ma e ial. Thus, he biogas p oduc ion is e y a iable om one plan o ano he . I is also impo an o highligh he di e ence be ween biogas plan and anae obic diges e (biogas om land i lls and biogas om diges e s). The e a e a lo o echnical aspec s which depend om each o he : Va ious aw ma e ials mean di e en p ocesses, di e en p ocesses mean di e en amoun s o gases, and di e en amoun o gases mean di e en so s o up-g ading o emo ing. And i nally, i appea s impossible o i x a global yield in o de o s udy all uses o biogas o o iden i y clea ly haza ds and isks in a biogas plan . Tab. 1 T ace compounds o biogas om di e en biogas p oduc ion plan s Biogas CH4 [%] CO2 [%] O2 [%] N2 [%] H2S [ppm] Benzene [mg.m-3] Toluene [mg.m-3] Land i ll 47 - 57 37 - 41 < 1 < 1 - 17 36 - 115 0,6 - 2,3 1,7 - 5,1 Sewage diges e 61- 65 36 - 38 < 1 < 2 b.d. 0,1 - 0,3 2,8 - 11,8 Fa m biogas plan 55 - 58 37 - 38 < 1 < 1 - 2 32 - 169 0,7 - 1,3 0,2 - 0,7 No e: b.d.: below de ec ion p. 36 - 43, DOI 10.2478/ 10281-012-0010-0 T ansac ions o he VŠB - Technical uni e si y o Os a a Sa e y Enginee ing Se ies Vol. VII, No. 2, 2012 38 Then, i is impo an o unde s and he sa e y c i ical pa ame e s and o es ablish a egula ion on he p oduc ion o biogas o o hink abou a possible s anda diza ion ha is compa ible wi h he a ie y o biogas p oduc ion plan s. • Ene gy policy con ex The sa e de elopmen o biogas in Eu ope will be possible wi h a s ong legisla ion o suppo i s p oduc ion. This pa ag aph maps he landscape o EU policy. The d i ing o ce behind he de elopmen and use o bioene gy is he Renewable Ene gy Di ec i e (Di ec i e 2009/28/EC) adop ed in Ap il 2009 by he Council and he Pa liamen o he Eu opean Union. This di ec i e se s a common amewo k o he p omo ion o ene gy om enewable sou ces in Eu ope. The aim o his legisla i e ac is o achie e by 2020 a 20 % sha e o ene gy om enewable sou ces in he EU's i nal consump ion o ene gy and a 10 % sha e o ene gy om enewable sou ces in each membe s a e's anspo ene gy consump ion. The implemen a ion o hese objec i es is suppo ed by he Eu opean S a egic Ene gy Technology Plan (SET-Plan), ini ially se led in 2007 by he Eu opean Commission (COM, 2007). The objec i e was o inc ease, coo dina e and ocus EU suppo on key low-ca bon ene gy echnologies. The e a e 6 Eu opean Indus ial Ini ia i es (EIIs) in he SET-Plan, including he Eu opean Indus ial Bioene gy Ini ia i e. The EIIs b ing oge he he indus y, he esea ch communi y, he membe s a es and he Commission and aim a he apid de elopmen o key ene gy echnologies a Eu opean le el. In pa allel he Eu opean Ene gy Resea ch Alliance (EERA) wo ks o align he R&D ac i i ies o indi idual esea ch o ganiza ions o he needs o he SET-Plan p io i ies, and o es ablish a join p og amming amewo k a he EU le el. The SET-Plan is coo dina ed by he SET-Plan S ee ing g oup (SET-G oup) and suppo ed by Eu opean Commission's In o ma ion Sys em o he SET-Plan (SETIS). A global s a egy insis ing on sa e y aspec s has been es ablished in he Communica ion “Ene gy 2020 - A s a egy o compe i i e, sus ainable and secu e ene gy” (COM, 2010). This Communica ion se s ou he ene gy p io i ies o he nex en yea s and se s he ac ions o be aken in o de o ackle he challenges o sa ing ene gy, achie ing a ma ke wi h compe i i e p izes and secu e supplies, boos ing echnological leade ship, and e ec i ely nego ia e wi h ou in e na ional pa ne s. The s a egy is s uc u ed a ound ou p io i ies. P io i y 2 & 3 speci i cally se high equi emen s on he de elopmen o sa e echnologies in an app op ia e and e ec i e egula o y con ex , eaching he public accep ance o he new ene gy echnologies. The impo ance o biogas has been mo e pa icula ly poin ed ou in he esolu ion o 12 Ma ch 2008 on sus ainable ag icul u e and biogas (Resolu ion 2009/C 66 E/05). The Eu opean Pa liamen emphasizes he impo ance o biogas as a enewable ene gy esou ce o he u u e. This esolu ion highligh s he bene i s o biogas bu also se e al h ea s on heal h and en i onmen linked o biogas p oduc ion, and make some ecommenda ions o Membe S a es and Commission: 13. S esses ha echnical and managemen de elopmen s a e expec ed in he nea u u e which will u he inc ease en i onmen al and heal h bene i s o biogas ins alla ions which use li es ock manu e, slu y and o ganic was e. The Eu opean Commission is also asked o p o ide suppo and in pa icula o en o ce legisla ion o he de elopmen o biogas ins alla ions. Conce ning sa e y aspec s, he impo ance o epo ing and sha ing expe ience on bes p ac ices be ween Membe S a es is emphasized: 39. U ges he Commission and Membe S a es o de elop a cohe en biogas policy; asks he Commission o p esen a speci i c epo on biogas and i s p omo ion in he EU, ou lining he necessa y changes in Communi y and na ional law o acili a e u he expansion o he biogas sec o and poin ing ou he mos e i cien ways o using EU unds and p og ammes, as well as gi ing bes p ac ice examples; asks also, in his ega d, o an impac assessmen o he a ious o ms o biogas p oduc ion on clima e, he ecology o he landscape, u al incomes and wo ldwide secu i y o ood supply. 50. Calls on he Commission o ensu e coope a ion and coo dina ion be ween Membe S a es, including hose who cu en ly ha e no biogas ins alla ions, o jus a small numbe he eo , so ha hey may lea n abou each o he 's bes p ac ices in ela ion o biogas ins alla ions h ough he sha ing o knowledge and echnology. Rega ding he policy con ex , i gi es a high p io i y o enewable ene gies, in pa icula o hose ha can be p oduced locally and in a dis ibu ed manne , such as biogas. A he same ime, he shi o enewable ene gy has o be sa e and secu e. The in as uc u es ha e o be adap ed as well as he egula o y con ex . I means o he biogas, ha he ollowing challenges mus be sol ed: - Assu e he inhe en ly sa e design and ope a ion echniques o biogas plan s and usages. p. 36 - 43, DOI 10.2478/ 10281-012-0010-0 T ansac ions o he VŠB - Technical uni e si y o Os a a Sa e y Enginee ing Se ies Vol. VII, No. 2, 2012 39 - Reach he public accep ance o his enewable ene gy. - Capi alize he good p ac ices in e e ence documen s (guidelines) and in s anda ds. - Suppo he de elopmen o a ha monized and cos -e ec i e egula o y amewo k. Biogas sa e y issues • Main isks o biogas p oduc ion Biogas p oduc ion plan s p esen h ee main isks: - The isk o explosion is he mos s udied because i is ela ed o he p oduc ion and use o a l ammable gas which is composed mainly wi h me hane (c . Tab. 1). - The second majo isk is oxici y due o he p esence o H2S. I is a e y oxic gas ha is p oduced in anae obic diges ion. - The mic obial isk is also o be conside ed, howe e ch onic isk o inhaling pa hogens and mino elemen s when using biogas is o e shadowed by he wo p e ious isks. The cons uc ion o a biogas plan and i s main enance should be well moni o ed in o de o manage isks. P e en ion o people om being exposed o hose isks and checking o all ma e ials (including co osion) should be ealized wi h he aim o making he p oduc ion o biogas sa e . • Analysis o acciden s in ol ing biogas A census o da abases collec ing acciden analyses o biogas p oduc ion was conduc ed in 2011 by INERIS o he Minis y o he En i onmen in F ance. The aim was o collec a eedback as comple e as possible on he me haniza ion ac i i y om di e en na ional and in e na ional da abases such as he da abases ARIA om BARPI in F ance o ZEMA in Ge many. Fig. 1 Numbe o acciden s on ins alla ions p oducing Biogas in Ge many The s udy om INERIS (E anno e al., 2012) p o ides o he i s ime a de ailed analysis o acciden s in F ance and in Ge many. Fo example 140 acciden s whe e iden i i ed in Ge many in 2009. The s udy desc ibes he mos p obable scena ios and gi es an indica ion o he se e i y o he pas acciden s. I appea s om he s udy ha mos acciden s ha ha e occu ed we e i es and in mos cases hei causes ha e no been iden i i ed wi h ce ain y. The e olu ion shows ha acciden s a e be e con olled and consequen ly wi h smalle e ec s on and o si e. Mos o he epo ed acciden s occu ed wi hin he s o age a ea o he biogas plan s. F om he cases epo ed, no signi i can impac on he en i onmen was eco ded, side e ec s we e mos ly small. The only consequence o i es ou side biogas plan s a e ela ed o he o ma ion o plumes made o smoke om bu ning was e. Typical inciden s in biogas plan s a e lis ed below: - leakage in he s o age ank and/o on he dis ibu ion ne wo k o he biogas, - leakage ollowing he comple ion o wo k on si e s o age and dis ibu ion o biogas, - acciden al elease o H2S especially in mix u es o sep ic was e, - wa e pollu ion caused by e l uen discha ge, - o e l owing sewage sys ems o s o m-wa e con ol due o excep ional downpou s, o equipmen ailu es in he e en o massi e in l ux o wa e i e supp ession, - p esence o dange ous p oduc s in he aw ma e ial used o p oduce biogas, - o e l ow, eezing o al es, high p essu e inside he diges e . The inciden assessmen shows ha he unc ional uni s such as CHP plan s, injec ion sys em o solid, pumps, pipes and al es and agi a o s, a e pa icula ly ulne able, implying ailu es on sa e y sys em (loss o con ainmen , leakage…). In gene al, he p ocess o anae obic diges ion o biomass and was e gene a es a high isks p obabili y (and heal h and en i onmen al ex ension) du ing he cou se o ope a ion and/o main enance. The main haza ds o conside a e lis ed in o de o p io i y in e ms o occu ence p obabili y: i es, explosions, oxic gas emissions (H2S). Compliance wi h ATEX egula ions and he d a ing o documen ela ed o p o ec ion agains explosions is a signi i can measu e o con ol such isks in he me haniza ion sec o . I is he e o e necessa y o ensu e, depending on he biomass p. 36 - 43, DOI 10.2478/ 10281-012-0010-0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 T ansac ions o he VŠB - Technical uni e si y o Os a a Sa e y Enginee ing Se ies Vol. VII, No. 2, 2012 40 used, p o ec ion agains explosion o l ammable gases (CH4, CO, H2S and H2), p o ec ion agains i e and p o ec ion agains he emission o oxic gases (including H2S). • E olu ion o he egula ions dealing wi h sa e y in se e al membe s a es In 2011 he Eu opean Wo king on Biogas Sa e y and Regula ion has de eloped a su ey ocusing on he ollowing ques ions: - A e you awa e o ecen e olu ions o he biogas egula ion in you coun y? - A e you awa e o echnical guidelines ela ed o sa e y a na ional o Eu opean le el? This su ey, ha collec ed answe s om 14 na ional expe s om 6 di e en coun ies, p o ided an in e es ing o e iew o he si ua ion in Eu ope. Acco ding o he esul s, i appea s ha a ew egula ion and guidance documen s exis , bu hey a e ei he oo gene ic (e.g. SEVESO), ei he oo speci i c (e.g. echnical guideline o biogas anspo a ion). Mo eo e he implemen a ion o sa e y egula ions on biogas plan s is no ha monized h oughou Eu ope. Thus, he e is a eal need o a common amewo k ha can be applied o all p oduc ion p ocesses, all aw ma e ials and all ypes o p oduce s. Resul s Implemen a ion o iNTeg-Risk app oach • Use o iNTeg-Risk ools o ame he p oblems P oblem aming is a quali a i e s ep necessa y o s a de eloping isk managemen solu ions. I places a pa icula impo ance on he need o all in e es ed pa ies o sha e a common unde s anding o he isk issue(s) being add essed o , o he wise, o aise awa eness amongs hose pa ies on he di e ences ela ed o he pe cei ed isks. The p ojec has p oduced a amewo k and ools, such as a empla e o ca y ou a common analysis o he a ious case s udies. The use o he empla e p o ides an o e iew o he eme ging isk issues o he case unde conside a ion. The ollowing aspec s a e sys ema ically desc ibed: - Gene al desc ip ion, - Sou ce o haza d, - Elemen s a isk o haza d, - Haza dous si ua ion, - Main s akeholde s, - Ea ly wa ning si ua ions, - S a us desc ip ion. The able he eunde gi es a summa y o he a ious aspec s ha help o ame he eme ging isk issues o biogas. Tab. 2 The di e en s eps o ame he isk managemen p oblems o biogas p oduc ion • S akeholde s and hei conce ns I appea s ha he s akeholde s in ol ed in biogas p oduc ion ha e e y di e en isions and conce ns abou biogas, making di i cul any consensus on he e olu ion o his sec o . Conce ns should end o con e ge and i nd common solu ions in o de o u he de elop he biogas p oduc ion. Gene al desc ip ion Biogas di e s om gas in pe ochemicals due o h ee main cha ac e is ics ha a e impo an o ake in o accoun : - Biogas has been de eloped in e y a ious sec o s, e y di e en sa e y and indus ial cul u es - Biogas ope a o s a e o en public companies o ins i u ions wi h di e en ules and logic han p i a e sec o . - Biogas is a biological p ocess, no a chemical p ocess Sou ce o haza d The sou ce o haza d is mainly ela ed o he composi ion o he biogas, which is a oxic, l ammable and pa hogenic mix u e. The con ex can also play an impo an ole. Elemen s a isk o haza d The elemen s a isk a e mainly he ope a o s bu can be ex ended o he en i onmen , he popula ion and e en he whole communi y depending on he plan s size and loca ion. Haza dous si ua ion The haza dous si ua ions a e: - Explosion and i e - Toxic elease - Mic obiological elease Main s akeholde s The main s akeholde s a e he ope a o s (public companies o municipali ies) and he chain o ope a ion (sub-con ac o s). O he s akeholde s can also be in ol ed: - Public - Local public au ho i ies - Regula o (cen al go e nmen ) Ea ly wa ning si ua ions A ecen s udy desc ibes he mos p obable scena ios and gi es an indica ion o he se e i y o he biogas acciden s. The numbe o acciden s has signi i can ly inc eased in se e al membe s a es (c . Fig. 1). S a us desc ip ion A Eu opean Wo king G oup on Biogas Sa e y and Regula ion (EWGBSR) has been c ea ed in 2010 and is ope a ing o b ing mo e e idences on he isk managemen issues o he biogas p oduc ion. p. 36 - 43, DOI 10.2478/ 10281-012-0010-0 T ansac ions o he VŠB - Technical uni e si y o Os a a Sa e y Enginee ing Se ies Vol. VII, No. 2, 2012 41 Tab. 3 Lis o s akeholde s and hei conce ns • Iden i i ca ion o de i ci s The isk managemen de i ci s o biogas p oduc ion ha e been cha ac e ized using he se o ools de eloped wi h he iNTeg-Risk p ojec . These ools ha e been ex ensi ely desc ibed in he p oceedings o he h ee las annual con e ences (Jo ano ic e al., 2010, 2011, 2012). Tab. 4 De i ci s iden i i ed o biogas isk managemen P oposal o imp o ing isk managemen • Speci i c elemen s o isk managemen The de elopmen o a isk managemen s a egy has o ake in o accoun he speci i c ea u es o he biogas indus y, which is in ac de i ed om se e al indus y sec o s, i.e. in pa icula : - Was e wa e ea men indus y, - Solid was e ea men indus y, - Ag icul u al indus y. These sec o s a e s uc u ed di e en ly, has di e en ac o s and di e en se o s anda ds and egula ions. These aspec s a e conside ed in his pa ag aph. Indus ial a ionale: - A he o igin, Biogas is a ely he objec i e o he p ocess bu o en a sub-p oduc e en some imes conside ed as a “was e gas”. Fo example, in was e wa e ea men plan , biogas is he sub-p oduc o he diges ion p ocess, he objec i e o which is o educe olume and weigh o he was e ex ac ed om wa e . - Excep o speci i c me haniza ion plan , biogas p ocess is a ely he main p ocess o he plan , bu jus a pa o . - E en i me haniza ion p ocess could be a c i ical one (ex: in WWTP), use o biogas is a ely c i ical excep om a i nancial poin o iew (ex: when i mus be eplaced by na u al gas in boile s). The e o e, i biogas would no be easily conside ed as a sa e and sma p ocess, i migh be wi hd awn. Technical s anda ds: - As expe iences and con ex s a e a ious be ween he di e en sec o s o ope a ion, he echnical answe s a e also di e en . These di e ences o echnical answe s could e en begin di e ences o echnical e idences. Fo example, using pipe in s ainless s eel is e idence in WWTP sec o , bu in ubbish dump sec o , HDPE is. S akeholde Conce ns Public ope a o s Con ol he cos o he main ac i i ies (was e o wa e ea men ) Business con inui y Ope a ional cos s Ope a ing company Heal h and sa e y o he employee Business con inui y Ope a ional cos s Di e si y o p ocess and op ions o he sa e y design Ope a o (ag icul u al) Heal h and sa e y o he employee Business con inui y Ope a ional cos s Local public au ho i ies Heal h and sa e y o he employee Business con inui y P o ec ion o he ci izens Public in gene al Cos o ene gy Public in he icini y o he biogas plan Odou Impac o acciden s Public au ho i ies ( egula o ) Long e m sus ainable ope a ion Minimizing he isks o he socie y Cos e ec i eness o he biogas sec o P e-assessmen Risk App aisal Tole abili y & Accep abili y Judg. Risk Managemen T: Technical/ Techno-logical P e y good knowledge on he haza ds o biogas No enough da a a ailable on he a ious si ua ions o biogas p oduc ion Lack o moni o ing/ indica o s abou inciden s and acciden s Lack o speci i c echnical guidance documen s o sa e y H: Human/ Managemen Lack o educa ion and sa e y cul u e Lack o isk pe cep ion s udies No c i e ia a ailable o isk ole abili y. Lack o channels o sha e expe ience on inciden s and acciden s C: Go e nance/ Communi-ca ion Lack o awa eness is obse ed Lack o conce n assessmen No discussion on isk accep abili y has aken place. Lack o communica ion on he haza ds and esidual isks R: Policies/ Regula ions/ S anda ds The p oblem is no ye clea ly amed No cos -bene i analysis and socio- economic impac Lack o accep abili y c i e ia Lack o ha monized egula ion wi h a clea doc ine On-going ini ia i es in some coun ies o se up a sa e y egula o y amewo k p. 36 - 43, DOI 10.2478/ 10281-012-0010-0 T ansac ions o he VŠB - Technical uni e si y o Os a a Sa e y Enginee ing Se ies Vol. VII, No. 2, 2012 42 - Di e ences exis abou he commonly accep able le el o MTBF o MTTR o he same equipmen s (ex: gas comp esso , gas moni o ), depending on he c i icali y. These di e ences be ween he le els o accep abili y ha e a s ong impac on he quali y o he p oduc s p oposed by he supplie s. - Me haniza ion is a biological p ocess wi h a g ea ine ia. The e o e i canno be s opped like a classic chemical p ocess. So ha , sa e y equipmen and sa e y concep s mus absolu ely ake his pa icula i y in o accoun wi hou simply copying wha ’s done in pe ochemicals. Fo example, in o de o p e en a isk o explosion by in oducing ai in he me hanize , you could ha e some condi ions which o de i s isola ion. Bu wi h i s ine ia, me hanize will con inue o p oduce biogas and p essu e will inc ease un il he sa e y al e opens, eleasing he gas o he a mosphe e. Regula ions: - When hey exis , egula ions abou biogas ha e been de eloped a ound he egula ions al eady exis ing abou he main ac i i y o which biogas is issued. Fo example in F ance, me haniza ion eac o s o WWTP a e no egula ed by he indus ial isk egula ion bu he wa e one. - Au ho i ies in cha ge o moni o ing ac i i ies o biogas ope a o s, p io i ize hei ac ion owa ds he co e ac i i ies o biogas p oduce s such as was e managemen o wa e quali y. The e o e, egula ions could be con adic o y and au ho i ies a e no p ope ly equipped o comple e hei mission o p e en ion. Sa e y cul u e: - Con a y o pe ochemicals - whe e indus ial isk managemen is ully pa o hei ac i i y, in each s ep o p ocess - biogas ope a o s ha e o ace such isks only in a small pa o hei ac i i y. So, hey do no mas e enough he di e en ools used in isk managemen like HAZOP. We can e en a i m ha hey a e no eally com o able wi h he p inciples o indus ial isks managemen . - Sec o s in which biogas is ope a ed, a e in e nally linked a ound hei main issues such as land e i ciency o ag icul u e o own planning policy o municipals. Bu hey do no sha e oge he hei expe iences abou biogas. In hese condi ions, a collec i e lea ning p ocess has o be de eloped o imp o e he sa e y cul u e in he biogas indus y. The cu en low le el o sa e y cul u e and isk awa eness p e en s oday o se up adequa e ha monized minimum sa e y equi emen s all o e Eu ope and in he a ious sec o s o biogas. Raising he sa e y cul u e le el is he e o e a p io i y. • P oposal o a ailo ed-made app oach o imp o e isk managemen In o de o suppo he collec i e imp o emen o he sa e y le el, he biogas indus y sec o s need o p epa e a se ies o e e ence documen s and guidelines. As a p io i y, he ollowing documen s and ini ia i es should be p epa ed apidly, wi h he suppo o expe s om indus y and esea ch o ganiza ions, specialized on indus ial sa e y. - Eu opean gene al guideline ha con ains in o ma ion on echnologies o biogas p oduc ion, egula o y con ex o biogas plan s and ad ices on managemen o he se ing up o a biogas plan . - Eu opean da a base on acciden , inciden and nea -misses p o iding an o e iew o he e en wi h s anda dized in o ma ion wi h he abili y o sea ch and i l e he con en by key wo ds, echnologies, con ex s… - Ca alog o p o en echnical solu ions on piping class, demons a ed ins umen echnologies, se e e condi ions ecommenda ion, speci i cs P ocess Flow Diag am. - Me hodological guideline o he design o each ype biogas plan wi h a p esen a ion o he main acciden s and hei causes, a eminde o he speci i c ques ions o aps ela ed o biogas and ecommenda ions on he P ocess Flow Diag am. - Me hodological guideline o biogas plan ope a ion con aining a p esen a ion o he main acciden s and hei causes and in o ma ion on he ecommended con ols and ecommended me hodologies o s op o s a biogas equipmen in sa e y. - Eu opean speci i c egula ion on biogas p oduc ion and uses de i ning he minimum sa e y design and equipmen equi ed, as well as he minimum ope a ion p ocedu es equi ed and he o ganiza ion o he moni o ing. Conclusion Biogas is a e y p omising enewable ene gy esou ce ha p esen s se e al haza ds such as i es, explosions, oxici y and mic obial con amina ion. This pape p esen s an o e iew o he sa e y si ua ion o biogas p oduc ion. A e a e iew o he p oduc ion p ocess, he ends in Eu ope as well as he legisla ion in o ce a Eu opean le el, isks ela ed o biogas p oduc ion ha e been desc ibed. I is essen ial o ame p ope ly biogas sa e y issues in o de o imp o e isk managemen . The e o e iNTeg-Risk ools, which p o ide an e ec i e amewo k, ha e been implemen ed o biogas o help aming he p oblems and de eloping a isk managemen s a egy. p. 36 - 43, DOI 10.2478/ 10281-012-0010-0 T ansac ions o he VŠB - Technical uni e si y o Os a a Sa e y Enginee ing Se ies Vol. VII, No. 2, 2012 43 Re e ences COM (2007) 723. Communica ion om he Commission o he Council, he Eu opean Pa liamen , he Eu opean Economic and Social Commi ee and he Commi ee o he Regions: a Eu opean S a egic Ene gy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) - 'Towa ds a low ca bon u u e'. COM (2010) 639. Communica ion om he Commission o he Eu opean Pa liamen , he Council, he Eu opean Economic and Social Commi ee and he Commi ee o he Regions: Ene gy 2020 - A s a egy o compe i i e, sus ainable and secu e ene gy. Di ec i e 2009/28/EC. Di ec i e 2009/28/EC o he Eu opean Pa liamen and o he Council o 5 June 2009 on he p omo ion o he use o ene gy om enewable sou ces and amending and subsequen ly epealing Di ec i es 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC. EVANNO, Sébas ien (2012). Re ou d’expé ience ela i aux p océdés de mé hanisa ion e à leu s exploi a ions. Ve neuil en Hala e, F ance: INERIS, 2012. 148 p. DRA-12-117442-01013A. JOVANOVIC, Aleksanda , RENN, O win, SALVI, Oli ie (2010). 2nd iNTeg-Risk Con e ence: New Technologies & Eme ging Risks. Dealing wi h mul iple and in e connec ed eme ging isks. S u ga , Ge many: S einbeis Edi ion, 2010. 491 p. ISBN 978-3-938062-33-3. JOVANOVIC, Aleksanda , RENN, O win, SALVI, Oli ie (2011). 3 d iNTeg-Risk Con e ence & 20 h SRA-Eu ope Mee ing. S u ga . Ge many: S einbeis Edi ion, 2011. 152 p. ISBN 978-3-941417-65-6. JOVANOVIC, Aleksanda , RENN, O win, SALVI, Oli ie (2012). 4 d iNTeg-Risk Con e ence 2012: Managing Ea ly Wa nings - wha and how o look o ? S u ga . Ge many: S einbeis Edi ion, 2012. 67 p. ISBN 978-3- 943356-12-0. Obse ’ER. (2011). The S a e o Renewable Ene gies in Eu ope. Pa is, F ance, 2011. 127 p. 11 h Eu Obse ’ER Repo . Resolu ion 2009/C 66 E/05. Sus ainable ag icul u e and biogas: e iew o EU legisla ion. Eu opean Pa liamen esolu ion o 12 Ma ch 2008 on sus ainable ag icul u e and biogas: a need o e iew o EU legisla ion (2007/2107(INI)). SALVI, Oli ie , DELSINNE, Samuel, EVANNO, Sébas ien (2011). Biogas - A Eu opean Pe spec i e on Sa e y and Regula ion. Jou nal o Risk Analysis and C isis Response. 2011, Vol.1, No. 1, pp. 1-20. ISSN 2210-8491. As a consequence, a se ies o documen s and ini ia i es ha e been p oposed: Eu opean gene al guideline; Eu opean da a base on acciden ; inciden and nea -misses; Ca alog o p o en echnical solu ions; Me hodological guideline o he design o each ype biogas plan ; Me hodological guideline o biogas plan ope a ion; Eu opean speci i c egula ion on biogas p oduc ion and uses. These ac ions will be se up by he EWGBSR wi h he aim o imp o e biogas isk managemen and consequen ly suppo he u he and sa e de elopmen o biogas in Eu ope. p. 36 - 43, DOI 10.2478/ 10281-012-0010-0