Swiss army to benefit from new biogas facility

Heat for a local training barracks for the Swiss army based in Bure, Switzerland will be provided by a new biogas plant.

Construction of the Bio Etique Energie plant by Germany-based Weltec Biopower has begun and it will be located in Jura. It hopes to generate an expected heat surplus of 2.6GWh which will be used to heat the nearby barracks.

Jura was an attractive location as Weltec was impressed by the abundance of fertile soil and the local agriculture industry. Feedstocks for the plant will include liquid manure, green and grain waste, and dung.

Weltec is also confident of being able to supply around 3GWh a year of electricity to the national grid, enough to power approximately 900 homes, when fully operational by the end of 2012.