By Isabel Pancake
There are 460 biogas plants in Brandenburg. Most are run on corn. But farmer Stefan Schulze-Bergcamen (47) from Gollwitz relies on a new miracle plant: the streaky Silphie!
With the yellow flower from North America, the production of biogas initially works in the same way as with corn: the plant is chopped as small as possible and ferments airtight under a film to form what is known as silage. This is then decomposed by bacteria, which produces valuable biogas.
“In North America, the Silphie was previously only a wild prairie plant. In Germany, we noticed that it is also suitable as an energy crop,” says Schulze-Bergcamen.
After the plant has been chopped and fermented airtight, this so-called silage is created Photo: Olaf Selchow
But: Because the research on Silphie is still very fresh, the seeds are extremely expensive! At the moment there is only one company in Germany that can even harvest the seeds of the miracle plant.
Silphie was used as a fodder plant for cows in GDR times, but was then forgotten again. Farmers all over Germany now have the plant back on their list.
Meanwhile, the second largest silphie farm in Germany is already in Gollwitz. 75 hectares are reserved for the miracle plant, and farmer Schulze-Bergcamen has a total of almost 2,000 hectares of land. Among other things, he also grows the maize established for energy production.
The fact is: Silphie has many ecological advantages! “Once it has sprouted properly, it stands for ten to 15 years,” says the farmer. “I don’t have to reseed every year.” The roots grow up to three meters deep. As a result, the plant absorbs a particularly large number of nutrients and all fertilizer.
The farmer can observe the fermentation process in the cauldron through a peephole Photo: Olaf Selchow
“Waterworks therefore also like the Silphie because it ensures excellent groundwater quality,” says Schulze-Bergcamen. Insects also fly onto the yellow flower. She has extra calyxes made of leaves to catch drinking water for the little animals.
“We have a lot of inquiries from beekeepers because the silphium still blooms in July and August,” says the farmer. Paper can even be made from the fibers of the plant.
Although silphie is not quite as rich in energy as corn, the farmers save diesel for their tractors by sowing much less frequently.
The plant has previously been processed into silage and becomes biogas during the fermentation process Photo: Olaf Selchow
The biogas plant in Gollwitz already generates eleven million kilowatt hours of electricity per year – energy for around 2750 households. This supplies the surrounding towns.
Despite the energy crisis, the waste heat generated during biogas production is not yet fully utilized, at least in the summer months!
“In winter we use it to dry our grains ourselves, but from March we no longer need the waste heat,” says Schulze-Bergcamen.
The biogas is stored in a kind of silo Photo: Olaf Selchow
So that the excess waste heat is not lost, water storage and gas lines would be needed in the villages. Or a nearby outdoor pool, which can be heated directly in summer.
The crucial question: Can the miracle plant solve our energy problems?
“Partially,” says the farmer. “Of course, other alternatives such as solar and wind energy are also needed.”