At the beginning of this year, our partners from Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (KIS) participated in the New Challenges in Agronomy 2025 (Novi izzivi v agronomiji 2025) in Laško, Slovenia. This was an excellent opportunity to showcase the goals of the Slovenian pilot site within the ECOLOOP project, focusing on biogas production and flexibility management, through a poster exhibition.
The conference provided a platform to discuss the current state and future potential of biogas technology in Slovenia. The KIS poster presentation highlighted key trends in the development of agricultural biogas plants, addressing regulatory challenges, financial support mechanisms, and the potential for increasing biogas production from livestock manure and agricultural residues.
One of the central themes was the importance of small-scale and micro biogas plants, particularly their role in reducing methane emissions and improving energy self-sufficiency on farms. Currently, legislative barriers classify manure as “waste,” limiting its use in biogas production, while financial support schemes primarily target larger installations. The research emphasized the need for policy adjustments to better support smaller biogas units, especially those using livestock manure, which would otherwise release methane into the atmosphere.
This research is part of the ECOLOOP project, which focuses on biogas and biomethane applications to enhance energy sustainability and efficiency in agriculture. Participation in the conference marked an important step toward promoting flexible, decentralized biogas production models in Slovenia.