Biomass aggregation and feedstock logistics for a compressed biogas plant

CBG operations guide

CBG Feedstock Storage and Logistics Planning Guide

A CBG feedstock plan is only credible if material can be collected, moved, stored and received without unacceptable loss or risk. Storage and transport should be designed by feedstock class: dry fibrous residues need density and fire controls, while wet materials need short cycles, containment and freshness management.

End-to-end

Source, hub, route, plant gate, storage and daily feeding must reconcile.

Best fit

Plant logistics, hub, procurement and safety teams sizing buffers and daily delivery lanes.

Watch closely

Annual-tonnage plans without truck capacity, wet-season access, stack space, ageing, fire controls or weighbridge reconciliation.

Ask the supplier

Can the supplier demonstrate daily lane capacity and current inventory by lot, age and storage location?

Separate dry and wet operating models

Feedstock classes should not share a generic storage assumption. Density, moisture, degradation, runoff, fire and handling equipment change the appropriate buffer strategy.

  • For dry residues, model bale/chip density, covered footprint, ventilation, drainage, access lanes and fire separation.
  • For wet materials, minimize residence, control containment and monitor first-in, first-out movement.
  • For silage or other preservation, validate construction and opening procedures before relying on stored volume.

Prove route capacity under real conditions

A radius on a map does not establish delivery capacity. Payload, loading time, road access, queueing, unloading and vehicle turnaround determine daily supply.

  • Pilot representative routes in the actual harvest and weather period.
  • Track vehicle, source, timestamps, gross/net weight, accepted weight and return cycle.
  • Maintain backup vehicles and escalation for lane or equipment failure.

Reconcile physical and digital inventory

Procurement, hub and plant numbers should describe the same material. Lot identity and status transitions prevent double-counting and reveal losses.

  • Use distinct statuses for committed, collected, at hub, dispatched, received, held, rejected and consumed.
  • Perform cycle counts and ageing reviews instead of relying only on cumulative purchase records.
  • Investigate variance between source weight, hub weight, plant weight and accepted quantity.

Evidence before commitment

Decision and proof matrix

Convert each commercial claim into evidence that procurement, operations and finance can review together.

Decision factorOperating guidanceMinimum proof
BufferSize by seasonality and proven delivery variability.Monthly forecast, route SLA and scenario model.
SafetyEngineer feedstock-specific fire/runoff/access controls.Site inspection, emergency plan and drill records.
TransportMeasure payload and turnaround by lane.GPS/timestamps, weighbridge and trip-cost record.
InventoryTrack lot status, age, loss and acceptance.Digital lot ledger and physical reconciliation.

Execution checklist

Before this feedstock enters the production plan

Assign an owner and evidence date to every item. A verbal supplier assurance should not close a readiness check.

Lab characterization and a controlled plant trial remain mandatory before scale.
  1. 1Classify each feedstock as dry, wet, preserved or special-handling.
  2. 2Calculate storage by usable density and safe stack/site layout.
  3. 3Pilot lane payload and turnaround in real seasonal conditions.
  4. 4Implement lot IDs, status transitions and inventory ageing.
  5. 5Reconcile source, hub and plant weights with accepted quantity.
  6. 6Test disruption plans for weather, fire, equipment and route failure.

Sources and limits

These sources support sector context and planning references. Figures are indicative, not a supplier guarantee or plant design specification. Validate local supply, laboratory characteristics, process compatibility and applicable legal requirements with qualified professionals.

Continue the decision

Related CBG feedstock guides

View the CBG feedstock hub

Build from evidence

Turn this guide into a plant-specific sourcing plan.

Share plant capacity, location, preferred feedstocks and storage constraints with the URJA SETU procurement team.