Consequently, the next step in the study has been to ask whose demands can be satisfied with these flexibility potentials as the flexibilisation of the biomass always should preferably be pursued according to the needs of the system transformation.
The second factor was indeed globalisation, which acted as a multiplier of these trends, driven by the information and communications technology (ICT) revolution as well as the flexibilisation of production and the growth of finance and the debt economy across borders.
This informalisation is also related to the flexibilisation of employment in the organised sector that is suggested by the increasing use of contract labour by employers in order to benefit from more flexible labour practices.
In order to model and analyse the possible costs of the flexibilisation of biogas (depending on the degree of existing and newly transformed capacities), a proper biogas facility database has been established [7] which includes data of existing plants (2014) and a forecast of possible new installations until 2020.
However, the flexibilisation of biogas plants and the increase of the PQ ask for investments in additional CHP and gas storage capacities.
The costs of realising flexibilisation potentials for existing plants depend on the future mode of operation and the general flexibilisation strategy of the plant operator.
Meanwhile, price signals on balancing markets do not yet express growing flexibilisation needs of the electricity system.
Finally, by exploiting balancing markets, the flexibilisation of installations can indeed have a positive effect on their economic efficiency while also supporting the system as a whole.
This also limits incentives for investing in the flexibilisation of existing solid biomass plants, since these cannot claim the flexibility premium.
For example, the flexibilisation of one existing biogas plant with a rated power of about 800 kW causes additional capital-related expenses of 33,000 € per year for a PQ value of 1.5, over a period of 10 years.
