Affiliation:
1. Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
2. Department of Procurement, Services and Projects, Waste Management of Western Macedonia Region, General Commercial Registry G.E.MI.: 122074536000, 6th km Kozani-Ptolemaida Rd., 50150 Kozani, Greece
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising biowaste valorization technology for sustainable energy, circular economy, local energy community growth, and supporting local authorities’ environmental goals. This paper presents a systematic review meta-analysis methodology for biomethane estimation, using over 600 values of volatile solids (VS) content and biochemical methane potential (BMP) of six different waste streams, collected from 240 scientific studies. The waste streams include cow manure (CM), sheep/goat manure (SGM), wheat straw (WS), household waste (HW), organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), and sewage sludge (SS). The statistical analysis showed a mean VS content of 11.9% (CM), 37.3% (SGM), 83.1% (WS), 20.8% (HW), 19.4% (OFMSW), and 10.6% (SS), with BMP values of 204.6, 184.1, 305.1, 361.7, 308.3, and 273.1 L CH4/kg VS, respectively. The case study of Kozani, Greece, demonstrated the methodology’s applicability, revealing a potential annual CH4 production of 15,429,102 m3 (corresponding to 551 TJ of energy), with SGM, WS, and CM as key substrates. Kozani, aiming for climate neutrality by 2030, currently employs conventional waste management, like composting, while many local business residual streams remain unused. The proposed model facilitates the design and implementation of AD units for a sustainable, climate-neutral future.
Funder
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation