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Li TC, Lin Y, Ding L, Smith S, Gu AZ. Policy impact on economic and environmental sustainability of anaerobic digestion: Industrial case study Insights. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2025; 417:131815. [PMID: 39547300 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2024] [Revised: 11/11/2024] [Accepted: 11/11/2024] [Indexed: 11/17/2024]
Abstract
This paper thoroughly examines how policy incentives impact the economic and environmental sustainability of anaerobic digestion (AD) systems. It uses techno-economic and life cycle analyses, along with real industry data, to explore the entire AD process-from feedstock acceptance to digestate disposal. It evaluates the effects of various U.S. policy crediting programs on the economic viability of different AD pathways for treating sewage sludge and food waste. Tipping fees are identified as the primary driver of profitability, while policy credits play a crucial role in enhancing economic feasibility, particularly for renewable natural gas production. However, future regulatory changes could reshape this economic landscape. All AD pathways are found to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, though economic outcomes are highly sensitive to digestate disposal costs and feedstock tipping fees. Co-digestion with food waste is proposed as a strategy to reduce dependence on policy credits and improve long-term economic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony C Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University. 263 Hollister Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Quasar Energy Group, 8600 E Pleasant Valley Rd, OH 4413, USA
| | - Yingqian Lin
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA.
| | - Ling Ding
- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
| | - Steve Smith
- Quasar Energy Group, 8600 E Pleasant Valley Rd, OH 4413, USA
| | - April Z Gu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University. 263 Hollister Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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2
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Piadeh F, Offie I, Behzadian K, Rizzuto JP, Bywater A, Córdoba-Pachón JR, Walker M. A critical review for the impact of anaerobic digestion on the sustainable development goals. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 349:119458. [PMID: 37918233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technology emerges as a viable solution for managing municipal organic waste, offering pollution reduction and the generation of biogas and fertilisers. This study reviews the research works for the advancements in AD implementation to effectively impact the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, the study critically analyses responsible waste management that contributes to health and safety, elevating quality of life in both rural and urban areas and, finally, creates a map of AD outputs onto all 17 SDGs. Finally, the assessment employs the three sustainability pillars (i.e., economic, environmental, and social perspectives) to examine the direct and indirect links between AD and all 17 UN SDGs. The findings reveal substantial progress, such as poverty reduction through job creation, bolstering economic growth (SDGs 1, 8, 10, 12), enhancing agricultural productivity (SDG 2), advancing renewable energy usage and diminishing reliance on fossil fuels (SDG 7), fostering inclusive education and gender equality (SDGs 4, 5, 9), combating climate change (SDG 13), transforming cities into sustainable and harmonious environments (SDGs 11, 16, 17), and curbing environmental pollution (SDGs 3, 6, 12, 14, 15). Nonetheless, the study highlights the need for further efforts to achieve the SDG targets, particularly in part of liquid and solid fertilisers as the AD outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Piadeh
- School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, Ealing, London, W5 5RF, UK; School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Ikechukwu Offie
- School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, Ealing, London, W5 5RF, UK
| | - Kourosh Behzadian
- School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, Ealing, London, W5 5RF, UK.
| | - Joseph P Rizzuto
- School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, Ealing, London, W5 5RF, UK
| | - Angela Bywater
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 iBJ, UK
| | | | - Mark Walker
- Department of Engineering University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
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3
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Scown CD, Baral NR, Tanjore D, Rapp V. Matching diverse feedstocks to conversion processes for the future bioeconomy. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 84:103017. [PMID: 37935087 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
A wide variety of wasted or underutilized organic feedstocks can be leveraged to build a sustainable bioeconomy, ranging from crop residues to food processor residues and municipal wastes. Leveraging these feedstocks is both high-risk and high-reward. Converting mixed, variable, and/or highly contaminated feedstocks can pose engineering and economic challenges. However, converting these materials to fuels and chemicals can divert waste from landfills, reduce fugitive methane emissions, and enable more responsible forest management to reduce the frequency and severity of wildfires. Historically, low-value components, including ash and lignin, are poised to become valuable coproducts capable of supplementing cement and valuable chemicals. Here, we evaluate the challenges and opportunities associated with converting a range of feedstocks to renewable fuels and chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne D Scown
- Life-cycle, Economics, and Agronomy Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Energy Analysis and Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Energy & Biosciences Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States.
| | - Nawa R Baral
- Life-cycle, Economics, and Agronomy Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Deepti Tanjore
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
| | - Vi Rapp
- Building Technologies and Urban Systems Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
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4
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Leonhardt B, Tyson RJ, Taw E, Went MS, Sanchez DL. Policy Analysis of CO 2 Capture and Sequestration with Anaerobic Digestion for Transportation Fuel Production. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:11401-11409. [PMID: 37494599 PMCID: PMC10413946 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Low carbon fuel and waste management policies at the federal and state levels have catalyzed the construction of California's wet anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities. Wet ADs can digest food waste and dairy manure to produce compressed natural gas (CNG) for natural gas vehicles or electricity for electric vehicles (EVs). Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) of CO2 generated from AD reduces the fuel carbon intensity by carbon removal in addition to avoided methane emissions. Using a combined lifecycle and techno-economic analysis, we determine the most cost-effective design under current and forthcoming federal and state low carbon fuel policies. Under many scenarios, designs that convert biogas to electricity for EVs (Biogas to EV) are favored; however, CCS is only cost-effective in these systems with policy incentives that exceed $200/tonne of CO2 captured. Adding CCS to CNG-producing systems (Biogas to CNG) only requires a single unit operation to prepare the CO2 for sequestration, with a sequestration cost of $34/tonne. When maximizing negative emissions is the goal, incentives are needed to either (1) fund CCS with Biogas to EV designs or (2) favor CNG over electricity production from wet AD facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branden
E. Leonhardt
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley 94720, United States
| | - Ryan J. Tyson
- Thermo
Fisher Scientific, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, United States
| | - Eric Taw
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley 94720, United States
| | - Marjorie S. Went
- Department
of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley 94720, United States
| | - Daniel L. Sanchez
- Department
of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley 94720, United States
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Wang Y, Baral NR, Yang M, Scown CD. Co-Processing Agricultural Residues and Wet Organic Waste Can Produce Lower-Cost Carbon-Negative Fuels and Bioplastics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2958-2969. [PMID: 36747467 PMCID: PMC9948286 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Scalable, low-cost biofuel and biochemical production can accelerate progress on the path to a more circular carbon economy and reduced dependence on crude oil. Rather than producing a single fuel product, lignocellulosic biorefineries have the potential to serve as hubs for the production of fuels, production of petrochemical replacements, and treatment of high-moisture organic waste. A detailed techno-economic analysis and life-cycle greenhouse gas assessment are developed to explore the cost and emission impacts of integrated corn stover-to-ethanol biorefineries that incorporate both codigestion of organic wastes and different strategies for utilizing biogas, including onsite energy generation, upgrading to bio-compressed natural gas (bioCNG), conversion to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) bioplastic, and conversion to single-cell protein (SCP). We find that codigesting manure or a combination of manure and food waste alongside process wastewater can reduce the biorefinery's total costs per metric ton of CO2 equivalent mitigated by half or more. Upgrading biogas to bioCNG is the most cost-effective climate mitigation strategy, while upgrading biogas to PHB or SCP is competitive with combusting biogas onsite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Energy
& Biosciences Institute, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Life-Cycle,
Economics, and Agronomy Division, Joint
BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Biological
Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Nawa R. Baral
- Life-Cycle,
Economics, and Agronomy Division, Joint
BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Biological
Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Minliang Yang
- Life-Cycle,
Economics, and Agronomy Division, Joint
BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Biological
Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Corinne D. Scown
- Energy
& Biosciences Institute, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Life-Cycle,
Economics, and Agronomy Division, Joint
BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Biological
Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Energy
Analysis and Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Nordahl S, Preble CV, Kirchstetter TW, Scown CD. Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant Emissions from Composting. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2235-2247. [PMID: 36719708 PMCID: PMC9933540 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Composting can divert organic waste from landfills, reduce landfill methane emissions, and recycle nutrients back to soils. However, the composting process is also a source of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions. Researchers, regulators, and policy decision-makers all rely on emissions estimates to develop local emissions inventories and weigh competing waste diversion options, yet reported emission factors are difficult to interpret and highly variable. This review explores the impacts of waste characteristics, pretreatment processes, and composting conditions on CO2, CH4, N2O, NH3, and VOC emissions by critically reviewing and analyzing 388 emission factors from 46 studies. The values reported to date suggest that CH4 is the single largest contributor to 100-year global warming potential (GWP100) for yard waste composting, comprising approximately 80% of the total GWP100. For nitrogen-rich wastes including manure, mixed municipal organic waste, and wastewater treatment sludge, N2O is the largest contributor to GWP100, accounting for half to as much as 90% of the total GWP100. If waste is anaerobically digested prior to composting, N2O, NH3, and VOC emissions tend to decrease relative to composting the untreated waste. Effective pile management and aeration are key to minimizing CH4 emissions. However, forced aeration can increase NH3 emissions in some cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah
L. Nordahl
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Chelsea V. Preble
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Thomas W. Kirchstetter
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Corinne D. Scown
- Energy
Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Biosciences
Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Joint
BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608, United States
- Energy
& Biosciences Institute, University
of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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7
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Shen R, Chen R, Yao Z, Feng J, Yu J, Li Z, Luo J, Zhao L. Engineering and microbial characteristics of innovative lab and pilot continuous dry anaerobic co-digestion system fed with cow dung and corn straw. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 342:126073. [PMID: 34606924 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Dry anaerobic digestion (dry-AD) allows high-solid digestion; however, dry-AD application is limited because it is prone to blockage and intermediate inhibition. Here, we reported innovative continuous dry co-digestion systems at both lab and pilot scales. The effects of digestate recirculation ratio, dry mass ratio of cow dung to corn straw (CD:CS), and TS content on the digestion performance were investigated. The effects of the three factors were ranked as follows: TS content > CD:CS > digestate recirculation ratio. The daily biogas production rate reached 0.386 NL/d/g VS with the optimal parameter combination, which was determined to be TS content of 30%, a substrate ratio of 1:3, and a digestate recirculation ratio of 40%. In addition, increasing the CD:CS and TS content increased digestate viscosity, which inhibited biogas production; however, increased abundance of Proteiniphilum and acetoclastic methanogens facilitated biogas production. This study provides empirical support for further application of dry-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixia Shen
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Runlu Chen
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China; Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100125, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018, PR China
| | - Zonglu Yao
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Jing Feng
- Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100125, PR China
| | - Jiadong Yu
- Institute of Energy and Environmental Protection, Academy of Agricultural Planning and Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100125, PR China
| | - Zaixing Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018, PR China
| | - Juan Luo
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Lixin Zhao
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China.
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8
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Orner KD, Smith SJ, Breunig HM, Scown CD, Nelson KL. Fertilizer demand and potential supply through nutrient recovery from organic waste digestate in California. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 206:117717. [PMID: 34634641 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Diversion of organic waste from landfills offers an opportunity to recover valuable nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that are typically discarded. Although prior research has explored the potential for buildout of anaerobic digestion (AD) infrastructure to treat organic waste and generate energy, a better understanding is needed of the nutrient recovery potential from the solid and liquid byproducts (digestate) resulting from AD of these waste streams. We quantified the system-wide mass of nutrients that can potentially be recovered in California by integrating current and potential future AD facilities with existing nutrient recovery technologies. Based on a profitable build-out scenario for AD, the potential for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery by mass was greatest from municipal sewage sludge. The nutrient recovery (% total mass) was determined for three different end products for the combined organic waste streams: liquid fertilizer [38% of the total recovered nitrogen (TN)], struvite [50% TN, 66% total phosphorous (TP)], and compost (12% TN, 34% TP). Based on the profitable build-out scenario of AD facilities in California, the recovered nutrients would offset an estimated 11% of TN and 29% of TP of in-state synthetic fertilizer demand, whereas a scenario in which all technically recoverable biomass is collected and treated could offset 44% of TN and 97% of TP demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Orner
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Re-inventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States.
| | - Sarah J Smith
- Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Hanna M Breunig
- Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Corinne D Scown
- Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Energy & Biosciences Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Kara L Nelson
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Re-inventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States.
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