Influence of Different Techniques on Biomethane Sustainability

Biogas production is starting to be regarded as a very sustainable practice that can guarantee high GHG savings when upgraded to biomethane. However, sustainability is strongly influenced by many factors, such as the choice of feedstock and operational practices. This paper analyses the impact of several criticalities on the GHG emissions of biomethane production. The system analysed includes the production of biogas and the upgrading to biomethane, which is burnt in a domestic boiler to produce heat. The first critical point is the choice of feedstock. Two substrates are analysed individually: maize and manure. In the case of manure, the residues of digestion and the avoided emissions from manure storage and field application are taken into account. This results in high GHG savings compared to the reference system of producing heat with a natural gas boiler. When maize is used as a substrate, all emissions from cultivation have to be accounted for. A second criticality analysed is the technique used for the upgrading. Four widely used upgrading techniques are considered and the environmental impact analysis shows that the savings depend strongly on which is used. In general the use of biomethane for heat can lead to substantial reduction of GHG emissions. The biomethane pathways, though, have worse environmental performances in eutrophication and in the case of particulate matter the manure pathways have savings while the maize pathways have higher potential than the reference system.

BOULAMANTI Aikaterini;  DONIDA MAGLIO Sara;  GIUNTOLI Jacopo;  AGOSTINI Alessandro; 

2014-03-20

ETA Florence

JRC84351

978-88-89407-53-0,   

ISSN 2282-5819,   

http://www.etaflorence.it/proceedings/index.asp,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC84351,   

10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-5AV.2.25,