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Anaerobic digester systems (ADS) for multiple dairy farms: A GIS analysis for optimal site selection

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  • Thompson, Ethan
  • Wang, Qingbin
  • Li, Minghao

Abstract

While anaerobic digester systems (ADS) have been increasingly adopted by large dairy farms to generate marketable energy products, like electricity, from animal manure, there is a growing need for assessing the feasibility of regional ADS for multiple farms that are not large enough to capitalize their own ADS. Using geographical information system (GIS) software, this study first identifies potential sites in a dairy region in Vermont, based on geographical conditions, current land use types, and energy distribution infrastructure criteria, and then selects the optimal sites for a given number of ADS, based on the number of dairy farms to be served, the primary energy input to output (PEIO) ratio of ADS, and the existing transportation network. This study suggests that GIS software is a valid technical tool for identifying the potential and optimal sites for ADS. The empirical findings provide useful information for assessing the returns of alternative numbers of ADS in this region, and the research procedures can be modified easily to incorporate any changes in the criteria for this region and can be applied in other regions with different conditions and criteria.

Suggested Citation

  • Thompson, Ethan & Wang, Qingbin & Li, Minghao, 2013. "Anaerobic digester systems (ADS) for multiple dairy farms: A GIS analysis for optimal site selection," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 114-124.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:61:y:2013:i:c:p:114-124
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.06.035
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    1. Wang, Qingbin & Thompson, Ethan & Tweedy, Angela & O'Leary, Mary L. & Crossman, Williams W., 2021. "Potentials and obstacles for community anaerobic digesters in the United States: Evidence from a case study in Vermont," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    2. Diego Díaz-Vázquez & Susan Caroline Alvarado-Cummings & Demetrio Meza-Rodríguez & Carolina Senés-Guerrero & José de Anda & Misael Sebastián Gradilla-Hernández, 2020. "Evaluation of Biogas Potential from Livestock Manures and Multicriteria Site Selection for Centralized Anaerobic Digester Systems: The Case of Jalisco, México," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-32, April.
    3. Sultana Sharmin & Helmut Yabar & Delmaria Richards, 2023. "Green Energy Optimization in Dinajpur, Bangladesh: A Path to Net Neutrality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-29, January.
    4. Scarlat, Nicolae & Dallemand, Jean-François & Fahl, Fernando, 2018. "Biogas: Developments and perspectives in Europe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 457-472.
    5. Lim, Teng & Massey, Ray & McCann, Laura & Canter, Timothy & Omura, Seabrook & Willett, Cammy & Roach, Alice & Key, Nigel & Dodson, Laura, 2023. "Increasing the Value of Manure for Farmers," USDA Miscellaneous 333552, United States Department of Agriculture.
    6. Diego Teixeira Michalovicz & Patricia Bilotta, 2023. "Impact of a methane emission tax on circular economy scenarios in small wastewater treatment plants," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 6575-6589, July.
    7. Tomaž Levstek & Črtomir Rozman, 2022. "A Model for Finding a Suitable Location for a Micro Biogas Plant Using Gis Tools," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-21, October.
    8. Seyed Hashem Mousavi-Avval & Sami Khanal & Ajay Shah, 2023. "Assessment of Potential Pennycress Availability and Suitable Sites for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Refineries in Ohio," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-14, July.
    9. Murray, Alan T., 2021. "Contemporary optimization application through geographic information systems," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    10. Alessandro Neri & Bruno Bernardi & Giuseppe Zimbalatti & Souraya Benalia, 2023. "An Overview of Anaerobic Digestion of Agricultural By-Products and Food Waste for Biomethane Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-20, September.
    11. Khue Minh Dao & Helmut Yabar & Takeshi Mizunoya, 2020. "Unlocking the Energy Recovery Potential from Sustainable Management of Bio-Resources Based on GIS Analysis: Case Study in Hanoi, Vietnam," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-24, November.
    12. Scarlat, Nicolae & Fahl, Fernando & Dallemand, Jean-François & Monforti, Fabio & Motola, Vicenzo, 2018. "A spatial analysis of biogas potential from manure in Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 915-930.
    13. Soha, Tamás & Papp, Luca & Csontos, Csaba & Munkácsy, Béla, 2021. "The importance of high crop residue demand on biogas plant site selection, scaling and feedstock allocation – A regional scale concept in a Hungarian study area," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    14. Comber, Alexis & Dickie, Jennifer & Jarvis, Claire & Phillips, Martin & Tansey, Kevin, 2015. "Locating bioenergy facilities using a modified GIS-based location–allocation-algorithm: Considering the spatial distribution of resource supply," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 309-316.

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