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Economic–environmental analysis of handling biogas from sewage sludge digesters in WWTPs (wastewater treatment plants) for energy recovery: Case study of Bekkelaget WWTP in Oslo (Norway)

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  • Venkatesh, G.
  • Elmi, Rashid Abdi

Abstract

This paper outlines a methodology for a systematic economic–environmental analysis of realistic and realisable options for recovering and utilising energy from biogas produced in sewage sludge digesters in WWTPs (wastewater treatment plants). Heat, electricity and transport fuel can be produced from biogas, consumed in-plant or even sold to external end-users. The paper initially considers global warming as the environmental impact of concern, but later also stresses on the necessity of avoiding problem shifting by factoring in other environmental impact categories as well. The methodology is subsequently applied to the Bekkelaget WWTP in Oslo (Norway). Five different options for handling biogas are considered, in addition to the status quo – the business-as-usual in year-2012, and a baseline case, where it is assumed that all biogas generated is flared completely and not utilised for energy recovery of any kind. Seven different cost scenarios – for electricity, natural gas, wood pellets, bio-methane and diesel – are constructed. This gives a total of 49 combinations, for each of which the net costs and net environmental impacts (global warming, eutrophication and acidification) are determined for the 10-year period 2012–2021. The changes (in percentages) with respect to the corresponding values for the baseline case, are recorded; suitable weighting factors are considered after interaction with experts and personnel associated with the plant, and the options are evaluated using this double-bottom-line approach (economic and environmental).

Suggested Citation

  • Venkatesh, G. & Elmi, Rashid Abdi, 2013. "Economic–environmental analysis of handling biogas from sewage sludge digesters in WWTPs (wastewater treatment plants) for energy recovery: Case study of Bekkelaget WWTP in Oslo (Norway)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 220-235.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:58:y:2013:i:c:p:220-235
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.05.025
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    5. Mirmasoumi, Siamak & Ebrahimi, Sirous & Saray, Rahim Khoshbakhti, 2018. "Enhancement of biogas production from sewage sludge in a wastewater treatment plant: Evaluation of pretreatment techniques and co-digestion under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 707-717.
    6. Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Bonilla-Gómez, José-Luis & Borge-Diez, David & Castro-Gil, Manuel, 2015. "Hybridization of concentrated solar power plants with biogas production systems as an alternative to premiums: The case of Spain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 186-197.
    7. Derick Lima & Gregory Appleby & Li Li, 2023. "A Scoping Review of Options for Increasing Biogas Production from Sewage Sludge: Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Energy Self-Sufficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-34, March.
    8. Oumaima Mabrouk & Helmi Hamdi & Sami Sayadi & Mohammad A. Al-Ghouti & Mohammed H. Abu-Dieyeh & Nabil Zouari, 2023. "Reuse of Sludge as Organic Soil Amendment: Insights into the Current Situation and Potential Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-25, April.
    9. Ghoreyshi, Ali Asghar & Sadeghifar, Hamidreza & Entezarion, Fereshteh, 2014. "Efficiency assessment of air stripping packed towers for removal of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from industrial and drinking waters," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 838-843.
    10. Mehr, A.S. & Moharramian, A. & Hossainpour, S. & Pavlov, Denis A., 2020. "Effect of blending hydrogen to biogas fuel driven from anaerobic digestion of wastewater on the performance of a solid oxide fuel cell system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    11. Lijó, Lucía & González-García, Sara & Bacenetti, Jacopo & Moreira, Maria Teresa, 2017. "The environmental effect of substituting energy crops for food waste as feedstock for biogas production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 1130-1143.
    12. Panepinto, Deborah & Fiore, Silvia & Zappone, Mariantonia & Genon, Giuseppe & Meucci, Lorenza, 2016. "Evaluation of the energy efficiency of a large wastewater treatment plant in Italy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 404-411.
    13. Abusoglu, Aysegul & Tozlu, Alperen & Anvari-Moghaddam, Amjad, 2021. "District heating and electricity production based on biogas produced from municipal WWTPs in Turkey: A comprehensive case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    14. Giuseppe Campo & Antonella Miggiano & Deborah Panepinto & Mariachiara Zanetti, 2023. "Enhancing the Energy Efficiency of Wastewater Treatment Plants through the Optimization of the Aeration Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-15, March.
    15. Budych-Gorzna, Magdalena & Smoczynski, Marcin & Oleskowicz-Popiel, Piotr, 2016. "Enhancement of biogas production at the municipal wastewater treatment plant by co-digestion with poultry industry waste," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 387-394.
    16. Claudinei De Souza Guimarães & David Rodrigues da Silva Maia & Eduardo Gonçalves Serra, 2018. "Construction of Biodigesters to Optimize the Production of Biogas from Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Food Waste and Sewage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-10, April.
    17. Francisco M. Baena-Moreno & Isabel Malico & Isabel Paula Marques, 2021. "Promoting Sustainability: Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Source of Biomethane in Regions Far from a High-Pressure Grid. A Real Portuguese Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    18. Ferreira, Sérgio & Monteiro, Eliseu & Brito, Paulo & Vilarinho, Cândida, 2017. "Biomass resources in Portugal: Current status and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1221-1235.

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