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Environmental impacts of biogas production from grass: Role of co-digestion and pretreatment at harvesting time

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  • Tsapekos, P.
  • Khoshnevisan, B.
  • Alvarado-Morales, M.
  • Symeonidis, A.
  • Kougias, P.G.
  • Angelidaki, Irini

Abstract

Biogas production from anaerobic digestion of grass was evaluated in this study taking into account two harvesting machines, a Disc-mower and an Excoriator, under diverse operating conditions. In addition, the application of generated biogas either in a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant for thermal and electrical energy production or as transportation fuel after upgrading (BGU) process was evaluated. Consequential Life Cycle Assessment (CLCA) with long term marginal data was employed. Lab-scale data as well as those obtained from the ecoinvent database were used to compile life cycle inventory data. The system boundary of the present study covered harvesting operation of grass, baling, transportation of bales, anaerobic digestion, use of digestate on farmlands, and downstream processes for biogas usage. Additionally, the system boundary was expanded to take into account the effect of substituting grass with straw in animal feeds. The results demonstrated that the environmental performance of grass-based biogas plants were highly dependent on selected downstream strategies. Furthermore, it was evident that mono-digestion of grass would not guarantee a long-term sustainable renewable energy system. Based on the results obtained, Excoriator at driving speed of 7.5 km/ha had the best environmental performance in all damage categories, i.e., “Human health”, “Ecosystem quality”, “Climate change”, and “Resources”. CHP had a greater environmental performance than water scrubbing BGU for the downstream strategies taken into account. The results from the sensitivity analysis proved that a specific methane yield lower than 329 mLCH4/gVS cannot ensure the achievement of an eco-friendly energy system from grass-based biogas plants.

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  • Tsapekos, P. & Khoshnevisan, B. & Alvarado-Morales, M. & Symeonidis, A. & Kougias, P.G. & Angelidaki, Irini, 2019. "Environmental impacts of biogas production from grass: Role of co-digestion and pretreatment at harvesting time," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:252:y:2019:i:c:39
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113467
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    5. Zhou, Jialiang & Zhang, Yuanhui & Khoshnevisan, Benyamin & Duan, Na, 2021. "Meta-analysis of anaerobic co-digestion of livestock manure in last decade: Identification of synergistic effect and optimization synergy range," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    6. Ma, Shuaishuai & Wang, Hongliang & Li, Longrui & Gu, Xiaohui & Zhu, Wanbin, 2021. "Enhanced biomethane production from corn straw by a novel anaerobic digestion strategy with mechanochemical pretreatment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    7. Zhang, Yizhen & Jiang, Yan & Wang, Shun & Wang, Zhongzhong & Liu, Yanchen & Hu, Zhenhu & Zhan, Xinmin, 2021. "Environmental sustainability assessment of pig manure mono- and co-digestion and dynamic land application of the digestate," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    8. Magdalena Muradin & Joanna Kulczycka, 2020. "The Identification of Hotspots in the Bioenergy Production Chain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, November.
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    10. Tsapekos, Panagiotis & Khoshnevisan, Benyamin & Alvarado-Morales, Merlin & Zhu, Xinyu & Pan, Junting & Tian, Hailin & Angelidaki, Irini, 2021. "Upcycling the anaerobic digestion streams in a bioeconomy approach: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    11. Linda Mezule & Baiba Strazdina & Brigita Dalecka & Eriks Skripsts & Talis Juhna, 2021. "Natural Grasslands as Lignocellulosic Biofuel Resources: Factors Affecting Fermentable Sugar Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, February.
    12. Wei En Tan & Peng Yen Liew & Lian See Tan & Kok Sin Woon & Nor Erniza Mohammad Rozali & Wai Shin Ho & Jamian NorRuwaida, 2022. "Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis for Anaerobic Digestion as Cow Manure Management System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-16, December.
    13. Khoshnevisan, Benyamin & Tabatabaei, Meisam & Tsapekos, Panagiotis & Rafiee, Shahin & Aghbashlo, Mortaza & Lindeneg, Susanne & Angelidaki, Irini, 2020. "Environmental life cycle assessment of different biorefinery platforms valorizing municipal solid waste to bioenergy, microbial protein, lactic and succinic acid," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    14. Luo, Tao & Khoshnevisan, Benyamin & Pan, Junting & Ge, Yihong & Mei, Zili & Xue, Jian & Fu, Yanran & Liu, Hongbin, 2020. "How exothermic characteristics of rice straw during anaerobic digestion affects net energy production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    15. Constantin Aurelian Ionescu & Mihaela Denisa Coman & Elena Liliana Moiceanu Marin & Liliana Paschia & Nicoleta Luminita Gudanescu Nicolau & Gabriel Cucui & Dan Marius Coman & Sorina Geanina Stanescu, 2019. "The Analysis of the Economic Effects on the Greening and Recovery of the Sludge Waste Resulting from the Biogas Production Activity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-19, September.

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