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An Economical Evaluation of Anaerobic Digestion Plants Fed with Organic Agro-Industrial Waste

Author

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  • Maurizio Carlini

    (Department of Economic, Engineering, Society and Business Organization (DEIM), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Enrico Maria Mosconi

    (Department of Economic, Engineering, Society and Business Organization (DEIM), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Sonia Castellucci

    (Department of Economic, Engineering, Society and Business Organization (DEIM), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Mauro Villarini

    (Department of Agriculture and Forestry Science (DAFNE), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Andrea Colantoni

    (Department of Agriculture and Forestry Science (DAFNE), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

Anaerobic co-digestion technology is increasingly used to simultaneously treat solid and liquid organic waste to balance nutrient content, to reduce the negative effects of toxic compounds in the process, and to increase biogas yield. The aim of this study was to analyze the economic performance of co-digestion plants fed with agro-industrial wastes as a function of installed power, with a method of discounted cash flow. The study focused on Italian framework conditions concerning payment for electricity produced by anaerobic digestion (AD) plants as well as the production costs. The economic analysis was carried out using three different plant sizes: 100 kW, 500 kW, and 1000 kW, which are representative of biogas plants in Italy. The study showed that the improvement of the break-point is closely linked to the increase in corresponding plant size. Given the assumptions of the simulation, the payback for the 100 kW plant was nine years for both the all-inclusive tariff and the basic feed-in tariff (BFT). Regarding the 500 kW and 1000 kW plants, the payback periods were five and four years, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Maurizio Carlini & Enrico Maria Mosconi & Sonia Castellucci & Mauro Villarini & Andrea Colantoni, 2017. "An Economical Evaluation of Anaerobic Digestion Plants Fed with Organic Agro-Industrial Waste," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:8:p:1165-:d:107408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Biancamaria Torquati & Sonia Venanzi & Adriano Ciani & Francesco Diotallevi & Vincenzo Tamburi, 2014. "Environmental Sustainability and Economic Benefits of Dairy Farm Biogas Energy Production: A Case Study in Umbria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(10), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Colantoni, A. & Evic, N. & Lord, R. & Retschitzegger, S. & Proto, A.R. & Gallucci, F. & Monarca, D., 2016. "Characterization of biochars produced from pyrolysis of pelletized agricultural residues," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 187-194.
    3. Ilaria Zambon & Fabrizio Colosimo & Danilo Monarca & Massimo Cecchini & Francesco Gallucci & Andrea Rosario Proto & Richard Lord & Andrea Colantoni, 2016. "An Innovative Agro-Forestry Supply Chain for Residual Biomass: Physicochemical Characterisation of Biochar from Olive and Hazelnut Pellets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-11, July.
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