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Promoting Sustainability: Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Source of Biomethane in Regions Far from a High-Pressure Grid. A Real Portuguese Case Study

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  • Francisco M. Baena-Moreno

    (Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, Technical School of Engineering, University of Seville, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
    Department of Mechatronics Engineering, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal)

  • Isabel Malico

    (Department of Mechatronics Engineering, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
    Instituto Superior Técnico (IDMEC), Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Isabel Paula Marques

    (Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG), 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) located in regions far from a high-pressure grid can produce renewable biomethane, which can partially substitute the natural gas locally consumed. However, the economic viability of implementing biomethane plants in WWTP has to be guaranteed. This paper uses the discount cash flow method to analyze the economic viability of producing biomethane in a WWTP located in Évora (Portugal). The results show that, under the current conditions, it is unprofitable to produce biomethane in this WWTP. Since selling the CO 2 separated from biogas may result in an additional income, this option was also considered. In this case, a price of 46 EUR/t CO 2 has to be paid to make the project viable. Finally, the impact of potential government incentives in the form of feed-in premia was investigated. Without selling CO 2 , the project would only be profitable for feed-in premia above 55.5 EUR/MWh. If all the CO 2 produced was sold at 30 EUR/t CO 2 , a premium price of 20 EUR/MWh would make the project profitable. This study shows that the economic attractiveness of producing biomethane in small WWTP is only secured through sufficient financial incentives, which are vital for developing the biomethane market with all its associated advantages.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:8933-:d:611550
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    1. Idiano D’Adamo & Claudio Sassanelli, 2022. "Biomethane Community: A Research Agenda towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Akinola David Olugbemide & Ana Oberlintner & Uroš Novak & Blaž Likozar, 2021. "Lignocellulosic Corn Stover Biomass Pre-Treatment by Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) for Biomethane Production Process by Bioresource Anaerobic Digestion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Mohamed A. Hassaan & Ahmed El Nemr & Marwa R. Elkatory & Safaa Ragab & Mohamed A. El-Nemr & Antonio Pantaleo, 2021. "Synthesis, Characterization, and Synergistic Effects of Modified Biochar in Combination with α-Fe 2 O 3 NPs on Biogas Production from Red Algae Pterocladia capillacea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Jaroslav Demko & Ján Machava, 2022. "Tree Resin, a Macroergic Source of Energy, a Possible Tool to Lower the Rise in Atmospheric CO 2 Levels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.

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