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Evaluating the Potential of Renewable Energy Sources in a Full-Scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor Treating Municipal Wastewater in Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Philomina Mamley Adantey Arthur

    (Laboratoire Eaux Hydro-Systèmes et Agriculture (LEHSA), Institut International d’Ingénierie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE), Rue de la Science, Ouagadougou P.O. Box 594, Burkina Faso
    Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Accra PMB 117, Ghana)

  • Yacouba Konaté

    (Laboratoire Eaux Hydro-Systèmes et Agriculture (LEHSA), Institut International d’Ingénierie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE), Rue de la Science, Ouagadougou P.O. Box 594, Burkina Faso)

  • Boukary Sawadogo

    (Laboratoire Eaux Hydro-Systèmes et Agriculture (LEHSA), Institut International d’Ingénierie de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (2iE), Rue de la Science, Ouagadougou P.O. Box 594, Burkina Faso)

  • Gideon Sagoe

    (Waste Landfills Co., Ltd., Accra P.O. Box DT 1670, Ghana)

  • Bismark Dwumfour-Asare

    (Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation Education, AAM—University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Asante-Mampong Campus, Mampong P.O. Box 40, Ghana)

  • Issahaku Ahmed

    (Sewerage Systems Ghana Ltd., Accra P.O. Box GP 1630, Ghana)

  • Richard Bayitse

    (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Industrial Research, Accra P.O. Box LG 576, Ghana)

  • Kofi Ampomah-Benefo

    (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Industrial Research, Accra P.O. Box LG 576, Ghana)

Abstract

Wastewater management remains a major challenge in developing countries due to the lack of adequate infrastructure, making the need for economically viable and efficient technologies that can be sustained by emerging economies imperative. The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor represents an efficient and low-cost technology that produces by-products from which valuable resources can be recovered. This study assessed the energy recovery potential in the form of electricity from biogas and sludge by-products produced by a full-scale UASB reactor. Biogas production rate and composition were monitored to determine the biogas energy recovery potential. Dehydrated sludge from sludge drying beds was likewise quantified and characterised for its elemental composition, immediate composition, gross calorific value and net calorific value to estimate sludge energy recovery potential. The average daily biogas production was found to be 611 ± 275 Nm 3 /d, with 65% methane in the biogas output. Average sludge dry matter production was determined to be 358.24 TS kg/d. The net energy recovery potential was estimated to be 534.1 MWh/yr, 36% more than the yearly energy demand (392.7 MWh/yr) of the entire plant. Conservative energy recovery at a UASB-based municipal wastewater treatment facility could serve as a self-supply energy option to support its operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Philomina Mamley Adantey Arthur & Yacouba Konaté & Boukary Sawadogo & Gideon Sagoe & Bismark Dwumfour-Asare & Issahaku Ahmed & Richard Bayitse & Kofi Ampomah-Benefo, 2023. "Evaluating the Potential of Renewable Energy Sources in a Full-Scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor Treating Municipal Wastewater in Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3743-:d:1072403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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