Economic and environmental assessment of organic waste to biomethane conversion

Biomethane and biofertilizer production by anaerobic co-digestion of organic waste serves a promising method for reducing the environmental footprint of organic waste management. This study evaluated the technoeconomic feasibility and environmental impacts of organic waste to biomethane development in Glasgow, UK using net present value (NPV) analysis and life cycle assessment. Four different biogas upgrading technologies (pressurized water scrubbing, chemical scrubbing, membrane separation, and pressure swing adsorption) were compared. The membrane separation technology-based biomethane production meets 0.8% of the gas demand for Glasgow households with a conversion efficiency of 83%. The organic waste to biomethane development saved up to 264 kg CO2-eq annually per tonne of waste treated, with an NPV ranged between -9.0 pound million and -12.0 pound million based on the upgrading technology. High costs for waste collection and transportation are primarily responsible for the negative NPV. Carbon taxes between 31.30 pound and 58.02 pound per tonne of CO2 are needed for economically viable biomethane production.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the technical and economic feasibility of converting organic waste to biomethane in Glasgow, UK, using different biogas upgrading technologies. Biomethane production based on membrane separation technology could meet 0.8% of gas demand for Glasgow households with a conversion efficiency of 83%.