GES Energy Solutions
Topic:
On-farm anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and pig manure for electricity generation and district heating in a rural community in south east ireland.
Abstract:
Despite the increasing economic and environmental success recorded in certain parts of Europe and across the world from renewable energy generated using Anaerobic digestion, the south-east region of Ireland is yet to develop a programme for the beneficial reuse of its organic waste. It is for this reason that this work assesses the feasibility of on-farm anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and pig manure for electricity generation and district heating in a rural community in South-East Ireland. Three communities within the South-East were studied to determine the economic, environmental and financial benefit of developing an anaerobic digestion system. Feedstock availability and cost implications were analysed using information gathered from published literature and Anaerobic Digestion facility operators. Base case models for each community were designed and analysed using a mathematical model. The different base case scenarios were further subjected to stress tests to determine the most successful and practical option. The simple payback period, energy cost savings, CO2 emission reduction and Net Present Value of investment for each community were all calculated using the mathematical model. Comparisons were made between the results for the three different communities. The outcome of the research shows that anaerobic digestion of food waste and pig manure can achieve both financial and environmental successes within these communities’ if the operational strategy of the system is optimised, with cheap available feedstock and adequate heat demand from the communities. However, some communities recorded more success than others due to their high heat demand.
About Ekene Gbanite, Chief Technology Officer:
Ekene holds an MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering (Built Environment). A member of the Ireland Institute of Engineers. His curiosity and passion for energy conservation led to him completing a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Waterford Institute of Technology. In the process, Ekene won the Annual CIBSE Student Award, sponsored by Suir Engineering for his research project entitled “Feasibility of on-farm anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and pig manure for electricity generation and district heating in a rural community in South East Ireland”.
He currently works as a Technology Officer for an Energy Servicing Company based in Limerick.
About GES Energy Solutions:
GES Energy Solutions is an Energy Servicing Company (ESCO) based in Limerick.