Title: Analysis of potential GHG emissions reductions from methane recovery in livestock farming

Authors: Michela Gallo; Adriana Del Borghi; Carlo Strazza

Addresses: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all'Opera Pia 15, I-16145 Genoa, Italy ' Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all'Opera Pia 15, I-16145 Genoa, Italy ' Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Via all'Opera Pia 15, I-16145 Genoa, Italy

Abstract: Livestock farming is a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHG) owing to the high amount of methane emissions. The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the potential emission reductions and their enhancement during manure management through the optimisation of the main parameters involved, such as temperature, manure characteristics, type of management system. The investigation of a swine manure management system is performed with calculation of GHG emissions reduction due to a methane recovery system coupled with on-site power generator. The analysis conducted on the three parameters considered shows a variation of the methane emissions from 390 (drylot) to 31,000 tCO2e/year (anaerobic lagoon or liquid/slurry). The findings demonstrate that the substitution of anaerobic lagoon systems with a methane recovery system can be considered as a promising process in terms of GHG emissions reduction also in case of not highly favourable conditions of temperature and manure characteristics.

Keywords: biogas; methane emissions; swine manure management; anaerobic digestion; global warming; Kyoto Protocol; greenhouse gases; GHG emissions; carbon dioxide; CO2; carbon emissions; methane recovery; livestock farming; emissions reduction; energy generation; pigs; temperature.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2015.073053

International Journal of Global Warming, 2015 Vol.8 No.4, pp.516 - 533

Received: 18 Mar 2014
Accepted: 28 May 2014

Published online: 16 Nov 2015 *

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