Analysis of solutions alleviating CO₂ emissions intensity of biogas technology
by Wojciech M. Budzianowski; Kamila J. Budzianowska; Donata S. Budzianowska
International Journal of Global Warming (IJGW), Vol. 9, No. 4, 2016

Abstract: Biogas is a multi-purpose technology capable of harvesting renewable energy, converting organic wastes and supplying low-carbon biofuels for transport which all mitigate atmospheric carbon emissions. State-of-the-art biogas CHP technology is however characterised by relatively significant life cycle CO₂ emissions intensity typically ranging from 200 to 450 gCO₂eq/kWhe, depending on specific feedstocks and configurations. Due to high CO₂ content in biogas, the direct biogenic CO₂ emissions intensity of a biogas CHP plant is about 700 gCO₂/kWhe, which is greater than the direct CO₂ emissions intensity of natural gas combustion and it is comparable only with coal combustion. Therefore, in order to meet requirements of future low-carbon energy systems, solutions capable of cost-effectively mitigating various parasitic or even biogenic carbon emissions from biogas are needed. This study analyses the following categories of solutions alleviating CO₂ emissions intensity of biogas technology: 1) anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic matter with increased CH₄/CO₂ selectivity; 2) biological H₂ generation from organic matter; 3) AD with biogenic CO₂ recycling; 4) biogas utilisation with facilitated CO₂ sequestration; 5) low-carbon biofuels from biogas. For each of these categories solutions aiming at alleviating CO₂ emissions intensity are provided and analysed. Finally, optimal embedding in the economic environment is discussed.

Online publication date: Wed, 04-May-2016

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