Title: Application of a methodology to estimate carbon credits for GHG emissions from the processing of biosolids generated at wastewater treatment plant

Authors: Dhesikan Venkatesan; Kenneth Noll; Divya Tawde

Addresses: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3201 S Dearborn Street, Suite #228, Chicago, IL 60616, USA ' Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3201 S Dearborn Street, Suite #228, Chicago, IL 60616, USA ' Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1202 Morrill Court, San Jose, CA 95132, USA

Abstract: This paper presents a methodology to estimate carbon credits from greenhouse gas emissions associated with biosolids management activities and applies it to Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP) in Chicago, USA. Application of the methodology requires the measurement or selection of typical parameters for the organic composition of the biosolids. Anaerobic digestion is commonly used to partially convert biosolids to biogas. Conversion of biosolids to biogas to produce energy is important because it provides the opportunity to gain carbon credits by replacement of energy produced from fossil fuels. Alternately, carbon credits can be gained for land application options that increase soil carbon. Application of this methodology at the SWRP has the potential to generate carbon credits equivalent to approximately 1 M ton [US] of CO2 per year which amounts to a monetary value of 5.4 M US$ at median price of 6 US$ per metric tonne of CO2 for US carbon credits scenario.

Keywords: biosolids; wastewater treatment plants; WWTP; carbon credits; greenhouse gases; GHGs; carbon sequestration; GHG emissions; USA; United States; biogas; CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; anaerobic digestion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2015.070476

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2015 Vol.16 No.1, pp.27 - 37

Accepted: 27 Oct 2014
Published online: 07 Jul 2015 *

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