Agricultural Waste

Management

Axel Heilborn, Ryan Grosso, Shyama Pandya, Matt Fabian

 Shyama
Overview
Introduction

Goal and scope

Methods

Results

Conclusion 2
 Shyama
Agriculture contributes to 9% of US emissions

~ 600,000 metric
tons CO2 eq.

Source: EPA

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 3

 Axel

Traditional manure storage vs Anaerobic digestion

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 4

 Axel

Why anaerobic digestion?

● Environmental

○ Less greenhouse gas emissions

○ Capture nutrients for reuse as fertilizer

○ Reduces runoff

● Economic

○ Producing renewable energy

○ Reducing fossil fuel dependence Source: USDA

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 5

 Shyama

Goal

Evaluating environmental and economic impact of using

anaerobic digestion for animal waste management

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 6

 Shyama

LCA - Traditional manure management

Waste
Storage Fertilizer Agriculture
production

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 7

 Shyama

LCA - Anaerobic digester

Assumptions 8.7 miles by truck 8.3 kWh/ ton
CH4 emissions converted to CO2
Transport Electricity

Biogas Electricity

Waste Anaerobic
Storage
production Digestion

Fertilizer Agriculture
Water

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 8

 Matt

Approach and Methods

LCA -- g CO2 eq/ton of manure

CBA -- $/ton of manure

2 Primary Data Sources

The Economics of Biogas in Denmark

Methane Production by Anaerobic Digestion of

9
Wastewater
Introduction and Solid
Goal and scope Wastes
Methods Results Conclusion
 Ryan
Cost-Benefit Analys is - The Biogas Plant

Total Annual
Cos t:
4.95 Million USD

Source: J acobs en et al., 2013

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 10

 Ryan
Cost-Benefit Analys is - The Biogas Plant
Benefits :
● Production & s a le of bioga s
● Sa le of byproduct (fertilizer)

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 11

 Ryan
CBA - By the Numbers Life-s pan:
20 Years
10th Year Inves tm ent:
2.18 Million USD
For a
centra lized Annual Cos ts :
Dis count Rate:
4.95 Million USD
5%
bioga s pla nt
Annual Benefits :
(250,000 6.33 Million USD

tonnes / yea r):

Initial Inves tm ent:
14.4 Million USD

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 12

 Ryan
Cost-Benefit Analys is - Society

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 13

 Matt

Assumptions

Europea n da ta ca n be a pplied to US

Conventional ma nure s tora ge a nd us a ge

Dis count ra te

Lifetime of 20 yea rs for bioga s pla nt

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 14

 Matt

Results and Discussion

Analysis

Potential for a more sustainable agricultural waste management system

Potential for higher quality fertilizers

Can be profitable

Challenges

High initial costs

Dependency on governmental support

US lacks necessary infrastructure

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 15
 Axel

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 16

 Axel

Putting the savings into perspective

=
4.7 tonne CO2/year

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 17

 Axel

Putting the savings into perspective

=
4.7 tonne CO2/year 690 kg CO2/head/year
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 18
 Ryan
CBA - Results
Our s prea ds heet:

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 19

 Matt

Conclusions

Succes s ful in Denma rk

GHG emis s ion reductions

Cha llenges to wides prea d US implementa tion

Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 20

Questions?

21