Agriculture waste management

1. Agricultural Waste
Management
Axel Heilborn, Ryan Grosso, Shyama Pandya, Matt Fabian

2. Overview
Shyama
2
Introduction
Conclusion
Results
Methods
Goal and scope

3. Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion
Agriculture contributes to 9%of US emissions
Shyama
3
Source: EPA
~ 600,000 metric
tons CO2 eq.

4. Traditional manure storage vs Anaerobic digestion
Axel
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 4

5. Why anaerobic digestion?
● Environmental
○ Less greenhouse gas emissions
○ Capture nutrients for reuse as fertilizer
○ Reduces runoff
● Economic
○ Producing renewable energy
○ Reducing fossil fuel dependence
Axel
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 5
Source: USDA

6. Goal
Evaluating environmental and economic impact of using
anaerobic digestion for animal waste management
Shyama
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 6

7. LCA - Traditional manure management
Shyama
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 7
Waste
production
Storage Fertilizer Agriculture

8. Shyama
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 8
Waste
production
Transport
Anaerobic
Digestion
Storage
Water
Electricity
Electricity
Biogas
Fertilizer Agriculture
8.7 miles by truck 8.3 kWh/ton
Assumptions
LCA - Anaerobic digester
CH4 emissions converted to CO2

9. 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
Wastewater and Solid Wastes
Matt
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 9
Approach and Methods

10. Cost-Benefit Analysis - The Biogas Plant
Total Annual
Cost:
4.95 Million USD
Source: J acobsen et al., 2013
Ryan
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 10

11. Cost-Benefit Analysis - The Biogas Plant
Benefits:
● Production &sale of biogas
● Sale of byproduct (fertilizer)
Ryan
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 11
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion

12. CBA - By the Numbers
For a
centralized
biogas plant
(250,000
tonnes/year):
Ryan
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 12
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion
Initial Investment:
14.4 Million USD
Annual Costs:
4.95 Million USD
Annual Benefits:
6.33 Million USD
10th Year Investment:
2.18 Million USD
Discount Rate:
5%
Life-span:
20 Years

13. Cost-Benefit Analysis - Society
Ryan
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 13
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion

14. Assumptions
European data can be applied to US
Conventional manure storage and usage
Discount rate
Lifetime of 20 years for biogas plant
Matt
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 14

15. 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
Results and Discussion
Matt
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 15

16. Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 16
Axel

17. Putting the savings into perspective
17
=
4.7 tonne CO2/year
Axel
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion

18. Putting the savings into perspective
18
=
690 kg CO2/head/year
Axel
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion
4.7 tonne CO2/year

19. 19
CBA - Results
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion
Ryan
Our spreadsheet:

20. Conclusions
Successful in Denmark
GHG emission reductions
Challenges to widespread US implementation
Matt
Introduction Goal and scope Methods Results Conclusion 20

21. Questions?
21