Biomethane production from anaerobic co-digestion at wastewater treatment plants: A critical review on development and innovations in biogas upgrading techniques

Nguyen, Dinh Duc; Kumar, J. Pradeep; Vu, Minh T.; Mohammed, Johir A.H.; Pathak, Nirenkumar; Commault, Audrey S.; Sutherland, Donna L.; Zdarta, Jakub; Tyagi, Vinay Kumar; Nghiem, Long D.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142753

Cited by 152 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…CO 2 is an important GHG; however, CHP systems are a better solution than emitting CH 4 during the anaerobic decomposition of sludge [19]. Another alternative to the onsite conversion of biogas to electricity and heat (presented in Figure 1) is to upgrade it [20], thus removing CO 2 and producing a high purity CH 4 stream, which is called "biomethane" and can replace traditional natural gas [21]. Biomethane is very versatile.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Promoting Sustainability: Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Source of Biomethane in Regions Far from a High-Pressure Grid. A Real Portuguese Case Study

2021

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Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) located in regions far from a high-pressure grid can produce renewable biomethane, which can partially substitute the natural gas locally consumed. However, the economic viability of implementing biomethane plants in WWTP has to be guaranteed. This paper uses the discount cash flow method to analyze the economic viability of producing biomethane in a WWTP located in Évora (Portugal). The results show that, under the current conditions, it is unprofitable to produce biomethane in this WWTP. Since selling the CO2 separated from biogas may result in an additional income, this option was also considered. In this case, a price of 46 EUR/t CO2 has to be paid to make the project viable. Finally, the impact of potential government incentives in the form of feed-in premia was investigated. Without selling CO2, the project would only be profitable for feed-in premia above 55.5 EUR/MWh. If all the CO2 produced was sold at 30 EUR/t CO2, a premium price of 20 EUR/MWh would make the project profitable. This study shows that the economic attractiveness of producing biomethane in small WWTP is only secured through sufficient financial incentives, which are vital for developing the biomethane market with all its associated advantages.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another alternative to the onsite conversion of biogas to electricity and heat (presented in Figure 1) is to upgrade it [20], thus removing CO2 and producing a high purity CH4 stream, which is called "biomethane" and can replace traditional natural gas [21]. Biomethane is very versatile.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promoting Sustainability: Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Source of Biomethane in Regions Far from a High-Pressure Grid. A Real Portuguese Case Study

2021

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“…The composition of typical raw biogas from AD plants is 60–70% CH 4 , 30–40% CO 2, with small amounts of H 2 S, N 2, NH 3 , and water vapor ( Jönsson et al, 2003 ). In order to produce biomethane with a high CH 4 purity, techniques for biogas upgrading are mainly divided into two categories: CO 2 removal based processes, such as water/amine scrubbing, cryogenic separation, pressure swing adsorption, and membranes ( Nguyen et al., 2020 ); and CO 2 -hydrogenation-based processes, through various methods such as photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, biocatalysis, and heterogeneous catalysis. The combination of biocatalysis and electrocatalysis in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) powered by renewable electricity sourced from wind turbines or solar PV ( Fu et al., 2020 ) may be used to directly reduce CO 2 to methane or provide H 2 which hydrogenates CO 2 into methane.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging bioelectrochemical technologies for biogas production and upgrading in cascading circular bioenergy systems

et al. 2021

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Biomethane is suggested as an advanced biofuel for the hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy transport. However, future systems that optimize the resource and production of biomethane have yet to be definitively defined. This paper assesses the opportunity of integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) with three emerging bioelectrochemical technologies in a circular cascading bioeconomy, including for power-to-gas AD (P2G-AD), microbial electrolysis cell AD (MEC-AD), and AD microbial electrosynthesis (AD-MES). The mass and energy flow of the three bioelectrochemical systems are compared with the conventional AD amine scrubber system depending on the availability of renewable electricity. An energy balance assessment indicates that P2G-AD, MEC-AD, and AD-MES circular cascading bioelectrochemical systems gain positive energy outputs by using electricity that would have been curtailed or constrained (equivalent to a primary energy factor of zero). This analysis of technological innovation, aids in the design of future cascading circular biosystems to produce sustainable advanced biofuels.

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“…A large volume of the biogas generated in AD plants today throughout the globe comes from plants developed over local wastewater treatment systems, where huge opportunities lie to be utilized for energy generation [36]. Several WWTPs have become net energy producers [37][38][39] (i.e., the Grevesmuhlen WWTP in Germany converts a mixture of primary sludge, waste activated sludge, and grease to biogas; the Köhlbrandhöft plant in Germany also produces 15% more electricity than it consumes on an annual basis) [40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A GIS-Based Model to Assess the Potential of Wastewater Treatment Plants for Enhancing Bioenergy Production within the Context of the Water–Energy Nexus

Valenti

Toscano

2021

Energies

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The necessity of developing renewable energy sources has contributed to increasing interest in developing the anaerobic digestion for producing biomethane since it both provides green energy and reduces disposal treatment. In this regard, to assure efficient water utilization by finding alternative water sources, sewage sludge collected from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was recently investigated because it could represent a suitable resource for producing biomethane within the context of a circular economy. Therefore, this study aims at improving the current knowledge on the feasibility of biomethane production from sewage sludge by optimizing the logistic-supplying phase. In this regard, a GIS-based model was developed and applied to the Emilia-Romagna region to consider the existing networks of WWTPs and biogas systems to valorize sewage sludge for bioenergy production and minimizing environmental impact. The results of the GIS analyses allowed to localize the highest productive territorial areas and highlighted where sewage sludges are abundantly located and could be better exploited within agricultural biogas plants. Finally, the achieved results could help plan suitable policy interventions that are centered on biomass supply and outputs diversification, governance, and social participation, since the regulatory framework could play a crucial role in planning the reuse of these wastes for developing a more sustainable biomethane sector in line with the green economy goals.

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Biomethane production from anaerobic co-digestion at wastewater treatment plants: A critical review on development and innovations in biogas upgrading techniques

Cited by 152 publications

References 74 publications

Promoting Sustainability: Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Source of Biomethane in Regions Far from a High-Pressure Grid. A Real Portuguese Case Study

Promoting Sustainability: Wastewater Treatment Plants as a Source of Biomethane in Regions Far from a High-Pressure Grid. A Real Portuguese Case Study

Emerging bioelectrochemical technologies for biogas production and upgrading in cascading circular bioenergy systems

A GIS-Based Model to Assess the Potential of Wastewater Treatment Plants for Enhancing Bioenergy Production within the Context of the Water–Energy Nexus

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