A centralized biogas plant was built in Shikaoi town, Hokkaido, Japan to
treat manure from 1320 cattle heads. The biogas plant was designed to operate
at a feeding amount of 85.8 t/day, a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 37
days and at a digester temperature of 38 ?C. In this study, the operational
performance of biogas plant, utilization of digested slurry and economic
balance were investigated. Since the working conditions of the plant became
stable, the biogas production was 2,687 m3/day, 92% of produced biogas was
consumed in power generation. Average methane concentration in produced
biogas was 57.7%. The hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentration was decreased to
below 140 ppm as a result of bio-desulfurization and dry-desulfurization. The
average power generation was 3,737 kwh/day and from that 54% of produced
biogas was consumed in the facility operation, while 46% was sold to Power
Company. About 20,260 t of digested slurry were applied onto 602 ha grassland
and agricultural fields. From the results of the operational performance of
the plant and the economic balance evidence, it is evident that the
centralized biogas plant has a positive effect on the local economy.
Integration of centralized biogas plant in cold-snowy region in Japan
