scholarly journals Design of profitable networks of biogas plants in Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Casas ◽  
F. Casas ◽  
J. Bustos

AbstractLocations for profitable biogas plant networks for the generation of electric power were investigated. A population-based location algorithm was developed. Using information regarding biogas power and plants cost found in the literature, together with data on the location and number of dairy cows of 572 farms in southern Chile, economic analises were made. Each farm was evaluated as a potencial location for a biogas plant, both alone and as part of different combinations. The algorithm starts with a population of one-plant combinations and generates new iterations by inserting additional biogas plants as long as the NPV increases. In each iteration, only a diverse subset of the combinations is selected. This approach is compared to the application of the ArcGIS Network Analyst (NA) function for the set cover problem, usually employed in the literature for biogas plant network location problems. Using the technical parameters for the operation of biogas plants found in the literature, we show that the proposed algorithm gives better results than the NA algorithm in terms of profit. Biogas plant networks were obtained for different scenarios of biomass availability (40–80%), energy sale prices (90–100 USD/MWh) and transport costs (0.3–0.4 USD/tkm). The results indicate that 18 of the 572 farms would be good candidates to site a biogas plant in at least one of the scenarios. A maximum of eight farms appear in a scenario with 80% of biomass availability and a transport cost of 0.3 USD/tkm. This solution reaches a NPV of USD 3,538,394, which exceeds by more than 70% the USD 2,075,057 obtained with the solution retrieved by the NA function. As the algorithm presented obtained better results than the ArcGIS network analyst, it can be used as an appropriate design tool for biogas plant networks.

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Giulio Sperandio ◽  
Andrea Acampora ◽  
Vincenzo Civitarese ◽  
Sofia Bajocco ◽  
Marco Bascietto

The delivery of biomass products from the production place to the point of final use is of fundamental importance within the constitution of energy chains based on biomass use as renewable energy source. In fact, transport can be one of the most economically expensive operations of the entire biomass energy production process. In this work, a geographic identification, through remote sensing and photo-interpretation, of the different biomass sources was used to estimate the potential available biomass for energy in a small-scale supply chain. The economic sustainability of transport costs was calculated for different types of biomass sources available close to a biomass power plant of a small-scale energy supply chain, in central Italy. The proposed analysis allows us to highlight and visualize on the map the areas of the territory characterized by greater economic sustainability in terms of lower transport costs of residual agroforestry biomass from the collection point to the final point identified with the biomass power plant. The higher transport cost was around € 40 Mg−1, compared to the lowest of € 12 Mg−1.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2424
Author(s):  
Jan Martin Zepter ◽  
Jan Engelhardt ◽  
Tatiana Gabderakhmanova ◽  
Mattia Marinelli

Biogas plants may support the transformation towards renewable-based and integrated energy systems by providing dispatchable co-generation as well as opportunities for biogas upgrading or power-to-X conversion. In this paper, a simulation model that comprises the main dynamics of the internal processes of a biogas plant is developed. Based on first-order kinetics of the anaerobic digestion process, the biogas production of an input feeding schedule of raw material can be estimated. The output of the plant in terms of electrical and thermal energy is validated against empirical data from a 3-MW biogas plant on the Danish island of Bornholm. The results show that the model provides an accurate representation of the processes within a biogas plant. The paper further provides insights on the functioning of the biogas plant on Bornholm as well as discusses upgrading potentials of biogas to biomethane at the plant from an energy perspective.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 582-612
Author(s):  
G. S. Chebotareva ◽  
◽  
A. A. Dvinayninov ◽  

The main trend in energy development is to increase energy efficiency by reducing the use of limited natural resources, the spread of renewable energy, and reducing the negative impact on the environment. An effective response to these challenges is the use of biogas plants that produce clean energy and solve the environmental problems of waste disposal and recycling. The purpose of the article is to assess the economic efficiency of replacing district gas supply with autonomous biogas plants in public utilities. A hypothesis has been put forward that the feasibility of using such technologies depends on climatic features and the specific provisions of state regulation of prices and gas consumption rates. A cost approach was applied that assesses the overall structure of equipment costs, as well as a comparative assessment method according to the principle “with / without a biogas plant”, and a scenario analysis, the criterion of which is the size of the family owning the plant. An auxiliary method for forecasting retail and economically justified prices for natural gas for the population was used. The object of calculations is the “HomeBiogas” installation intended for home use. Three Russian cities were chosen as territorial subjects: Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Krasnodar. The cities which differ significantly in their natural characteristics and approaches to the formation of retail gas prices. It has been proved that although the average monthly temperatures differ significantly in the cities considered, none of them has a constant temperature exceeding the required standard value of 17°C. In each case, the initial capital investment is driven up by the cost of installing additional insulation and heating systems. This equalizes the costs of warmer and colder areas. Therefore, the climatic features of cities are not significant and do not affect the economic efficiency of using a biogas plant. In turn, state regulation of prices and norms of gas consumption by the population is of decisive importance. The findings are of theoretical and practical importance. The methodology can be applied to assess the efficiency of using biogas plants in industry and gasification projects in the remote areas of Russia.


2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wiese ◽  
O. Kujawski

Agricultural biogas plants based on energy crops gain more and more importance because of numerous energetic, environmental and agricultural benefits. In contrast to older biogas plants, the newest generation of biogas plants is equipped with modern ICA equipment and reliable machines/engines. In this paper, the authors present technical details and operational results of a modern full-scale agricultural biogas plant using energy crops.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 2083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Muradin ◽  
Katarzyna Joachimiak-Lechman ◽  
Zenon Foltynowicz

Implementation of the circular economy is one of the priorities of the European Union, and energy efficiency is one of its pillars. This article discusses an effective use of agri-food industry waste for the purposes of waste-to-energy in biogas plants. Its basic objective is the comparative assessment of the eco-efficiency of biogas production depending on the type of feedstock used, its transport and possibility to use generated heat. The environmental impact of the analysed installations was assessed with the application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. Cost calculation was performed using the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) method. The LCA analysis indicated that a biogas plant with a lower level of waste heat use where substrates were delivered by wheeled transport has a negative impact on the environment. The structure of distributed energy production cost indicates a substantial share of feedstock supply costs in the total value of the LCOE ratio. Thus, the factor affecting the achievement of high eco-efficiency is the location of a biogas plant in the vicinity of an agri-food processing plant, from which the basic feedstock for biogas production is supplied with the transmission pipeline, whereas heat is transferred for the needs of production processes in a processing plant or farm.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matías Herrera Dappe ◽  
Tomás Serebrisky ◽  
Ancor Suárez-Alemán

Do differences in port performance explain differences in maritime transport costs? How much would improvements in port performance reduce maritime transport costs in developing countries? To answer this question, we use a widely used transport cost model, but we provide a new measure of port efficiency, estimated through a non-parametric approach. Relying on data from the early 2000s, this paper shows that for a sample of 115 container ports in 39 developing countries, becoming as efficient as the country with the most efficient port sector would reduce average maritime transport costs by 5 percent. For the most inefficient country, the reduction in transport costs could reach 15 percent. These findings point out the potential gains that can be achieved from the combination of betterquality investment and more efficient service provision in the port sector. The estimates in this paper cannot be updated because the databases were discontinued and it therefore highlights the need to generate data to evaluate the effectiveness of public policies that are key to competitiveness.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Nsair ◽  
Senem Onen Cinar ◽  
Ayah Alassali ◽  
Hani Abu Qdais ◽  
Kerstin Kuchta

The biogas production technology has improved over the last years for the aim of reducing the costs of the process, increasing the biogas yields, and minimizing the greenhouse gas emissions. To obtain a stable and efficient biogas production, there are several design considerations and operational parameters to be taken into account. Besides, adapting the process to unanticipated conditions can be achieved by adequate monitoring of various operational parameters. This paper reviews the research that has been conducted over the last years. This review paper summarizes the developments in biogas design and operation, while highlighting the main factors that affect the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion process. The study’s outcomes revealed that the optimum operational values of the main parameters may vary from one biogas plant to another. Additionally, the negative conditions that should be avoided while operating a biogas plant were identified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 02019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzhan Temirbekova ◽  
Madina Aliyarova ◽  
Iliya Iliev ◽  
Aliya Yelemanova ◽  
Saule Sagintayeva

This paper justifies the efficiency of the biogas collection and utilization at the MSW (municipal solid waste) landfill in Almaty with the installation of several modern biogas plants. The optimal mode of processes occurring in a biogas plant is determined by computer generated simulations. Mathematical model parameters were identified to describe biochemical processes occurring in a biogas plant. Two approaches are used to resolve the mathematical model: the finite-difference method for solving the system of differential equations and simulation modeling by using the Any Logic package. A program is written in the algorithmic language C ++. Numerous calculations were carried out, the results of which are presented in curves and their qualitative picture is consistent with the ongoing processes. The created computer program allows to make a preliminary forecast of anaerobic fermentation occurring in the bioreactor depending on volume of the substrate, methane microorganisms and temperature conditions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Wei ◽  
Erin J. Belval ◽  
Matthew P. Thompson ◽  
Dave E. Calkin ◽  
Crystal S. Stonesifer

Sharing fire engines and crews between fire suppression dispatch zones may help improve the utilisation of fire suppression resources. Using the Resource Ordering and Status System, the Predictive Services’ Fire Potential Outlooks and the Rocky Mountain Region Preparedness Levels from 2010 to 2013, we tested a simulation and optimisation procedure to transfer crews and engines between dispatch zones in Colorado (central United States) and into Colorado from out-of-state. We used this model to examine how resource transfers may be influenced by assignment shift length, resource demand prediction accuracy, resource drawdown restrictions and the compounding effects of resource shortages. Test results show that, in certain years, shortening the crew shift length from 14 days to 4 days doubles the yearly transport cost. Results also show that improving the accuracy in predicting daily resource demands decreases the engine and crew transport costs by up to 40%. Other test results show that relaxing resource drawdown restrictions could decrease resource transport costs and the reliance on out-of-state resources. The model-suggested assignments result in lower transport costs than did historical assignments.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 135-150
Author(s):  
Jan Loskot

Abstract In recent years, the European Union is putting a growing emphasis on constructing agricultural biogas plants, especially in the Czech-Polish border region. In this region, there are large areas of agricultural land which can provide biomass as a substrate used in biogas plants. Biogas plants connected to cogeneration units are a useful renewable source of thermal and electrical energy, but they can cause also some problems. Probably the most serious issue is that inadequately technologically operated biogas plants are the source of unpleasant odour which may affect the surrounding population. Therefore, we prepared a continuation of our educational course focused on biogas plants intended for a study program “Physico-technical Measurements and Computer Technology” at the Faculty of Science at the University of Hradec Kralove and for the education of internshipers from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology at the University of Opole. In this part of the course, the students will learn about the problems with odour released from inadequately technologically operated biogas plants and about the ways how to measure and model the odour contamination in the vicinity of the odour source. An important part of this educational course is a practical exercise on the mathematical modelling of odour contamination from an inadequately technologically operated agricultural biogas plant. Thus, the students will be able to perform the odour modelling using the SYMOS’97 methodology which is approved and used as an official tool for air pollution modelling in the Czech Republic. Students will learn that a biogas plant which is well-operated and correctly located in relation to local hydrometeorological conditions does not annoy local residents by odour.


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