Buysse, Jeroen

De Dobbelaere, Anke

Meers, Erik

Ryckaert, Bart

Vergote, Tine

Volcke, Eveline

English

Volcke, Eveline I. P.

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

Pocket Power! - increasing the potential of anaerobic digestion at farm-scaleTine Vergote1,2,3, Anke De Dobbelaere4, Bart Ryckaert4, Jeroen Buysse1, Eveline Volcke2, Erik Meers3 1Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent, Belgium, Tine.Vergote@UGent.be2Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent, Belgium3Department of Analytical and Applied Ecochemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent, Belgium4 Inagro vzw, Research and Advice Centre for Agriculture and Horticulture, www.inagro.beAcknowledgementsFunded by Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (www.vlaio.be)with the support of: Boerenbond, ABS, Biolectric, GreenWatt, CES, Innolab, AB Milieusystemen, Vermeulen Construct, United Experts, Biogas-E, Inverde, VLACOWP1: CoordinationWP7: Distribution of results - CommunicationWP2: Quantification of greenhouse gas emissions and optimization of process performanceWP3: Sector scan – Extension possible?WP4: Problem solver – Hands-on solutionsWP5: Design adjusted pocket digestion concept WP6: First-of-a-kind and transferabilityMechanistic model- Manure storage- Digester- Digestate storage tankModel simulations- Retention time - Reactor volume- TemperatureFull scale measuring campaignPocket digestion plantMILESTONE: Customized strategies for pocket digestion with maximized biogas production and minimized greenhouse gas emissions- Biomass potential- Technical feasibility- Legal restrictions- Economic impact- Ecological impactMILESTONE: A priority list of companies within several subsectors for which pocket digestion proves to be feasibleTotal evaluationWeightsSelecting two subsectors- Biomass (storage, processing)- Digestion (technical aspects)- Valorization (heat, digestate)Selecting one subsectorEvaluationEcological: Life Cycle AssessmentEconomical: Cost-benefit analysis- Assistance in implementation of a pilot installation- Solutions transferable to other sectors?Work packages (WP) – MethodsIntroduction• Rising energy prices are becoming a more and more determining costfor agricultural companies• Pocket digestion may lead to the (partial) fulfillment of the farm’senergy requirements• Limited scale: less transport costs, independence of market prices, lesslandscape disruption,…Objectives• Extending the positive experiences with pocket digestion of cattleslurry to other agricultural streams like pig manure and cropresidues• Quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emission that could bereduced by pocket digestion to be able to consider it as a climatemeasureDiscussion• Unused biomass: incentive to explore valorization options• Convince farmers to invest in a pocket digester that contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions• Many challenges to achieve an optimized practical implementation- Technical and legal issues- Profitability for farmer and constructor- Quantifying and optimizing environmental impact