organic waste-to-energy – Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community

Why Pursue Bio-Energy?

The great Texas Oil Boom, also referred to as the Gusher Age, provided for dramatic economic growth in the US in the early 20th century, and ushered in rapid development and industrial growth. Although we typically think of the Middle East when we consider the impacts of oil discoveries on local economies (reference Dubai), at the time of its discovery, the oil finds in Texas were unprecedented; and the US quickly became the world’s top producer of petroleum.

As we all know, the rest of the world came to the party, and the US was soon falling in the ranks of top petroleum producers. Though the US oil reserves are vast, increasing concerns over the environmental impacts of finding, mining, extracting, refining, and consuming fossil fuels has incentivized the development of renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy. Of these forms of renewable energy, bioenergy holds the promise for replacement of fossil fuels for transportation use.

What did we do?

Bioenergy may be described as fuels derived from organic materials, such as agricultural wastes, through processes like anaerobic digestion. The US has even more organic resources above the Earth’s surface than are identified in the petroleum and natural gas deposits yet to be exploited, yet the development of agricultural bioenergy systems seems to be progressing at a snail’s pace, as compare to the great Oil Boom. There is enormous potential in producing biogas from agricultural, industrial, municipal solid waste, sewage and animal byproducts which can be used to fuel vehicles. The EPA estimates that 8,200 US dairy and swine operation could support biogas recovery systems, as well as some poultry operations. Biogas can be collected from landfills and used to power natural gas vehicles or to produce energy. Wastewater treatment plants are estimated by the EPA to have the potential of about 1 cubic foot of digester gas per 100 gallons of wastewater, this energy could potentially meet 12% of the US electricity demand. Industrial, commercial and institutional facilities provide another source of biogas, in particular supermarkets, restaurants, and educational facilities with food spoilage.

What have we learned?

This presentation compares and contrasts the historical development of fossil fuel reserves with the potential for development of bioenergy from agricultural sources, such as animal wastes and crop residues. The US energy potential from these sources is grossly quantified, and current development inhibitions are identified and discussed. Opportunities for gathering biogas and bioenergy from multiple regional sources, similar to the processes used in the Texas oil fields, are discussed. The presentation offers insight into overcoming these obstacles, and how the US may once again rise to the top of the energy development rankings through efficient use and stewardship of our organic resources.

Percentage of waste water treatment plants that send solids to anaerobic digestion broken out by state

Future Plans

Biogas and bioenergy resources present an enormous opportunity for renewable energy development, and progression toward energy independence for the U.S. The U.S. currently has more than 2,000 active biogas harvesting sites, but claims more than 11,000 additional sites can be developed in the U.S., with the potential to power more than 3 million American homes if used to fuel electricity generating power plants. The USDA, EPA and DOE recently created a US Biogas Opportunities Roadmap which is off to a good start, which hopefully will initiate biogas programs, and foster investment in biogas systems to improve the market vitality in each state. To move the process forward, policy-makers, investors and the public need to have improved collaboration and communication on the state level. We need to develop a clear plan and strategy for developing these valuable biogas resources to promote environmental sustainability and economic growth of our b ioenergy sector.

Acknowledgements

USDA/DOE/EPA US Bioenergy Roadmap

The authors are solely responsible for the content of these proceedings. The technical information does not necessarily reflect the official position of the sponsoring agencies or institutions represented by planning committee members, and inclusion and distribution herein does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed by the same. Printed materials included herein are not refereed publications. Citations should appear as follows. EXAMPLE: Authors. 2015. Title of presentation. Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions. Seattle, WA. March 31-April 3, 2015. URL of this page. Accessed on: today’s date.

Why Study Organic Wastes as Energy Sources?

Compare the Potential: The United States has tremendous organic resources available, such as food waste, crop residues, animal manures, and human waste. Americans need only look out the window of their home or office to see the reasons why – we live in a very ‘green’ country. In most states, we have a temperate climate with ample resources that promotes our ability to inhabit and cultivate; which means we create organic wastes. However, Americans have been slow to realize the huge potential that may be derived from these organic resources in the form of bioenergy. Why have we spent so much time evaluating the energy resources buried deep in our soils, rather than recognizing the opportunity right in front of us, above the dirt?

What did we do?

This presentation provides an overview for establishing infrastructure systems that capture, purify, and transport the biogas that may be derived from these organic resources to create an infinite energy reserve to draw from, creating jobs and bolstering our economy. Potential uses for energy products that may be derived from organic wastes are discussed, as well as the barriers, challenges, and economics of waste to energy systems. The presenter’s home state of North Carolina is examined in more detail, describing and comparing the potential for harnessing the energy value from wastes that lie above the dirt.

The Potential:

To understand the infinite possibilities and advantages of the use of bioenergy nationwide, let’s first explore the possibilities in just one state, North Carolina. According to Census Bureau migration patterns in 2013 across the U.S. showed that North Carolina remains in the top 3 fastest-growing states in the nation. While predominantly an agricultural state, N.C. has an abundance of potential to be derived from organic resources in the form of bioenergy. N.C. places second in the U.S. for the production of pigs and turkeys and it ranks fourth in the production of broiler chickens. This generates an abundance of organic wastes, particularly in animal manures, which as people are beginning to understand, gives our state of North Carolina the potential to be a leader in supplying renewable energy.

Map of permitted hogs

According to sources such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the organic waste resources in North Carolina – stemming from municipal waste (solid waste and sewage) and agriculture (animal manures) – are among the richest in the nation. Imagine the Potential: North Carolina can harvest energy value from crop residues, food waste and crops to produce infinitely renewable energy that can also improve air and water quality impacts. Anaerobic digestion is one common approach to harvesting the energy content of these organic wastes and other feedstocks.

Biomass resource of the United States, methane emissions from manure management map

What have we learned?

The development of bioenergy systems is one of the ways in which we can be good stewards of our earthly resources. By reusing the carbon readily at hand above the ground – which is often already creating a negative environmental impact in the form of waste – these bioenergy systems can provide for our fuel and energy needs while simultaneously achieving improvements in environmental quality. There are many ways in which we can accomplish the reuse of carbon through the harvesting of energy value associated with organic wastes. There are over 16,000 permitted municipal WWTP’s in the U.S., and about 10% utilize anaerobic digestion. Coupled with the thousands and thousands of farms, landfills, and biotechnology manufacturing facilities, our ability to develop renewable biogas fuels for transportation and electrification is astounding.

NC "all bioenergy" facilities map (with NG pipelines)

Future Plans

As a country we need to step away from how we have always done things (buying foreign sources of oil, and using fossil fuels, and relying solely on power plants) and be receptive to innovative approaches that improve climate action initiatives and foster stewardship of our earthly resources so that we can do better environmentally and plan so there be enough water, energy and food for the future. These recommendations start on a state to state level, and progress through our country, and across the world. We need to take better care of our environment, and uses our resources to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases, and harvest the energy from our wastewater and agricultural sources that lie above the dirt.