Agricultural anaerobic digestion power plants in Ireland and Germany: policy and practice
Auer, Agathe Vande Burgt, Nathan H. Abram, Florence Barry, Gerald Fenton, Owen Markey, Bryan K. Nolan, Stephen Richards, Karl Bolton, Declan De Waal, Theo
Auer, Agathe
Vande Burgt, Nathan H.
Abram, Florence
Barry, Gerald
Fenton, Owen
Markey, Bryan K.
Nolan, Stephen
Richards, Karl
Bolton, Declan
De Waal, Theo
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Publication Date
2016-08-24
Type
Article
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Citation
Auer, Agathe, Vande Burgt, Nathan H, Abram, Florence, Barry, Gerald, Fenton, Owen, Markey, Bryan K, Nolan, Stephen, Richards, Karl, Bolton, Declan, De Waal, Theo, Gordon, Stephen V, O'Flaherty, Vincent, Whyte, Paul, Zintl, Annetta. (2017). Agricultural anaerobic digestion power plants in Ireland and Germany: policy and practice. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 97(3), 719-723. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.8005
Abstract
The process of anaerobic digestion (AD) is valued as a carbon-neutral energy source, while simultaneously treating organic waste, making it safer for disposal or use as a fertilizer on agricultural land. The AD process in many European nations, such as Germany, has grown from use of small, localized digesters to the operation of large-scale treatment facilities, which contribute significantly to national renewable energy quotas. However, these large AD plants are costly to run and demand intensive farming of energy crops for feedstock. Current policy in Germany has transitioned to support funding for smaller digesters, while also limiting the use of energy crops. AD within Ireland, as a new technology, is affected by ambiguous governmental policies concerning waste and energy. A clear governmental strategy supporting on-site AD processing of agricultural waste will significantly reduce Ireland's carbon footprint, improve the safety and bioavailability of agricultural waste, and provide an indigenous renewable energy source. (C) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Publisher
Wiley
Publisher DOI
10.1002/jsfa.8005
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland