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Energetic Potential for Biological Methanation in Anaerobic Sewage Sludge Digesters in Austria

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph Tauber

    (Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/2261, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

  • Andreas Ramsbacher

    (Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/2261, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

  • Karl Svardal

    (Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/2261, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

  • Jörg Krampe

    (Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/2261, 1040 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Biological methanation as a method of sector coupling between electric and gas grids is expected to be an integral part of the green energy change. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) involving anaerobic digestion (AD) allow existing infrastructure to operate as energy conversion plants, to close carbon cycles and to generate long-term storable energy in the form of biomethane. Therefore, municipal raw sludge and additional organic residuals (co-substrates) are converted into biogas. Hydrogen is added to convert the carbon dioxide in the biogas into methane via biological methanation (BM). In this study, the energy amount that is convertible via BM in municipal digesters in Austria was calculated. The amount of energy, which can be transformed from electric surplus energy into biomethane, was assessed. Operational data from lab-scale digesters were combined with data from 28 Austrian full-scale wastewater treatment plants with AD. They represent 9.2 Mio population equivalents (PE), or 68% of Austria’s municipal AD capacity for WWTPs > 50,000 PE (in sum, 13.6 Mio PE). Energy flows for BM including water electrolysis and anaerobic digestion were created on a countrywide basis. It was found that 2.9–4.4% (220–327 GWh·y −1 ) of Austria’s yearly renewable electricity production (7470 GWh·y −1 ) can be transformed into biomethane via BM in municipal digesters.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Tauber & Andreas Ramsbacher & Karl Svardal & Jörg Krampe, 2021. "Energetic Potential for Biological Methanation in Anaerobic Sewage Sludge Digesters in Austria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:20:p:6618-:d:655611
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael Schäfer & Oliver Gretzschel & Heidrun Steinmetz, 2020. "The Possible Roles of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sector Coupling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    2. Burkhardt, Marko & Busch, Günter, 2013. "Methanation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 74-79.
    3. Thema, M. & Bauer, F. & Sterner, M., 2019. "Power-to-Gas: Electrolysis and methanation status review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 775-787.
    4. Peng Fu & Danny Pudjianto & Xi Zhang & Goran Strbac, 2020. "Integration of Hydrogen into Multi-Energy Systems Optimisation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, April.
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    2. Marcin Zieliński & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Marcin Dębowski, 2022. "Advantages and Limitations of Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment—Technological Basics, Development Directions, and Technological Innovations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-39, December.
    3. Panupon Trairat & Sakda Somkun & Tanakorn Kaewchum & Tawat Suriwong & Pisit Maneechot & Teerapon Panpho & Wikarn Wansungnern & Sathit Banthuek & Bongkot Prasit & Tanongkiat Kiatsiriroat, 2023. "Grid Integration of Livestock Biogas Using Self-Excited Induction Generator and Spark-Ignition Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-23, June.
    4. Muhammad Irfan & Sharjeel Waqas & Javed Akbar Khan & Saifur Rahman & Izabela Kruszelnicka & Dobrochna Ginter-Kramarczyk & Stanislaw Legutko & Marek Ochowiak & Sylwia Włodarczak & Krystian Czernek, 2022. "Effect of Operating Parameters and Energy Expenditure on the Biological Performance of Rotating Biological Contactor for Wastewater Treatment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, May.

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