GREEN-FARM
Development of On-Farm Co-Digestion of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste and Animal Manure for Bioenergy Production and Resource Recycling
Project Summary
Using laboratory- and pilot-scale studies, this project aims to develop and evaluate an on-farm anaerobic digestion system co-digesting municipal solid waste and pig manure and to evaluate the biosafety and quality of the spent digestate. The project’s specific research objectives are: 1. To understand the characteristics of the municipal solid waste generated in different Irish towns and to study the biodegradation of its packing material in anaerobic conditions; 2. To investigate the performance of laboratory- and pilot-scale anaerobic digesters co-digesting pig manure and municipal solid waste under various operational conditions; 3. To study the quality and biosafety of the digestate to ensure compliance with the EU animal by-products regulations and to provide sufficient data for establishment of an Irish digestate quality standard; 4. To conduct cost-benefit analyses and GHG emission mitigation for on-farm anaerobic digesters; 5. To develop design, operation and maintenance guidelines for on-farm anaerobic co-digesters; and 6: To disseminate findings to farmers, local authorities and regulatory bodies.
Expected benefits
- Evaluates a sustainable energy generating use of pig manure
- Evaluates a low value but high energy product for co-digestion with pig manure
- Create an additional income stream on pig farms from the energy produced and potentially via gate fees for the municipal solid waste.
Teagasc Personnel:
- Dr. Peadar Lawlor
- Conor Dennehy (postgraduate student)
Funding body:
- Science Foundation Ireland – Investigators Programme
For More details contact:
- Dr. Peadar Lawlor at peadar.lawlor@teagasc.ie or +353 (0) 25 42217
Green Farm Workshop
- Green Farm Workshop Agenda (PDF)
- Yan Jiang - Dry co-digestion of food waste and pig manure (PDF)
- JJ Lenehan - Teagasc Grange Biogas Plant (PDF)
- Conor Dennehy - Economic viability of farm-based co-digestion of pig manure and food waste (PDF)
- Denis Dineen - Biogas and Biomethane (PDF)
- James Browne - Potential of farm scale biogas to grid in Ireland (PDF)
- Assessing the Viability of On-Farm Co-Digestion Systems (PDF)
- Justin Byrne - ABP Regulations and Biogas Plants (PDF)
- Conor McEntegart - The AD Industry A UK Perspective (PDF)
- John Toner - WIS presentation (PDF)
- Workshop Leaflet (PDF)
- Key points from the Green Farm Panel Discussion (PDF)