Integrated Cycles for Urban Biomass as a Strategy to Promote a CO 2 -Neutral Society—A Feasibility Study

Nicole Meinusch, Susanne Kramer, Oliver Körner, Jürgen Wiese, Ingolf Seick, Anita Beblek, Regine Berges, Bernhard Illenberger, Marco Illenberger, Jennifer Uebbing, Maximilian Wolf, Gunter Saake, Dirk Benndorf, Udo Reichl and Robert Heyer
Additional contact information
Nicole Meinusch: Bioprocess Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Universitätsplatz 2, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany
Susanne Kramer: Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Grossbeeren, Germany
Oliver Körner: Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Grossbeeren, Germany
Jürgen Wiese: Urban Water Management/Wastewater, Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal, Breitscheidstrasse 2, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
Ingolf Seick: Urban Water Management/Wastewater, Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal, Breitscheidstrasse 2, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
Anita Beblek: Agrathaer GmbH, Eberswalder Street 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
Regine Berges: Agrathaer GmbH, Eberswalder Street 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany
Bernhard Illenberger: Jassen GmbH, Egertenweg 10, 79585 Steinen, Germany
Marco Illenberger: Jassen GmbH, Egertenweg 10, 79585 Steinen, Germany
Jennifer Uebbing: Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
Maximilian Wolf: Bioprocess Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Universitätsplatz 2, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany
Gunter Saake: Technical and Business Information Systems, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Universitätsplatz 2, 39194 Magdeburg, Germany
Dirk Benndorf: Bioprocess Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Universitätsplatz 2, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany
Udo Reichl: Bioprocess Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Universitätsplatz 2, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany
Robert Heyer: Bioprocess Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Universitätsplatz 2, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 17, 1-22

Abstract: The integration of closed biomass cycles into residential buildings enables efficient resource utilization and avoids the transport of biowaste. In our scenario called Integrated Cycles for Urban Biomass (ICU), biowaste is degraded on-site into biogas that is converted into heat and electricity. Nitrification processes upgrade the liquid fermentation residues to refined fertilizer, which can be used subsequently in house-internal gardens to produce fresh food for residents. Our research aims to assess the ICU scenario regarding produced amounts of biogas and food, saved CO 2 emissions and costs, and social–cultural aspects. Therefore, a model-based feasibility study was performed assuming a building with 100 residents. The calculations show that the ICU concept produces 21% of the annual power (electrical and heat) consumption from the accumulated biowaste and up to 7.6 t of the fresh mass of lettuce per year in a 70 m 2 professional hydroponic production area. Furthermore, it saves 6468 kg CO 2 -equivalent (CO 2 -eq) per year. While the ICU concept is technically feasible, it becomes economically feasible for large-scale implementations and higher food prices. Overall, this study demonstrates that the ICU implementation can be a worthwhile contribution towards a sustainable CO 2 -neutral society and decrease the demand for agricultural land.

Keywords: integrated cycles for urban biomass; biogas; carbon footprint; sustainability; renewable energy; plant cultivation; feasibility study; simulations; CO 2 -neutral society (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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