Common Reed and Maize Silage Co-Digestion as a Pathway towards Sustainable Biogas Production

Robert Czubaszek, Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek (), Wendelin Wichtmann, Grzegorz Zając and Piotr Banaszuk
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Robert Czubaszek: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Wendelin Wichtmann: Partners in the Greifswald Mire Centre, Succow Foundation and Greifswald University, Ellernholzstraße 1, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
Grzegorz Zając: Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 28 Str., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Piotr Banaszuk: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-25

Abstract: The key factor in sustainable biogas production is a feedstock whose production has no adverse impact on the environment. Since maize cultivation harms the environment, biogas plant operators seek a more sustainable feedstock. Common reed is an invasive species mown as part of wetland conservation measures, or it can be harvested from paludiculture. This study aimed to investigate wet co-digestion of maize silage with 10%, 30%, and 50% content of common reed silage using the biochemical methane potential (BMP) test. In addition, the potential energy generated and avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were calculated. The substitution of maize silage with 10%, 30%, and 50% content of reed silage reduced the methane (CH 4 ) yield by 13%, 28%, and 35%, respectively. A disadvantage of reed silage addition was increased ammonia (NH 3 ) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) concentrations in biogas. Although substituting maize silage with reed silage decreases the CH 4 yield, the co-digestion of maize and reed biomass from conservation or paludiculture may positively affect environmental aspects of energy generation. The substitution of maize with reed in biogas plants decreases the area used for maize cultivation and reduces GHG emissions.

Keywords: biogas; specific methane yield; paludiculture; electricity; heat; greenhouse gases emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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