Abstract
The paper aims at evaluating the potential biogas production, both in terms of CH4 and theoretical energy potential, from globe artichoke agricultural byproducts in Sardinia. Field data about the productivity of byproducts were collected on five artichoke varieties cultivated in Sardinia, to assess the biomethane production of their aboveground non-food parts (excluding the head). Moreover, secondary data from previous studies and surveys at regional scale were collected to evaluate the potential biogas production of the different districts. Fresh globe artichoke residues yielded, on average, 292.2 Nm3·tDOM−1, with dissimilarities among cultivars. Fresh samples were analyzed in two series: (a) wet basis; and (b) wet basis with catalytic enzymes application. Enzymes proved to have some beneficial effects in terms of anticipated biomethane availability. At the regional level, ab. 20 × 106 Nm3 CH4 could be produced, corresponding to the 60% of current installed capacity. However, districts potentials show some differences, depending on the specific biomass partitioning and on the productivity of cultivated varieties. Regional assessments should encompass the sensitiveness of results to agro-economic variables and the economic impacts of globe artichoke residue use in the current regional biogas sector.
Highlights
In the last decade, Europe witnessed a fast-paced growth of the biogas sector, which rapidly became the fourth renewable energy source, contributing with more than 52 ˆ 1012 Wh of electricity produced in 2013
Violetto showed an overlapping cycle to Spinoso sardo, but a statistically significant lower byproduct yield. These figures can be considered in line with previous generic estimates referred to Sardinia
Fresh residual biomass can be harvested a promising application as feedstock for anaerobic digestion
Summary
Europe witnessed a fast-paced growth of the biogas sector, which rapidly became the fourth renewable energy source, contributing with more than 52 ˆ 1012 Wh of electricity produced in 2013. In Italy the introduction of a large feed-in tariff in 2009 led to an rapid increase in the number of plants [3] with a homogenization of size, technologies, and feedstock towards 1 MW plants fed with energy crops and manure [3,4]. This specific pattern provoked several criticisms and problems. At the farm level, the need to substitute maize directed towards energy
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