Abstract
Despite biogas renewability, it is mandatory to experimentally assess its combustion products in order to measure their pollutants content. To this purpose, the Authors selected six in-operation biogas plants fed by different substrates and perform an on-site experimental campaign for measuring both biogas and engines exhausts composition. Firstly, biogas measured compositions are compared among them and with data available in literature. Then, biogas engines’ exhaust compositions are compared among them, with data available in literature and with measurements obtained from an engine characterised by the same design power but fuelled with natural gas. Finally, the Health Impact Assessment analysis is used to estimate the damage on human health caused by both biogas and natural gas engines emissions. Results show that biogas causes a damage on human health three times higher than the natural gas one. But, this approach does not consider biogas renewability. So, to include this important aspect, also an analysis which considers Global Warming categories is carried out. Results highlight that natural gas is twice harmful than biogas.
Highlights
It is a matter of fact that, despite the $279.8 billion of global investment in renewable energy sources [1] and after three flat years, global energy-related Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ) emissions rose by 1.6% [2]
Detected volumetric percentage of methane is almost constant (47% to 53%) despite the different feedstocks compositions and quantities used as input
The experimental investigation presented in this work considers six biogas plants and a natural gas engine for electricity production
Summary
It is a matter of fact that, despite the $279.8 billion of global investment in renewable energy sources [1] and after three flat years, global energy-related Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ) emissions rose by 1.6% [2]. The rise in CO2 emissions, the continue growth of global primary energy consumption (+2.2%) [1], the millions of premature death each year caused by energy related air pollution [2] and the expected increment of world population of an additional 1.7 billion by 2040 which can push up the world energy demand by more than a quarter [2] are factors which contributes to veer away from the climate targets. Despite the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol date back to 1997, the treaty entered into force only on Since the second half of the 90’s, the world authorities are working on worldwide treaties devoted to GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction in view of the fact that global warming is taking place and the main cause is the anthropic CO2 emissions.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
