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Project Code [2005-S-ET-11-M3]

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Project title

Anaerobic Digestion in Ireland: Decision Support Software

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT)

Lead Applicant

Jerry Murphy

Project Abstract

Within this paper the potential productionand utilisation of biogas generated fromCentralised Anaerobic Digestion (CAD)plants treating 80% pig slurry and 20%slaughter waste is examined from technicaland economic perspectives. Biogas containstypically 55% CH4 and 45% CO2 and othertrace elements such as H2S and H2O. It maybe scrubbed to 97% CH4 compressed to200bar and utilised as a transport fuel.Distribution of this fuel is expensive; thuscaptive fleets such as trains and buses offereconomic advantages to CH4-enrichedbiogas as compared to non-captive fleetssuch as private cars. This paper examinesthe technical and economic merits of a planttreating 150000 tpa of biomass andproducing a CH4-enriched biogas for use asa fuel for trains. It is shown that the plantcould displace 3.39 million tonnes perannum of diesel that 14 such facilities couldprovide all the fuel that Iarnoid Eireann useat present and that the fuel is economic ifexcise duty relief is granted. Furthermore itis shown that the greater the ratio ofslaughter waste to agri-slurry the better theeconomics of the system.

Grant Approved

�30,000.00

Research Hub

Green and Circular Economy

Research Theme

Waste and Resources Management

Start Date

01/10/2005

Initial Projected Completion Date

n/a