The implications of facility design and enabling policies on the economics of dry anaerobic digestion

Diverting organic waste from landfills provides significant emissions benefits in addition to preserving landfill capacity and creating value-added energy compost products. Dry anaerobic digestion (AD) is particularly attractive for managing the fraction of municipal solid because its high-solids composition minimal water requirements. This study utilizes empirical data operational facilities California order explore key drivers dry AD facility profitability, impacts market forces, efficacy policy incentives. The finds that can achieve meaningful economies scale with intake amounts larger than 75,000 tonnes per year. Materials handling costs, including disposal inorganic residuals contaminated streams post-digester mass (digestate) management, are both largest most uncertain costs. Facilities utilize biogas vehicle fueling earn associated fuel credits collect revenues 4-6x greater those generating selling electricity 10-12x natural gas at prices. results suggest important design elements enabling policies support an increased infrastructure.