Novel Life Cycle GHG Formulations of Anaerobic Digestion Systems Aligned with Policy

Abstract

Amidst rising interest in biogas as a sustainable alternative to traditional energy vectors like natural gas, this study focuses on its role in achieving net-zero targets. Biogas, derived from carbon-neutral organic waste, offers significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. Life cycle assessments (LCA) are crucial for evaluating the global warming potential (GWP) of biogas, ensuring its effectiveness in offsetting fossil fuel equivalents. Our study introduces two complementary sets of equations, grounded in published literature and LCA databases. Despite their differing structures due to distinctive specific activities across life cycles, both sets yield closely aligned estimations, reinforcing confidence in these models.

Keywords: carbon offsetting, anaerobic digestion, biogas, biomethane, bioenergy, GWP