There can be many benefits of Anaerobic digestion. It produces high volumes of energy from renewable sources. The process itself can be time consuming to set up and get right. However, when correct, it is an effective alternative option to fossil fuels.
One of the main benefits of Anaerobic Digestion is that the process slashes green house gas (GHG) emissions. Methane, which is released into the atmosphere by animal, food, and industrial waste, is said to be 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Anaerobic digestion takes potentially hazardous waste and converts it into forms of energy.
The digestate that’s left after the reaction has taken place is rich in nutrients and a great fertiliser to spread on land. The digestate itself will have had its odour reduced by up to 80%, as well as far less pathogens in the digestate after the AD process.
Another of the benefits of Anaerobic Digestion is the financial side. An AD project can give direct financial returns to the process owner or investors.
A CHP unit can be used to allow the site to be self-sufficient, whilst exporting any excess back into the grid. Alternatively, the biogas produced by the process can also be cleaned up, to ensure it is pure methane, and then exported back into the grid. This methane can potentially be used for cooking, fueling cars, trains, and buses.
