The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector
The increasing energy and water demands by the Arab Gulf states highlight the importance of sustainable use of energy resources. Wastewater sludge management for energy recovery creates an opportunity for sector integration for both wastewater treatment plants and renewable energy production. The ob...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/21/10275 |
| _version_ | 1797512771798040576 |
|---|---|
| author | Mohammad Alshawaf Abdalrahman Alsulaili Mohamed Alwaeli Huda Allanqawi |
| author_facet | Mohammad Alshawaf Abdalrahman Alsulaili Mohamed Alwaeli Huda Allanqawi |
| author_sort | Mohammad Alshawaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing energy and water demands by the Arab Gulf states highlight the importance of sustainable use of energy resources. Wastewater sludge management for energy recovery creates an opportunity for sector integration for both wastewater treatment plants and renewable energy production. The objective of this study was to theoretically estimate the biomethane potential of wastewater sludge, together with identification of the role of biomethane in the region. The prediction of biomethane potential was based on the theoretical stoichiometry of biomethanation reactions, using the R-based package ‘Process Biogas Data and Predict Biogas Production’. The biomethane potential of sludge ranges between 232–334 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>, with a total heat-value up to 10.7 trillion BTUs annually. The produced biomethane can generate up to 1665 GWh of electric energy, an equivalent amount to the current levels of electricity generation from wind and solar power combined. The findings from the case study on Kuwait’s indicate that biomethane could displace 13 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of natural gas, or approximately 86,000 barrels of crude oil, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 86% when compared to the base-scenario. Despite its potential, biomethane recovery in the region is hindered by technical-, economic-, and policy-based barriers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:06:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-479e4a8389cb41f28418ef71efc32b1b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:06:24Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-479e4a8389cb41f28418ef71efc32b1b2023-11-22T20:30:36ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-11-0111211027510.3390/app112110275The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power SectorMohammad Alshawaf0Abdalrahman Alsulaili1Mohamed Alwaeli2Huda Allanqawi3Environmental Technology Management Department, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat, Kuwait City 13060, KuwaitDepartment of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat, Kuwait City 13060, KuwaitDepartment of Technologies and Installations for Waste Management, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandPumping Stations and Treatment Plants Department, Ministry of Public Works, Safat, Kuwait City 13001, KuwaitThe increasing energy and water demands by the Arab Gulf states highlight the importance of sustainable use of energy resources. Wastewater sludge management for energy recovery creates an opportunity for sector integration for both wastewater treatment plants and renewable energy production. The objective of this study was to theoretically estimate the biomethane potential of wastewater sludge, together with identification of the role of biomethane in the region. The prediction of biomethane potential was based on the theoretical stoichiometry of biomethanation reactions, using the R-based package ‘Process Biogas Data and Predict Biogas Production’. The biomethane potential of sludge ranges between 232–334 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>, with a total heat-value up to 10.7 trillion BTUs annually. The produced biomethane can generate up to 1665 GWh of electric energy, an equivalent amount to the current levels of electricity generation from wind and solar power combined. The findings from the case study on Kuwait’s indicate that biomethane could displace 13 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of natural gas, or approximately 86,000 barrels of crude oil, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 86% when compared to the base-scenario. Despite its potential, biomethane recovery in the region is hindered by technical-, economic-, and policy-based barriers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/21/10275biomethane potentialenergy transitionwastewater sludgeanaerobic digestionbiogaswaste-to-energy |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Alshawaf Abdalrahman Alsulaili Mohamed Alwaeli Huda Allanqawi The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector Applied Sciences biomethane potential energy transition wastewater sludge anaerobic digestion biogas waste-to-energy |
| title | The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector |
| title_full | The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector |
| title_short | The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector |
| title_sort | role of biomethane from sewage sludge in the energy transition potentials and barriers in the arab gulf states power sector |
| topic | biomethane potential energy transition wastewater sludge anaerobic digestion biogas waste-to-energy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/21/10275 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammadalshawaf theroleofbiomethanefromsewagesludgeintheenergytransitionpotentialsandbarriersinthearabgulfstatespowersector AT abdalrahmanalsulaili theroleofbiomethanefromsewagesludgeintheenergytransitionpotentialsandbarriersinthearabgulfstatespowersector AT mohamedalwaeli theroleofbiomethanefromsewagesludgeintheenergytransitionpotentialsandbarriersinthearabgulfstatespowersector AT hudaallanqawi theroleofbiomethanefromsewagesludgeintheenergytransitionpotentialsandbarriersinthearabgulfstatespowersector AT mohammadalshawaf roleofbiomethanefromsewagesludgeintheenergytransitionpotentialsandbarriersinthearabgulfstatespowersector AT abdalrahmanalsulaili roleofbiomethanefromsewagesludgeintheenergytransitionpotentialsandbarriersinthearabgulfstatespowersector AT mohamedalwaeli roleofbiomethanefromsewagesludgeintheenergytransitionpotentialsandbarriersinthearabgulfstatespowersector AT hudaallanqawi roleofbiomethanefromsewagesludgeintheenergytransitionpotentialsandbarriersinthearabgulfstatespowersector |