Evaluation of potential biogas production in Sicily

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to predict the Sicilian potential biogas production, using the below unmarketable raw materials. The statistical data about OFMSW, the number of animals bred on medium and large farms and the amounts of by-products of food processing industries have been evaluated, in order to compute the potential biogas production and energy in the nine provinces of Sicily. In Sicily (Italy) 5.05 million inhabitants (2012), living in nine provinces, could produce 0.8 million tons of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) per year. At present only 0.07 million tons (3.17 % ca. of MSW) are actually treated (2010). This fraction would be one of the raw materials inside the mixture usable for biogas production, in a region where no co-digestion plant is nowadays available. About 1.7 million tons of animal manure might be used for biogas production on medium and big farms. From food industry about 350 thousand tons of organic by-products might be collected. The total potential of biogas production in Sicily is 156.9 millions of m3 that is equal to 941.4 GWh of energy per year. Contribution from animal manure is 402 GWh, from OFMSW - 303 GWh and food industry - 236 GWh. The best possibilities for biogas production are in the provinces of Palermo, Messina and Ragusa, having a potential energy production of 177 GWh, 133.2 GWh and 132 GWh, respectively.