Anaerobic Digestion Rediscovered for Organics to Energy Opportunities

A growing number of examples of collaboration and technology development/demonstration indicate that “wastes” are viewed more and more as feedstocks to be processed in the existing and new conversion facilities. Depending on the location, the service territories of many of the utilities and energy providers contain significant biomass residues in the form of municipal solid wastes, forestry waste and agricultural waste. European experience includes the model where privately owned waste management facilities are in abundance and many receive other biomass sources including biosolids. This model can be expanded to include the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) for expanded opportunities for collaboration. This paper presents lessons learned from case studies where both models were considered.