Sustainable agriculture: Assessing the feasibility of biogas derived energy generation on a UK mixed-model farm

This paper investigates the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of implementing a combined energy generation system powered by anaerobic digestion on a UK mixed-model farm. Initially a case study farm was selected, followed by a research visit in which primary data collection was conducted. Characteristic data was then processed giving the technical and operational criteria to be met. Both CHP and Trigeneration systems were modelled and evaluated for three types of bio-waste feedstock input, consisting of farmyard cow manure (FYM) only, FYM with a low quantity of wheat straw (414.7 tonnes/year), and FYM and a high quantity of wheat straw (679.3 tonnes/year). Theoretical energy outputs were computed, and the financial characteristics of each configuration were found, consisting of capital costs and operational savings achieved and the resulting payback period (PP). The CHP configuration was recommended producing 41 kW electricity alongside 66 kW thermal energy at an overall efficiency of 87.8 % from FYM only. This case yielded a capital cost of £ 331,055 with a PP of 8.5 years.