Analysis of biodegradable waste use for energy generation in Lithuania

摘要

The study presents possibilities to use biodegradable waste, formed in the farms and agro industry, sewage sludge and waste from food plants and trade, for energy generation. Farms were evaluated by relative size and volumes of produced biodegradable waste as well as by type. Also, the waste volumes, efficiency of biogas generation technologies processing various biodegradable organic waste and their mixes were investigated. Farms and agro industry companies gain environmental and economic benefit while implementing the described technologies. It was defined that organic waste from small livestock farms are dissipated sources of pollution. It is technically difficult to assess their impact on the environment, especially its liquid fraction, thus more attention and means should be paid for reduction of this impact. Therefore, the paper also investigates trends defined in Lithuania's agriculture strategy with regard to increase feasibility of farms. The evolution of the Lithuanian energy sector trends and the use of renewable energy sources for energy production growth are given. The development of the biogas production is analysed using the different sources of biodegradable waste. It is found that in Lithuania last year, production of biogas from biodegradable waste show strong growth from 2 thousand tonnes oil equivalent (ktoe) in 2006 to 32.1 ktoe in 2016.Fact-findings disclosed that biogas can replace certain share of conventional fuel for production of heat and power, and it can also be used in transport sector. The biodegradable waste resources and possibility to use it for biogas production have been determined in the country and main factors affecting GHG emission and pathways to reduce it have been discussed. The data given in the investigation can be applied in other countries aiming to reduce conventional fuels use and improve environmental conditions.