Determination of Biogas Energy Potential of Aegean Region Based on Animal Waste

Abstract

Biogas is one the promising sustainable energy options due to high availability of organic wastes. Turkeyis an energy importer country and diversification of the energy production with indigenous resources is vitalfor energy security. In Turkey, agricultural activities and livestock farming have important economic value.Biogas production from anaerobic digestion of organic wastes such as livestock manure is of greatimportance for renewable energy production and waste management for health and environmentalprotection. In this study, the animal manure based biogas potential, energy value, greenhouse gas emissionreduction potential and organic fertilizer generation capacity of the Aegean Region of Turkey weredetermined. The region is composed of eight provinces including Afyonkarahisar, Aydın, Denizli, İzmir,Manisa, Muğla, Kütahya, and Uşak. The results revealed that Aegean Region has 528 million m 3 /yearbiogas potential corresponding to 2.64 TWh energy generation capacity. In addition, 0.6 million ton/year oforganic fertilizer can be produced as the residual of the biogas plants. Utilization of animal wastes in biogasgeneration plants can contribute to the global climate change combat by reducing CO 2 emissions about 4.6million tons/year. Within the Aegean Region, Manisa has shown the highest biogas potential whereas İzmirhas the highest amount of organic fertilizer production potential.