Page 204 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

192 B. Ruggeri et al.

5 Conclusion

The degree of sustainability of H 2 /CH 4 energy carrier via the Anaerobic Digestion
technology has been studied through an evaluation of the useful energy and a
determination of the EROI and EPT parameters. The technology resulted to be
sustainable for all the diameters higher than 2 m; an EROI [ 10 is never obtained.
The use of an analogical model to evaluate the useful energy of the studied
technology has shown that more than 20 % of the available energy present in the
organic refuse can be furnished to society as useful energy. This value depends to a
great extent on the material that is used to insulate the plant. The best case was
obtained considering straw, while the worst case was referred to the use of
recycled paper for insulating purposes. A comparison of the evaluated EROI
values with other energetic technologies places the AD technology in an accept-
able ranking position among renewable and fossil energy sources for higher bio-
reactor diameters; in particular, the EROI is in the range of that of natural gas.

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