<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The selection of a local and sustainable use of biogas, and biogas feedstocks, towards the upgrading process to biomethane, is a key aspect towards more consistent energy planning within the frame of the EU Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals. In this paper, four biomethane production and utilization pathways were assessed in the view of economic, environmental, technological, and social dimensions compared to a reference scenario in which direct biogas use in a cogeneration unit is assumed. The technologies analyzed included membrane systems, amine scrubbing, water scrubbing, and biological methanation, regarding the Sardinian context. The impact assessment was carried out using the TOPSIS method. As an output, thirteen consistent indicators reflecting the holistic aspect of sustainability were designed and proposed based on an in-depth literature review and the authors’ technological knowledge. The results show that the reference scenario was the preferable one. In terms of environmental and social considerations, biological methanation emerged as the most environmentally and socially responsible alternative. From the economic perspective, all the upgrading options depicted similar results. The technological-oriented weighting showed that the two most widespread upgrading options highlighted the optimal results.</p>
</abstract>

The selection of a local and sustainable use of biogas, and biogas feedstocks, towards the upgrading process to biomethane, is a key aspect towards more consistent energy planning within the frame of the EU Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals. In this paper, four biomethane production and utilization pathways were assessed in the view of economic, environmental, technological, and social dimensions compared to a reference scenario in which direct biogas use in a cogeneration unit is assumed. The technologies analyzed included membrane systems, amine scrubbing, water scrubbing, and biological methanation, regarding the Sardinian context. The impact assessment was carried out using the TOPSIS method. As an output, thirteen consistent indicators reflecting the holistic aspect of sustainability were designed and proposed based on an in-depth literature review and the authors’ technological knowledge. The results show that the reference scenario was the preferable one. In terms of environmental and social considerations, biological methanation emerged as the most environmentally and socially responsible alternative. From the economic perspective, all the upgrading options depicted similar results. The technological-oriented weighting showed that the two most widespread upgrading options highlighted the optimal results.

A MCDA-Based Assessment of Biomethane Generation and Use in Sardinia

Environmental and Climate Technologies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"A MCDA-Based Assessment of Biomethane Generation and Use in Sardinia"}

The selection of a local and sustainable use of biogas, and biogas feedstocks, towards the upgrading process to biomethane, is a key aspect towards more...

A MCDA-Based Assessment of Biomethane Generation and Use in Sardinia

Published Online: Sep 26, 2023

Page range: 489 - 505

Received: Apr 17, 2023

Accepted: Jul 13, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0036

Keywords
Biogas upgrading, biological methanation, biomethane, multi-criteria analysis

© 2023 Carla Asquer et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

A MCDA-Based Assessment of Biomethane Generation and Use in Sardinia

Published Online: Sep 26, 2023

Page range: 489 - 505

Received: Apr 17, 2023

Accepted: Jul 13, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0036

KeywordsBiogas upgrading, biological methanation, biomethane, multi-criteria analysis

© 2023 Carla Asquer et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Biogas upgrading, biological methanation, biomethane, multi-criteria analysis