Quantification of anaerobic digestion feedstocks for a regional bioeconomy

Anaerobic digestion for biogas production forms one of the fundamental building blocks of the Bioeconomy, and a research programme has been underway in Northern Ireland, which culminated in the publication of a Biogas Research Action Plan 2020 in 2014. One important element of this programme was the identification of the need for an evidence base for the potential Bioresource feedstocks. We report on the outputs of the Quantification of Feedstocks for Anaerobic Digestion research, which has identified the organic feedstocks available for biogas production on a regional basis and categorised these: organic (biodegradable) fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), sewage sludge, organic industrial and commercial wastes, and manure from livestock, food wastes and energy crops. The research further quantified the biogas and energy potential of these feedstocks and possible reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The limitations of the research are acknowledged and opportunities to address these and build on and extend the research are identified, including the extension of the research to include feedstocks for other Bioeconomy processes and the application and further development of the biorefinery concept.