The Role of Biomethane from Sewage Sludge in the Energy Transition: Potentials and Barriers in the Arab Gulf States Power Sector

• Published in: Applied sciences Vol. 11; no. 21; p. 10275
• Main Authors: Alshawaf, Mohammad, Alsulaili, Abdalrahman, Alwaeli, Mohamed, Allanqawi, Huda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; anaerobic digestion; Biogas; Biomass; biomethane potential; Carbohydrates; Carbon dioxide; Chemical oxygen demand; Cost control; Crude oil; Desalination; Electricity; Emissions; Emissions control; Energy consumption; Energy industry; Energy policy; Energy recovery; Energy resources; Energy sources; energy transition; Fossil fuels; Gases; Greenhouse gases; Industrial plant emissions; Municipal solid waste; Natural gas; Renewable resources; Sewage sludge; Sludge; Solar power; Stoichiometry; Sustainable use; Waste management; waste-to-energy; Wastewater management; wastewater sludge; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Saudi Arabia
• ISSN: 2076-3417; 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app112110275

The increasing energy and water demands by the Arab Gulf states highlight the importance of sustainable use of energy resources. Wastewater sludge management for energy recovery creates an opportunity for sector integration for both wastewater treatment plants and renewable energy production. The objective of this study was to theoretically estimate the biomethane potential of wastewater sludge, together with identification of the role of biomethane in the region. The prediction of biomethane potential was based on the theoretical stoichiometry of biomethanation reactions, using the R-based package ‘Process Biogas Data and Predict Biogas Production’. The biomethane potential of sludge ranges between 232–334 × 106 m3, with a total heat-value up to 10.7 trillion BTUs annually. The produced biomethane can generate up to 1665 GWh of electric energy, an equivalent amount to the current levels of electricity generation from wind and solar power combined. The findings from the case study on Kuwait’s indicate that biomethane could displace 13 × 106 m3 of natural gas, or approximately 86,000 barrels of crude oil, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 86% when compared to the base-scenario. Despite its potential, biomethane recovery in the region is hindered by technical-, economic-, and policy-based barriers.