Food and processing residues in California: Resource assessment and potential for power generation

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 98; no. 16; pp. 3098 - 3105
• Main Authors: Matteson, Gary C., Jenkins, B.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Anaerobic; Bioenergy; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; California; Conservation of Energy Resources - economics; Crops, Agricultural - chemistry; Energy; Energy-Generating Resources - economics; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Food; Food industries; food industry; food processing wastes; Food-Processing Industry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industrial Waste; Meat; meat processing; municipal solid waste; renewable energy sources; Thermochemical; Waste Management - economics; waste utilization; California; United States; North America; America; USA, California; Thermochemical; Bioenergy; Biomass; Anaerobic; Food; Anaerobe; Power production; Residue; Food technology
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.10.031

The California agricultural industry produces more than 350 commodities with a combined yearly value in excess of $28 billion. The processing of many of these crops results in the production of residue streams, and the food processing industry faces increasing regulatory pressure to reduce environmental impacts and provide for sustainable management and use. Surveys of food and other processing and waste management sectors combined with published state data yield a total resource in excess of 4 million metric tons of dry matter, with nearly half of this likely to be available for utilization. About two-thirds of the available resource is produced as high-moisture residues that could support 134 MW e of power generation by anaerobic digestion and other conversion techniques. The other third is generated as low-moisture materials, many of which are already employed as fuel in direct combustion biomass power plants. The cost of energy conversion remains high for biochemical systems, with tipping or disposal fees of the order of $30–50 Mg −1 required to align power costs with current market prices. Identifying ways to reduce capital and operating costs of energy conversion, extending operating seasons to increase capacity factors through centralizing facilities, combining resource streams, and monetizing environmental benefits remain important goals for restructuring food and processing waste management in the state.