Generic Model for the Environmental Assessment of Anaerobic Digestion of Food By-Products and Waste

The establishment of a generic model for the environmental assessment of anaerobic digestion of waste and by-products of the food industry faces several challenges. Next to the type and conditions of fermentation, the further use of the products biogas and digestate, the internal use of heat and electricity also the methane content of the feedstock and therewith the biogas yield are determining factors for the development of such a model. The model shall reflect the average situation in Europe and shall be suitable for the goal and scope of a web-based spreadsheet tool where it is applied. This contribution presents the approach, the data inventory and the assumptions behind such a generic model.