Biogas plants’ network: optimized locations and connections

Biogas is a gas obtained from the anaerobic digestion of biomass inside fermenter reactors , typically located in biogas-generating plants. The biogas can be burned to produce electric energy and heat. This form of energy conversion can be significant for the decarbonization of actual energy generation. In addition, the biogas can be “purified” and can be injected into the general grid of natural gas. Although the generation of biogas is very promising, there are nowadays several obstacles to a widespread use of this renewable resource. Among these: 1) relatively high initial investment costs, 2) difficulty in getting access to the natural gas grid, and 3) difficulty in securing continuous biomass to each production. The main objective of this project is to alleviate these three obstacles by provide quantitative decision-support tools to help determining optimal locations of biogas plants, as well as the design of a suitable connecting network that facilitates the supply of biomass of each plant, as well as reduction of the cost to connection to the main natural gas grid. The project will be completed by two case studies in Italy and Canada.

Faculty Supervisor:

Fausto Errico

Student:

Partner:

Politecnico di Milano

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Education

University:

École de technologie supérieure

Program: