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Co-Digestion Economic Analysis Tool (Co-EAT)
Citation:
Rock, S. AND J. Ricketts. Co-Digestion Economic Analysis Tool (Co-EAT). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-16/373, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
The Co-Digestion Economic Analysis Tool (Co-EAT) has three primary objectives: (1) Provide an initial economic feasibility assessment for co-digestion of organic wastes at a Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) using anaerobic digestion (AD) to manage wastewater solids. The analysis can also be conducted to assess the feasibility of co-digestion at facilities that do not yet use, but are considering, anaerobic digestion, including dairies and stand-alone digesters; (2) Compare the relative merits of three users of biogas: heating, electrical generation, and compressed natural gas for vehicle fuel; and (3) Provide a clear comparison of the economic implications of co-digestion, given multiple performance assumptions, and unique physical and cost parameters provided by the tool-user.
Description:
The Co-Digestion Economic Analysis Tool (Co-EAT) models the emerging practice of co-digestion at Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRF). The intended use of the tool is to provide an initial evaluation assessing the feasibility of implementing co-digestion of organic substrates at a wide range of facilities including WRRFs, agricultural digesters, stand-alone digesters, and non-existing facilities. The relatively simple analysis uses measured, calculated, and theoretical inputs to calculate the desired outputs of biogas production, biosolids generation, and related expenses and revenues. The model has the flexibility to model any organic substrate and also includes default feedstock parameters. The resulting feasibility assessment compares current operating parameters to theoretical parameters. The theoretical parameters are used to generate three biogas use scenarios which are compared to the current operations. The three biogas scenarios are combustion in a boiler with heat recovery, combustion in a combined heat and power engine for electric and heat recovery, and conversion to compressed natural gas to be used as vehicle fuel. The results are provided in a clear comparison displaying the economic implications of co-digestion allowing the user to weigh the pros and cons. The user can then determine which option is most suitable for their facility to then have a more-in-depth study performed. This model is not intended to be a final evaluation of a food waste co-digestion project. Tool users should perform community and situation specific analyses of project viability prior to implementation. The Co-Digestion Economic Analysis Tool (Co-EAT) has three primary objectives: (1) Provide an initial economic feasibility assessment for co-digestion of organic wastes at a Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) using anaerobic digestion (AD) to manage wastewater solids. The analysis can also be conducted to assess the feasibility of co-digestion at facilities that do not yet use, but are considering, anaerobic digestion, including dairies and stand-alone digesters; (2) Compare the relative merits of three uses of biogas: heating, electrical generation, and compressed natural gas for vehicle fuel; and (3) Provide a clear comparison of the economic implications of co-digestion, given multiple performance assumptions, and unique physical and cost parameters provided by the tool-user. It will help to have input from people with technical and finance background to help with input and interpretation of results. It is intended to be used by utility and city managers with specific information provided by engineers, WWRF managers, and operators.