Investigation of biogas potential from agricultural waste resources in Aksaray province

This study examines the biogas potential that could be obtained from animal and plant waste in the province of Aksaray and its districts. The increasing energy demand and need for environmental sustainability in Turkey have made the use of renewable energy sources essential. Biogas stands out as an environmentally friendly renewable energy source produced by converting organic waste into energy through anaerobic fermentation. In this study, the latest data for Aksaray province was used to calculate the amount of biogas that can be obtained from animal and plant waste. The results reveal that the total amount of animal wet waste in Aksaray province and its districts is approximately 2 million tons, from which about 82 million m³/year of methane could be produced annually. The biogas potential from plant waste was calculated as 155 million m³ CH4/year from 1 million tons of waste. The total waste amount in the province is roughly 3 million tons, resulting in an overall biogas potential of 237 million m³ CH4/year. When used for electricity generation, this biogas has the potential to produce 541 million kWh/year of electricity and 676 million kWh/year of thermal energy. If biogas facilities are established across the province, an installed power capacity of 67.4 MW can be achieved. Additionally, biogas usage could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 541 thousand tons of CO2 annually. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that biogas in Aksaray province holds significant potential for energy production and environmental sustainability. The conversion of animal and plant waste into energy will contribute to the local economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing fossil fuel use. Biogas facilities form the core of the circular economy model, which is gaining worldwide popularity. Therefore, to encourage local applications and serve as a reference for further studies in Aksaray, this study also explores topics such as the biogas potential, investment costs of the facilities, and possible locations for facility installations.