Horse waste offers significant energy recovery potential, say researchers – Horsetalk.co.nz

Horse Manure as a Valuable Substrate for Anaerobic Digestion

Introduction

Horse manure has been identified as a promising substrate for anaerobic digestion, offering significant potential for energy recovery through methane production, according to researchers in France. This study contributes to the country’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, as outlined in the legislation passed in 2015. The law aims to preserve resources, ensure energy independence, limit climate change, and reduce energy consumption by 50% between 2012 and 2050. By utilizing organic waste and anaerobic digestion, France can make substantial progress towards these goals.

Research Findings

The researchers, affiliated with the Department of Innovation within the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority, conducted their study using horse manure and bedding materials. In 2018, France produced a total of 342 million tons of waste, including 39 million tons of municipal waste and 8.7 million tons of organic waste. Anaerobic digestion of biodegradable biomass can generate clean gas that serves as a biofuel.

Bedding Mixtures

The researchers analyzed two different bedding mixtures and the individual materials that composed them. The first mixture consisted of 85% wheat straw, 14% wood chips, and 1% horse manure by volume. The second mixture was composed of 99% wheat straw and 1% horse manure by volume. A total of 406 samples were studied to compare their physicochemical properties.

Methane Production Potential

The study revealed that wheat straw had the highest potential for methane production when analyzed individually. Horse manure had approximately 15% less potential, while wood chips had a methane production rate of less than half that of horse manure. The lower potential of wood chips can be attributed to their high lignin content, which acts as a resistant structural material.

Optimal Bedding Mixture

The second bedding mixture, consisting of 99% wheat straw and 1% horse manure, demonstrated the highest production yield among all tested samples. It yielded approximately 7% more methane compared to wheat straw alone. The other bedding mixture had a yield that was about a third lower, likely due to the presence of lignin-rich wood chips.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that horse waste is a suitable substrate for anaerobic digestion, offering significant potential for energy recovery through methane production. Understanding the physicochemical and biological properties of horse manure and bedding materials is crucial for the design and operation of anaerobic digestion facilities. Additionally, these substrates contribute to the energy sector, highlighting the importance of considering agricultural waste as a valuable resource rather than waste.

References

Naji, A.; Rechdaoui, S.G.; Jabagi, E.; Lacroix, C.; Azimi, S.; Rocher, V. Horse Manure and Lignocellulosic Biomass Characterization as Methane Production Substrates. Fermentation 2023, 9, 580. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9060580

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the value of horse manure in the production of biogas through anaerobic digestion. This is directly connected to SDG 7, which focuses on affordable and clean energy. Additionally, the article mentions that the use of existing materials and resources to generate energy and preserve resources aligns with SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production). Furthermore, the reduction in energy consumption and the potential for methane production contribute to SDG 13 (climate action).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
• SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

Based on the article’s content, the identified targets include increasing the share of renewable energy (SDG 7.2), upgrading infrastructure for sustainability (SDG 9.4), achieving environmentally sound waste management (SDG 12.4), and integrating climate change measures into policies (SDG 13.2).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Biogas production from horse manure and bedding materials
• Energy recovery potential through methane production
• Reduction in energy consumption
• Characterization of horse waste as a substrate for anaerobic digestion

The article mentions indicators such as biogas production from horse manure and bedding materials, energy recovery potential through methane production, reduction in energy consumption, and the characterization of horse waste as a substrate for anaerobic digestion. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Source: horsetalk.co.nz

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