Economic Feasibility of Agricultural Biogas Production by Farms in Ukraine

Techno-economic analysis of biogas production from domestic organic wastes and locally sourced material: the moderating role of social media based-awareness

Management of organic waste addresses the issue of cleanliness and sanitation in developing nations such as Pakistan, where improper waste management usually leads to significant health problems and early mortality. The control of organic waste in rural regions of Pakistan and other developing nations needs to be undertaken using effective solutions. This study contributes to satisfying local needs such as cooking, lighting, and maintaining a comfortable temperature in anaerobic locations and works as a guideline for converting to biogas. This research aims to ascertain households' most substantial challenges concerning biogas production using domestic organic waste and locally sourced materials. The analysis is conducted on data from 81 respondents gathered using a comprehensive questionnaire assessment. Respondents were carefully chosen with the purposive sampling process. Primary data were collected from a structured questionnaire and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the formulated assumptions. The results indicate that managing organic waste positively influences the sustainable improvement of biogas using human organic waste and locally resourced materials. The selected variables and their moderating effect significantly and favorably influence this conceptual model. Furthermore, all manipulating influences are constructively connected with implementing biogas technology using organic waste and locally resourced material, minimizing household energy expenses, and satisfying local needs. This study concludes that the government's green energy policy and economic incentives encourage households to use biogas energy produced from organic waste and locally resourced material. The government should use modern technology, resident training, and expert methodological assistance to induce households into biogas production using domestic organic waste and locally resourced material. Finally, the study's limitations and suggestions for further research are also addressed.

Economic development, social media awareness, and technological innovation in biogas sector under climate change in the post-COVID-19 pandemic conditions

After COVID-19, financing for emerging nation reserves in renewable energy bases was deemed a crucial aspect of sustainable development. Investing in biogas energy plants can be highly beneficial for lowering the use of fossil fuels. Using a survey of shareholders, investors, biogas energy professionals, and active social media participants in Pakistan, this study evaluates the intentions of individual investors to invest in biogas energy plants. The primary purpose of this study is to increase investment intent for biogas energy projects following COVID-19. This study focuses on financing biogas energy plants in the post-COVID-19 era and evaluates the research's assumptions using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The study employed the technique of purposive sampling to acquire data for this investigation. The results indicate that attitudes, perceived biogas energy benefits, perceived investment attitudes, and supervisory structure evaluations inspire one's propensity to finance biogas vitality plant efforts. The study found a link between eco-friendly responsiveness, monetary benefits, and investors' actions. The aspiration of investors to mark such reserves was set up to be unpretentious by their risk aversion. Conferring to the facts, evaluating the monitoring structure is the critical factor. The previous studies on investment behavior and other forms of pro-environmental intent and action yielded contradictory results. In addition, the regulatory environment was evaluated to see how the theory of planned behavior (TPB) affects financiers' objectives to participate in biogas power plants. The consequences of the study indicate that feelings of pride and discernment of energy expansively affect people's desire to invest in biogas plants. Biogas energy efficacy has little effect on investors' decisions to invest in biogas energy plants. This study offers policymakers practical ideas on enhancing investments in biogas energy plants.

Relating biogas technology and environmental impact assessment: a roadmap towards clean energy for environmental sustainability

Atmosphere contamination and fast weather change have compelled scientists and entrepreneurs to seek eco-friendly solutions for saving the earth. Increasing energy consumption depletes limited natural resources and harms the climate and ecology. In this regard, biogas technology contributes in two ways: satisfying energy needs and saving plants. Pakistan is a farming nation with enormous biogas-based energy generating potential. The primary objectives of this study are to identify the most significant barriers to farmers' investment in biogas technology. Non-probability sampling (purposive sampling) was utilized to establish the sample size. Ninety-seven investors and farmers were systematically sampled in biogas technology engaged in this survey. The planned questionnaire was practiced to obtain key facts via online interviews. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to evaluate designated hypotheses. The current research concludes that entire autonomous variables are substantial and interrelated with investment in biogas machinery, dropping energy disasters, and accomplishing environmental, financial, and maintenance government support objectives. The results also revealed that electronic and social media play a moderating influence. This conceptual model is considerably and positively affected by the chosen factors and their moderation. This study concludes that the primary tools for attracting farmers and investors in biogas technology are proper biogas technology awareness with relevant experts, financial and maintenance government responsibility, user efficiency and environmental concern of biogas plants, and the role of electronic and social media. The results also advised that the government should implement an incentive and maintenance policy to entice new farmers and investors in Pakistan to build biogas technology. Finally, the study's limitations and recommendations for additional studies are highlighted.

Recent advances in biogas production using Agro-Industrial Waste: A comprehensive review outlook of Techno-Economic analysis

Agrowaste sources can be utilized to produce biogas by anaerobic digestion reaction. Fossil fuels have damaged the environment, while the biogas rectifies the issues related to the environment and climate change problems. Techno-economic analysis of biogas production is followed by nutrient recycling, reducing the greenhouse gas level, biorefinery purpose, and global warming effect. In addition, biogas production is mediated by different metabolic reactions, the usage of different microorganisms, purification process, upgrading process and removal of CO₂ from the gas mixture techniques. This review focuses on pre-treatment, usage of waste, production methods and application besides summarizing recent advancements in biogas production. Economical, technical, environmental properties and factors affecting biogas production as well as the future perspective of bioenergy are highlighted in the review. Among all agro-industrial wastes, sugarcane straw produced 94% of the biogas. In the future, to overcome all the problems related to biogas production and modify the production process.

Is the Production of Agricultural Biogas Environmentally Friendly? Does the Structure of Consumption of First- and Second-Generation Raw Materials in Latvia and Poland Matter?

The importance of biogas in the energy mix in Poland and Latvia is very low. In Poland, 306 million m3 of biogas is produced annually, and in Latvia, 56 million m3. The share of energy from agricultural biogas in Latvia is 1.6%, and in Poland, only 0.12%. This study analyzed the impact of the structure on CO2 emissions from agricultural biogas production in Latvia and Poland. The emission was determined in accordance with the EU directive. The structure of substrates was dominated by those from the second generation, i.e., manure and food waste. In Latvia, it was 70%, and in Poland, 78%. The manure share was 45% and 24%, respectively. The anaerobic digestion of manure guarantees high GHG savings thanks to the avoided emissions from the traditional storage and management of raw manure as organic fertilizer. The level of emissions from the production of agricultural biogas was calculated for the variant with the use of closed digestate tanks, and it was about 10–11 g CO2/MJ, which is comparable to the emissions from solar photovoltaic sources. When using open tanks, the emission level was twice as high, but it was still many times less than from the Polish or Latvian energy mix. Such a low level of emissions resulted from the high share of manure. The level of emission reduction reached 90% compared to fossil fuels. The use of second-generation feedstock in biogas production provides environmental benefits. Therefore, if wastes are used in biogas generation, and the influence on the local environment and overall GHG emissions is positive, authorities should support such activity.

Influence of Growing Miscanthus x giganteus on Ecosystem Services of Chernozem

The paper investigates the optimization of ecosystem services of podzolized heavy loamy chernozem (black soil) as a result of the cultivation of the perennial energy culture of Miscanthus x giganteus. The research was conducted on an experimental land plot during 2016–2021. No fertilization was applied to the soil during the experiments, and over the years of research, the growing seasons were accompanied by abnormal droughts, but even under such conditions, the plants of Miscanthus x giganteus gradually increased their yield. At the initial stage of research, in the third year of cultivation, dry biomass of Miscanthus x giganteus was obtained at 14.3 t/ha, in the fourth year–18.6 t/ha, and already in the fifth and sixth years, 21.7 and 24.5 t/ha, respectively. That is, energy-wise, the harvest for the last year was equivalent to 15.9 tons of coal or 12,618 m3 of natural gas. Cultivation of Miscanthus x giganteus on black soil for six years has improved the provision of its ecosystem services, regulation, and ecosystem maintenance services. The possibility of growing perennial energy crops on agricultural soils has been proven by obtaining a significant amount of biomass and a positive phytoremediation effect on the soil by reducing erosion, preserving biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and sustainably improving the ecological situation.