Abstract
The Province of Bolzano has comparable population density and livestock load as other regions of Northern Italy. The nature of its mountainous lands implies potentially-critical situations that have to be monitored: (i) the anthropic and animal pressure is considerable on valleys, where the population concentrates; (ii) few lands are available for spreading animal slurry according to environmentally-sustainable strategies (e.g., limiting N-rate).
A sustainable management of the Province’s animal husbandry implicates the research of solutions for reducing polluting emissions and for improving energy efficiency. The role of livestock effluents for biogas production from anaerobic digestion is an emerging significant topic which is related both to energetic and environmental issues. Several aspects support this statement: reduction of CH4 and CO2 emissions, dejection of unpleasant odours, hygienisation of the manure, and increase of the digestate fertilizing capacity. N-flows can also be monitored and managed, by providing adequate recovery or rimoval treatments, integrated with the biogas facilities. Biogas is also a versatile energy source, enhancing agricultural development and energy self-sufficiency.
My research aims to implement biogas-refinery from livestock effluents, by defining the optimal conditions for each step of the supply chain in the South Tyrol-Alpine context. Specif goals of the research will be: estimation of a nitrates-criticality from the livestock sector; testing of nitrogen rimoval and ricovery treatments that can be applied on digestate after anarobic digestion; optimization of the use of thermal and electrical energy from biogas conversion.
I will firstly analyze the animal husbandry sector and define “typical farm” categories in terms of management and energetic features; estimation of the actual N-load from livestock sector on the Province and the potentiality for improving the existing biogas plants will be objectives of the analysis. The inherent vulnerability of the Province’s aquifers will be identified, by means of geological maps of permeability and of aquifers quality investigation (SINTACS method). I will then focus on treatment of anaerobic digester effluents by innovative systems, by testing two methods for N-load reduction and recovery: the Ammonia Stripping technique and the Anammox process.
I finally expect to define a simulation model of biogas-refinery in the Alpine context, in order to foster a sustainable management of agriculture and of energy utilities’ needs.