Biogas potential of organic waste onboard cruise ships

a yet untapped energy source

verfasst von

Kai Schumüller, Dirk Weichgrebe, Stephan Koester

Abstract

To tap the organic waste generated onboard cruise ships is a very promising approach to reduce their adverse impact on the maritime environment. Biogas produced by means of onboard anaerobic digestion offers a complementary energy source for ships’ operation. This report comprises a detailed presentation of the results gained from comprehensive investigations on the gas yield from onboard substrates such as food waste, sewage sludge and screening solids. Each person onboard generates a total average of about 9 kg of organic waste per day. The performed analyses of substrates and anaerobic digestion tests revealed an accumulated methane yield of around 159 L per person per day. The anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and food waste (50:50 VS) emerged as particularly effective and led to an increased biogas yield by 24%, compared to the mono-fermentation. In the best case, onboard biogas production can provide an energetic output of 82 W/P, on average covering 3.3 to 4.1% of the total energy demand of a cruise ship.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Siedlungswasserwirtschaft und Abfalltechnik

Typ

Artikel

Journal

BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY

Band

12

Seiten

5647-5662

Anzahl der Seiten

16

ISSN

2190-6815

Publikationsdatum

12.2022

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Erneuerbare Energien, Nachhaltigkeit und Umwelt

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 7 – Erschwingliche und saubere Energie

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-01249-0 (Zugang: Offen)