Production of Methane Biogas as Fuel Through Anaerobic Digestion - Sustainable Biotechnology: Sources of Renewable Energy - page 121

growth by the inability to dispose of the wastes. AD can help overcome such waste
disposal limitation by reducing overall waste output.
Sociopolitical factors can also drive implementation of AD, but are situation
dependent and variable in type and impact. Examples include reduced odor impact
on surrounding communities from handling or disposing of biomass wastes (e.g.,
livestock and poultry manure disposal by land application), and better perception
of and public opinion on the business operation. In some circumstances, sociopo-
litical factors may become a major driver to implement an AD project, superseding
even the economic factors, especially in situations where the enterprise's ability to
continue its operation is threatened by public opposition to its waste storage and
disposal.
4.2 Barriers to Commercial Implementation of AD
A number of barriers may thwart the impetus of the drivers mentioned above.
Barriers that can emerge during consideration of commercial AD projects include
(1) uncertainty about the feasibility or reliability of the technology (both AD and
energy production), (2) uncertainty about the economic and business outcome of the
project, (3) uncertainty about public policy that might impact AD (e.g., incentive
pricing or lack thereof for renewable energy, environmental rules and regulations
and compliance therewith), (4) uncertainty about selling the renewable electricity to
the main grid and standby fees, and (5) uncertainty about or fear of liability or penal-
ties (from the complexity of compliance with environmental or safety regulations),
and damage to corporate or product image from suboptimal or failed AD projects.
The barriers to AD implementation are complex and vary in type and importance for
each candidate site or enterprise. They can also be iterative whereby resolution of
one concern may reveal a subsequent concern that also discourages implementation
of an AD project (e.g., concern over disposal of digestate, or potential impact on
material flow or heat recovery of the core operations of the business).
Among the major barriers is the concern over the capability and reliability of
the AD system to digest the available feedstock(s) and the inability to validate
the biogas yields predicted from the feedstock(s) because biogas and energy yield
primarily dictates the economic viability of any commercial AD implementation.
Although observation of a similar AD system operating elsewhere can alleviate this
concern, concerns often exist over possible unpredictable digester failure that can
potentially disrupt the core operation of the factory or farm. Such fear is a strong
deterrent to AD implementation and can be difficult to overcome. Additionally, con-
cerns can arise from the distraction from core business operations brought by the
implementation of an “alien” technology (i.e., AD). Another barrier is the lack of
supportive public policy that can provide assured markets for methane biogas and
incentive pricing based on its fair value for not only the renewable energy, but also
the environmental and social benefits. Uncertain long-term value of a feedstock or
its value for alternative use (e.g., bioethanol production) can also further discourages
commercial implementation of AD.