36. Biogas Potential of Animal Wastes for Electricity Generation in Ardahan City of Turkey

Turkey has to adopt long-term energy policies depending on the mitigation of the greenhouse gases and other environmental effects. Thus indigenous renewable energy potential should be utilized especially in the electricity production, which has a big share in the energy sector. Biogas is a significant renewable energy source that can be produced from wood, plant, animal, and all other organic wastes, and can be utilized for producing electricity, heat, and organic fertilizer. Local evaluation of biogas is important for energy production mainly due to the transportation issues. In this context this chapter conducts the evaluation of the potential of biogas from animal wastes for Ardahan city of Turkey. Since Ardahan’s socioeconomic structure is mainly based on the livestock farming the city has significant biogas potential from animal wastes. Calculations in this chapter are made according to the available statistical data and literature review. The biogas energy potential of Ardahan for electricity generation is estimated from the animal quantities of 2010. As a result, the biogas potential is calculated to be approximately 18.4 million m³/year, which has energy equivalence of 107 GWh/year, originated from 95 % cattle, 1.1 % small ruminant, 1.4 % equines, and 2.5 % poultry.