Anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste: Thermophilic vs. mesophilic performance at high solids

High solids anaerobic digestion of the mechanically sorted organic fraction of municipal solid waste under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions is reported. The semi-dry thermophilic process has a gas production rate two to three times the mesophilic process and nearly complete biodegradation. A 3 m³ stirred digester, feeding organic waste at 16–23% solids, was operated at hydraulic (volumetric) retention times decreasing from 15-8 days, and at organic loading rates increasing from 6 to 14 kg volatile solids m⁻³ day⁻¹. An economic evaluation favours the thermophilic over the mesophilic process.     

REVEGETATION OF WASTE FLY ASH LAGOONS II. SEEDLING TRANSPLANTS AND PLANT NUTRITION

As an alternative or in addition to direct seeding, container-grown transplants provide a means of economically and rapidly revegetating waste fly ash lagoons through the expeditious establishment of vegetation islands. Survival and growth ofEnchylaena tomentosaandNitraria billardiereitransplants were largely dependent on the size of the root volume at transplanting. Growth response of both species in fly ash increased significantly as transplant container size increased from 110 ml to 800 ml. Fly ash incorporated into the potting mix during the containerised stage of growth generally reduced plant growth and survival following eventual transplantation. Gradual hardening ofEnchylaena tomentosaseedlings to increasing concentrations of fly ash in the potting mix (25 to 50 to 75% fly ash), however, improved immediate survival following transplantation, into pure ash. Nitrogen deficiency in Port Augusta fly ash was a major nutritional limitation to growth of these two species. Growth and dry matter production responded optimally to application of N fertiliser (NH₄NO₃) at 100–150 kg N ha⁻¹. Although bicarbonate-extractable P levels in fly ash were high (over 250 mg kg⁻¹), a response ofEnchylaena tomentosato supplementary P application [Ca(H₂PO₄)₂.H₂O] at 100–200 kg P ha⁻¹was observed.N. billardiereidid not respond to supplementary P, and it was suggested that fly ash P may be selectively available to plants on a species dependent basis. No growth responses to K application (KCl) at rates of up to 400 kg K ha⁻¹were found.     

Impact of different particle size distributions on anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste

Particle size may significantly affect the speed and stability of anaerobic digestion, and matching the choice of particle size reduction equipment to digester type can thus determine the success or failure of the process. In the current research the organic fraction of municipal solid waste was processed using a combination of a shear shredder, rotary cutter and wet macerator to produce streams with different particle size distributions. The pre-processed waste was used in trials in semi-continuous ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ digesters at organic loading rate (OLR) up to 6 kg volatile solids (VS) m^?3 day^?1. The results indicated that while difference in the particle size distribution did not change the specific biogas yield, the digester performance was affected. In the ‘dry’ digesters the finer particle size led to acidification and ultimately to process failure at the highest OLR. In ‘wet’ digestion a fine particle size led to severe foaming and the process could not be operated above 5 kg VS m^?3 day^?1. Although the trial was not designed as a direct comparison between ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ digestion, the specific biogas yield of the ‘dry’ digesters was 90% of that produced by ‘wet’ digesters fed on the same waste at the same OLR.     

Application of an early warning indicator and CaO to maximize the time–space-yield of an completely mixed waste digester using rape seed oil as co-substrate

In order to increase the organic loading rate (OLR) and hereby the performance of biogas plants an early warning indicator (EWI-VFA/Ca) was applied in a laboratory-scale biogas digester to control process stability and to steer additive dosing. As soon as the EWI-VFA/Ca indicated the change from stable to instable process conditions, calcium oxide was charged as a countermeasure to raise the pH and to bind long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) by formation of aggregates. An interval of eight days between two increases of the OLR, which corresponded to 38% of the hydraulic residence time (HRT), was sufficient for process adaptation. An OLR increase by a factor of three within six weeks was successfully used for biogas production. The OLR was increased to 9.5 kg volatile solids (VS) m^?3 d^?1 with up to 87% of fat. The high loading rates affected neither the microbial community negatively nor the biogas production process. Despite the increase of the organic load to high rates, methane production yielded almost its optimum, amounting to 0.9 m³ (kg VS)^?1. Beneath several uncharacterized members of the phylum Firmicutes mostly belonging to the family Clostridiaceae, a Syntrophomonas-like organism was identified that is known to live in a syntrophic relationship to methanogenic archaea. Within the methanogenic group, microorganisms affiliated to Methanosarcina, Methanoculleus and Methanobacterium dominated the community.     

Nitrogen Budget of a Spruce Forest Ecosystem After Six-year Addition of Ammonium Sulphate in Southwest Sweden

A nitrogen (N) budget was constructed for a period of 6 years (1988–1993) in a Norway spruce stand with current deposition of 19 kg N and 22 kg S ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The stand was fertilized annually by addition of 100 kg N and 114 kg S ha⁻¹ (NS). Above and below ground biomass, litterfall, fine- root litter production, soil solution and net mineralization were measured to estimate pools, fluxes and accumulation of nitrogen. The average needle litterfall in control (C) and NS plots in 1993 was 2.2 and 2.5 ton ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. The fine root litter production prior to treatment (1987) was 4.4 ton ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and after treatment (1993) it was 4.5 and 3.9 ton ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in C and NS plots, respectively. Net N mineralization in the soil profile down to 50 cm was estimated to be 86 and 115 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in C and NS plots, respectively in 1992. During the treatment period the uptake of N in the needle biomass in C and NS plots was 29 and 77 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. No N was accumulated in needles of C plot where the NS plots accumulated 34 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Of the annually added inorganic N to NS plots 47% was accumulated in the above and below ground biomass and 37% in the soil. N fluxes via fine-root litter production in the C plots were much higher (54 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) than that via litterfall (29 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The corresponding values in the NS plots were 65 and 43 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. Most of the net N mineralization occurred in the FH layer and upper mineral soil. It is concluded that fine root litter and litterfall play an important role in the cycling of N. Despite a high N uptake the losses of N in litterfall and fine root litter resulted in an incorporation of N in soil organic matter.     

Yields of Dissolved Organic C,N, and P. from Three High-Elevation Catchments,Colorado Front Range,U.S.A.

Ecosystem dynamics in high-elevation watersheds are extremely sensitive to changes in chemical, energy, and water fluxes. Here we report information on yields of dissolved organic C, N, and P for the 1999 snowmelt runoff season from three high-elevation catchments in the Colorado Front Range, U.S.A.: Green Lake 4 (GL4) and Albion townsite (ALB) on North Boulder Creek and the Saddle Stream (SS), a tributary catchment dominated by alpine tundra. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in stream waters ranged from <1 to 10 mg C L^-1, with the highest values occurring at the SS site. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations ranged from below detection limits to 0.28 mg N L^-1 and were again highest at the tundra-dominatedsite. Dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) concentrations were at or near detection limits throughout the season in all three catchments indicating a strong terrestrial retention of P. OnlyDOC showed a significant relationship to discharge. Yields of DOC in the three catchments ranged from 10.6 to 11.8 kg C ha^-1 while yields of DON and DOP ranged from 0.32 to 0.41 and 0.02 to 0.08 kg ha^-1, respectively. The relatively highyield of organic N and P relative to C from the highest elevationsite (GL4) was somewhat surprising and points to either: (1) a source of dissolved organic material (DOM) in the upper reaches of the catchment that is enriched in these nutrients or (2) theselective uptake and processing of organic N and P downstream ofthe sampling site. Additionally, seasonal changes in the relativeimportance of DOM precursor materials appear to result in changesin the N content of DOM at both the GL4 and ALB sites.     

High solids co-digestion of food and landscape waste and the potential for ammonia toxicity

A pilot-scale study was completed to determine the feasibility of high-solids anaerobic digestion (HSAD) of a mixture of food and landscape wastes at a university in central Pennsylvania (USA). HSAD was stable at low loadings (2 g COD/L-day), but developed inhibitory ammonia concentrations at high loadings (15 g COD/L-day). At low loadings, methane yields were 232 L CH₄/kg COD fed and 229 L CH₄/kg VS fed, and at high loadings yields were 211 L CH₄/kg COD fed and 272 L CH₄/kg VS fed. Based on characterization and biodegradability studies, food waste appears to be a good candidate for HSAD at low organic loading rates; however, the development of ammonia inhibition at high loading rates suggests that the C:N ratio is too low for use as a single substrate. The relatively low biodegradability of landscape waste as reported herein made it an unsuitable substrate to increase the C:N ratio. Codigestion of food waste with a substrate high in bioavailable carbon is recommended to increase the C:N ratio sufficiently to allow HSAD at loading rates of 15 g COD/L-day.     

Linking field experiments to long-term simulation of impacts of nitrogen deposition on heathlands and moorlands

The results from three long-term field manipulation studies of the impacts of increased nitrogen deposition (0–120 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) on lowland and upland heathlands in the UK were compared, to test if common responses are observed. Consistent increases in Calluna foliar N content and decreases in litter C:N ratios were found across all sites, while increases in N leaching were not observed at any site over the range 0–80 kg ha^?1 yr^?1. However, the response of Calluna biomass did vary between sites, possibly reflecting site differences in nutrient status and management histories. Five versions of a simulation model of heathland responses to N were developed, each reflecting different assumptions about the fate and turnover of soil N. Model outputs supported the deduction from mass balance calculations at two of the field sites that N additions have resulted in an increase in immobilisation; the latter was needed to prevent the model overestimating measured N leaching. However, this version of the model significantly underestimated Calluna biomass. Model versions, which included uptake of organic N by Callunaand re-mobilisation of N from the soil organic store provided some improvement in the fit between modelled and field biomass data, but re-mobilisation also led to an overestimation of N leaching. Quantification of these processes and their response to increased N deposition are therefore critical to interpreting experimental data and predicting the long-term impacts of atmospheric deposition on heathlands and moorlands.     

Post-Glacial Lead Dynamics in a Forest Soil

The use of alkyl-Pb additives in gasoline during the 20th century resulted in widespread Pb pollution. The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance of atmospherically deposited Pb and Pb released through weathering to soil Pb pools at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. We employed a selective extraction method to estimate the amount of Pb that was: water-soluble + exchangeable (EX); inorganically bound (IB); organically bound (ORG); bound to amorphous oxides (AMOX); and bound in crystalline minerals (RES). After normalizing crystalline-Pb concentrations to the immobile element Ti, we estimated that 14.1 kg ha^-1 of Pb has been weathered from Hubbard Brook soils in the 12,000–14,000 yr since deglaciation – a long-term average release of 1.0–1.2 g ha^-1 a^-1. Analysis of Ti-normalized total Pb concentrations indicated a net post-glacial decrease of 7.2 kg ha^-1 in the total Pb pool – consisting of a net accumulation of 4.9 kg ha^-1 in the O horizon, and a net loss of 12.1 kg ha^-1 from mineral soil. Atmospheric deposition of Pb between 1926 and 1989 (estimated as 8.7 kg ha^-1) was a major source of Pb in the post-glacial period. Together, long-term weathering release and 20th century atmospheric deposition could account for all of the Pb in the EX, IB, ORG, and AMOX fractions. Lead from gasoline appears to constitute a major fraction of the total Pb burden in Hubbard Brook soils. Periodic analysis of soil Pb fractions may be useful in monitoring the fate of Pb in forest soils.     

An automated wet deposition system to compare the effects of reduced and oxidised N on ombrotrophic bog species: Practical considerations

Critical N loads for ombrotrophic bogs, which often contain rare and N-sensitive plants (especially those in lower plant groups: lichens, mosses and liverworts), are based on very few experimental data from measured, low background N deposition areas. Additionally the relative effects of reduced versus oxidised N are largely unknown. This paper describes an automated field exposure system (30 km S. of Edinburgh, Scotland) for treating ombrotrophic bog vegetation with fine droplets of oxidised N (NaNO₃) and reduced N (NH₄Cl). Whim Moss exists in an area of low ambient N deposition (ca. 8 kg N ha^?1 y^?1), the sources and quantification of which are described. The wet N treatment system is run continuously, and is controlled/activated by wind speed and rainfall to provide a unique simulation of “real worl” treatment patterns (no rain=no treatment). Simulated precipitation is supplied at ionic concentrations below 4 mM in rainwater collected on site. Treatments provide a replicated dose response to 16, 32 and 64 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 adjusted for ambient deposition (8 kg N ha^?1 y^?1). The 16 and 64 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 are duplicated with a P+K supplement. Baseline soil chemistry and foliar nutrient status was established for all 44 plots for Calluna vulgaris, Sphagnum capillifolium, Hypnum jutlandicum and Cladonia portentosa.     

Base Cation Losses from a Coniferous Catchment in Central Ontario,Canada

Long-term monitoring of a predominantlyconiferous catchment (PC-1) in central Ontario has enabledmass budgets of base cations to be estimated between 1983and 1998. During this period, sulphur deposition decreasedby approximately 30%, although this region still receivesacid deposition that exceeds the critical load with respectto acidity for forest soils. Between 1983 and 1998 therewas a net loss of 76.3 kg ha^-1 Ca and 13.7 kg ha^-1Mg from PC-1, and a net retention of K of 55.7 kg ha^-1. A net loss of Ca and Mg occurred every year during the studyperiod (except 1986/87 for Mg), although annual losses of Caand Mg have been generally lower in recent years. On anannual basis, net losses of Ca and Mg were extremelyvariable and were strongly related to export of SO₄,which in turn appeared to be strongly influenced by climatefactors. Measured losses of Ca and Mg over the 16-yearperiod represented 37% and 59% of their respectiveexchangeable pools measured in the upland soils in 1983.These values probably overestimate base cation losses fromthe upland however, because losses from organic soils in thecatchment were proportionately greater during yearsfollowing El Niño events. There was no change in basal areabetween 1983 and 1998, although there was a shift towardless nutrient-demanding species (white pine, hemlock). Pools of Ca and Mg in tree biomass are approximately doubletheir exchangeable pools in podzols, and so losses from soilmay be offset by changes in forest structure (size,composition) in the short-term (decades). If net losses ofCa and Mg continue due to harvesting and/or acid depositionand estimates of weathering and exchangeable pools arecorrect, then the long-term sustainability of the uplandforest at PC-1 must be in doubt.     

Effects of Nitrogen Deposition on Bryophyte Species Composition of Calcareous Grasslands

Regular additions of NH₄NO₃ (35–140 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and (NH₄)₂SO₄ (140 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) to a calcareous grassland in northern England over a period of 12 years have resulted in a decline in the frequency of the indigenous bryophyte species and the establishment of non-indigenous calcifuge species, with implications for the structure and composition of this calcareous bryophyte community. The lowest NH₄NO₃ additions of 35 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ produced significant declines in frequency of Hypnum cupressiforme, Campylium chrysophyllum, and Calliergon cuspidatum. Significant reductions in frequency at higher NH₄NO₃ application rates were recorded for Pseudoscleropodium purum, Ctenidum molluscum, and Dicranum scoparium. The highest NH₄NO₃ and (NH₄)₂SO₄ additions provided conditions conducive for the establishment of two typical calcifuges – Polytrichum spp. and Campylopus introflexus, respectively. Substrate-surface pH measurements showed a dose-related reduction in pH with increasing NH₄NO₃ deposition rates of 1.6 pH units between the control and highest deposition rate, and a further significant fall in pH, of >1 pH unit, between the NH₄NO₃ and (NH₄)₂SO₄ treatments. These results suggest that indigenous bryophyte composition may be at risk from nitrogen deposition rates of 35 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ or less. These effects are of particular concern for rare or endangered species of low frequency.     

Early effects of atmospheric ammonia deposition on Calluna vulgaris (L.) hull growing on an ombrotrophic peat bog

This paper reports data from a field study investigating the impacts of elevated ammonia (NH₃) deposition on Calluna vulgaris growing on an ombrotrophic peat bog in S.E. Scotland. Shoot extension, foliar N concentrations, chlorophyll concentration and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured during the second growing season of exposure to a gradient of ammonia concentrations. Results indicate that NH₃ increases growth between 150–200 kg N ha^?1y^?1 cumulative deposition. Foliar N content increased significantly in response to NH₃ cumulative deposition up to 400 kg N ha^?1 y^?1 whereas chlorophyll a content significantly decreased. Measurements of Fv/Fm suggest that although NH₃ exposure altered the growth and reduced chlorophyll a, the efficiency of photosystem II was insensitive to NH₃–N deposition at this stage.     

Nitrate Leaching From a Mountain Forest Ecosystem with Gleysols Subjected to Experimentally Increased N Deposition

Nitrate leaching was measured over seven years of nitrogen (N) addition in a paired-catchment experiment in Alptal, central Switzerland (altitude: 1200 m, bulk N deposition: 12 kg ha^-1 a^-1). Two forested catchments (1500 m² each) dominated by Picea abies) were delimited by trenches in the Gleysols. NH₄NO₃ was added to one of the catchments using sprinklers. During the first year, the N addition was labelled with ¹⁵N. Additionally, soil N transformationswere studied in replicated plots. Pre-treatment NO₃ ^--N leaching was 4 kg ha^-1 a^-1 from both catchments, and remained between 2.5 and 4.8 kg ha^-1 a^-1 in the control catchment. The first year of treatment induced an additional leaching of 3.1 kg ha^-1, almost 90% of which was labelled with ¹⁵N, indicating that it did not cycle through the large N pools of the ecosystem (soil organic matter and plants). These losses partly correspond to NO₃ ^- from precipitation bypassing the soil due to preferential flow. During rain or snowmelt events, NO₃ ^- concentration peaks as the water table is rising, indicating flushing from the soil. Nitrification occurs temporarily along the water flow paths in the soil and can be the source of NO₃ ^- flushing. Its isotopic signature however, shows that this release mainly affects recently applied N, stored only between runoff events or up to a few weeks. At first, the ecosystem retained 90% of the added N (2/3 in the soil), but NO₃ ^- losses increased from 10 to 30% within 7 yr, indicating that the ecosystem became progressively N saturated.     

Effects of a gradually increased load of fish waste silage in co-digestion with cow manure on methane production

This study examined the effects of an increased load of nitrogen-rich organic material on anaerobic digestion and methane production. Co-digestion of fish waste silage (FWS) and cow manure (CM) was studied in two parallel laboratory-scale (8 L effective volume) semi-continuous stirred tank reactors (designated R1 and R2). A reactor fed with CM only (R0) was used as control. The reactors were operated in the mesophilic range (37 °C) with a hydraulic retention time of 30 days, and the entire experiment lasted for 450 days. The rate of organic loading was raised by increasing the content of FWS in the feed stock. During the experiment, the amount (volume%) of FWS was increased stepwise in the following order: 3% – 6% – 13% – 16%, and 19%. Measurements of methane production, and analysis of volatile fatty acids, ammonium and pH in the effluents were carried out. The highest methane production from co-digestion of FWS and CM was 0.400 L CH4 gVS^?1, obtained during the period with loading of 16% FWS in R2. Compared to anaerobic digestion of CM only, the methane production was increased by 100% at most, when FWS was added to the feed stock. The biogas processes failed in R1 and R2 during the periods, with loadings of 16% and 19% FWS, respectively. In both reactors, the biogas processes failed due to overloading and accumulation of ammonia and volatile fatty acids.     

Evolution of butyric acid and the methanogenic microbial population in a thermophilic dry anaerobic reactor

Knowledge of the relationship between the evolution of butyric acid, the main precursor of methane, and the methanogenic microbial population, quantified by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), is important for understating and controlling the anaerobic digestion of solid waste. In this study, a statistical analysis has been made of this relationship in a laboratory-scale continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) without recycling of biomass. The CSTR has been operated at four organic loading rates (OLR) between 4.42 and 7.50 kg VS m^?3 day^?1, using the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) as the substrate. During the start-up stage, the consumption of butyric acid is related to the population of H₂-utilising methanogens (R² = 0.774), whereas in the stabilization stage, it is related to that of acetoclastic methanogens (R² = 0.716). Therefore, it can be concluded that the methanogenic population dynamics are closely correlated with the concentration of volatile fatty acids, and in particular, with that of butyric acid.     

Petroliferous wastewaters treatment with water hyacinths (Raffinerie de Provence, France): Experimental statement

The production and purification abilities of the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms., were tested on petrochemical wastewaters at Raffinerie de Provence, Total (La Mède, France), in controlled and in situ experiments. The mean production obtained was of about 6.1 g (dry weight) day⁻¹ m⁻² (10-fold lower than those obtained on paper industry effluent), and can be explained by the high salinity and pH of the effluent, and the negative effect of hydrocarbons. In comparison with the control pond, the water hyacinth system induced a rapid settlement effect. Finally, the removal gains due to the water hyacinths system were about 26% for the suspended solids (i.e. 40.1 kg day⁻¹), 28% for the total hydrocarbons (i.e. 17.2 kg day⁻¹) and 18% for the total organic carbon (i.e. 27 kg day⁻¹).     

Biostabilization process of undersized fraction of municipal solid waste with biochar addition

The main goal of this work was to analyze the impact of biochar addition and changes in air-flow rates on the intensive phase of aerobic biostabilization of undersized fraction of municipal solid waste (UFMSW). The novelty of this paper stems from the use of biochar to shorten the process and generate “well-stabilized waste”. The following six different input mixtures were tested (without biochar and with the addition of biochar at: 1.5%, 3%, 5%, 10% and 20%), at three different air-flow rates: 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 m³·d⁻¹·(kg org DM)⁻¹. It was found that the biochar addition of more than 3 wt% causes water accumulation in the treated waste, but does not allow for reducing organic matter (OM) content below 35% DM, nor OM_loss values below 40% (the exception is the 5 wt% addition of biochar at the air-flow rate of 0.2 m³·d⁻¹·(kg org DM)⁻¹). Moreover, 10 wt% and 20 wt% biochar additions to UFMSW intensify the increase in microbial abundance, which may result in higher oxygen demand or development of anaerobic zones. The most favorable biochar doses in terms of final UFMSW sanitization are 3 wt% and 5 wt%.

     

Stem Growth of Picea Abies in South Western Sweden in the 10 Years Following Liming and Addition of PK and N

Liming and/or application of specific nutrients have been proposed as countermeasures to the acidification of forest soils in southern Sweden. In this study the stem growth of Picea abies (L.) Karst. growing on acidic mineral soils in SW Sweden was investigated 10 years after additions of lime (Ca; 3000 kg lime ha⁻¹), lime plus P (25 kg ha⁻¹) and K (80 kg ha⁻¹), or N in low doses (2 × 10 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) (treatments: CaPK, Ca, N, CaPKN, and 2Ca2P2K, respectively). Compared with the control, stem growth was increased following all treatments involving lime additions, including liming alone. The PK addition did not seem to affect growth. The most plausible cause of the observed growth increases was that the lime additions indirectly increased the supply of plant-available N. The annual low-dose N addition did not significantly affect growth. This suggests that air-borne deposition of N, which supplies very small doses of N throughout the year, has a minor or even negligible influence on P. abies growth.     

Production costs and operative margins in electric energy generation from biogas. Full-scale case studies in Italy

The purpose of this study was to observe the economic sustainability of three different biogas full scale plants, fed with different organic matrices: energy crops (EC), manure, agro-industrial (Plants B and C) and organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) (Plant A). The plants were observed for one year and total annual biomass feeding, biomass composition and biomass cost (€ Mg^?1), initial investment cost and plant electric power production were registered. The unit costs of biogas and electric energy (€ Sm^?3_biogas, € kW h^?1_EE) were differently distributed, depending on the type of feed and plant. Plant A showed high management/maintenance cost for OFMSW treatment (0.155 € Sm^?3_biogas, 45% of total cost), Plant B suffered high cost for EC supply (0.130 € Sm^?3_biogas, 49% of total cost) and Plant C showed higher impact on the total costs because of the depreciation charge (0.146 € Sm^?3_biogas, 41% of total costs). The breakeven point for the tariff of electric energy, calculated for the different cases, resulted in the range 120–170 € MW h^?1_EE, depending on fed materials and plant scale. EC had great impact on biomass supply costs and should be reduced, in favor of organic waste and residues; plant scale still heavily influences the production costs. The EU States should drive incentives in dependence of these factors, to further develop this still promising sector.