Techno-economic feasibility study of macroalgae for anaerobic digestion

The techno-economic feasibility of brown macroalgae biomass species Saccharina latissima ( S. Latissima ) for anaerobic digestion (AD) in North West Europe was investigated in this research. The feasibility of the biomass as a single feedstock and for co-digestion was tested. In the techno economic analysis, AD of S. Latissima as a single digestion feedstock was found to be economically not viable due to the relatively high price of the macroalgae biomass. However, co-digestion with sugar beet — vegetable mix combined with a gate fee of 29 Euros per tonne was found to be economically viable with the macroalgae biomass priced at 50 Euros per tonne. • AD of S. Latissima have comparable methane potentials to energy crops. • S. Latissima is also feasible as a co-digestion feedstock for waste AD. • AD of S. Latissima as a mono-digestion feedstock is economically not viable. • ROI increase with increase in the price of macroalgae biomass.