Assessment of Energy and Global Warming Potential from Apple Pomace

In this study, the potential of apple pomace, a valuable biomass resource generated as a by-product of apple processing industries, is estimated. Methane emissions, global warming potential (GWP), and energy potential are evaluated for the period 2005–2023 for five apple-producing states of India using Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change methodologies (the default method and the first-order decay method) and the Landfill Gas Emission Model [LandGEM (v3.1)]. The primary objective of the study is to measure the effect of unmanaged apple pomace and its energy recovery potential if disposed of properly. Proper management and the implementation of suitable measures could significantly reduce the GWP and alleviate the burden on climatic conditions. An analysis performed through LandGEMNSPS shows that if not managed properly, India will generate 193 Gg of methane in 2030, and it will increase to 262 Gg in 2040 and 305 Gg in 2050. By harnessing this amount of methane and converting it into energy, 1,320 GW · h of energy can be conserved by the year 2050. The study concludes that a revenue of 123 million USD can be obtained from carbon credit trading and 97.39 million USD from selling electricity generated from apple pomace by the year 2050. Overall, this shows that if apple pomace is managed properly, a large amount of energy can be harnessed, which will help in conserving natural resources and provide economic benefits for the nation.