Investigating the Potential for Biogas Production from Animal Manure in Zonguldak Province

Abstract

Global population growth and technological developments have led to a rapid increase in energy demand and intensification of animal food production. Meeting the growing energy demand largely with fossil fuels raises environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. In addition, animal waste from intensive livestock farming activities aimed at meeting food demand is further exacerbating environmental problems. Biogas produced from animal waste will not only reduce the environmental pollution caused by these wastes but also contribute to meeting energy needs as a significant renewable energy source. In this study, the biogas potential that can be produced from animal waste was theoretically calculated using the Agro-Waste method, based on animal numbers obtained from the 2024 data of the Zonguldak Directorate of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry. The results indicate that the biogas production potential from animal waste in Zonguldak province is estimated at 22.69 million m³. This amount is equivalent to approximately 106.65 GWh of electrical energy, 26.78 million m³ of natural gas energy, and 113.46 × 10⁹ kcal of thermal energy. Based on these results, utilizing the existing biogas potential for electricity generation is expected to provide approximately 276.27 million TL in economic savings. Additionally, this initiative is anticipated to prevent the release of 46819.35 tons of CO2- equivalent greenhouse gases into the environment. The biogas plant to be established in Zonguldak will reduce environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by converting animal waste into clean energy and organic manure and will revitalize the rural economy by creating jobs.

Keywords

• Biogas potential
• Renewable energy
• Animal waste

Zonguldak İlinde Hayvan Gübresinden Biyogaz Üretimi Potansiyelinin Araştırılması

Abstract

Küresel ölçekte nüfus artışı ve teknolojik gelişmeler, enerji talebinde hızlı bir artışa ve hayvansal gıda üretiminin yoğunlaşmasına yol açmıştır. Artan enerji talebinin büyük ölçüde fosil yakıtlarla karşılanması, sera gazı emisyonları ve çevre kirliliği gibi çevresel sorunları gündeme getirmektedir. Bunun yanı sıra, gıda talebini karşılamak amacıyla yoğunlaşan hayvancılık faaliyetlerinden kaynaklanan hayvansal atıklar, çevresel sorunları daha da derinleştirmektedir. Hayvansal atıklardan üretilen biyogaz, bu atıkların neden olduğu çevre kirliliğini azaltmanın yanı sıra önemli bir yenilenebilir enerji kaynağı olarak enerji ihtiyacının karşılanmasına da katkıda bulunacaktır. Bu çalışmada, Zonguldak İl Tarım ve Orman Müdürlüğü’nün 2024 yılı verilerinden elde edilen hayvan sayıları kullanılarak, hayvansal atıklardan üretilebilecek biyogaz potansiyeli Agro-Waste yöntemi ile teorik olarak hesaplanmıştır. Sonuçlar; Zonguldak ilinde hayvansal atıklardan biyogaz üretim potansiyelinin 22.69 milyon m³ olduğu tahmin edilmektedir. Bu miktar yaklaşık 106.65 GWh elektrik enerjisine, 26.78 milyon m³ doğal gaz enerjisine ve 113.46 x 10⁹ kcal termal enerjiye eşdeğerdir. Bu sonuçlara dayanarak, mevcut biyogaz potansiyelinin elektrik üretiminde kullanılmasının ekonomiye yaklaşık 276.27 milyon TL tasarruf sağlaması beklenmektedir. Ayrıca, bu hamlenin 46819.35 ton CO₂ eşdeğeri sera gazının çevreye salınmasını engellemesi beklenmektedir. Zonguldak’ta kurulacak biyogaz tesisi, hayvansal atıkları temiz enerjiye ve organik gübreye dönüştürerek çevre kirliliğini azaltacak, sera gazı emisyonlarını düşürecek ve istihdam sağlayarak kırsal ekonomiyi canlandıracaktır.

Keywords

• Biyogaz potansiyeli
• Yenilenebilir enerji
• Hayvansal atık

References

1. T. Rahimi, R. Babazadeh, A. Doniavi, Designing and planning the animal waste-to-energy supply chains: A case study, Renew. Energy Focus 39 (2021) 37–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2021.07.004.
2. M. Silwadi, H. Mousa, B.Y. AL-Hajji, S.S. AL-Wahaibi, Z.Z. AL-Harrasi, Enhancing biogas production by anaerobic digestion of animal manure, Int. J. Green Energy 20 (2023) 257–264. https://doi.org/10.1080/15435075.2022.2038608.
3. H. Ertop, A. Atilgan, J. Kocięcka, A. Krakowiak-Bal, D. Liberacki, B. Saltuk, R. Rolbiecki, Calculation of the Potential Biogas and Electricity Values of Animal Wastes: Turkey and Poland Case, Energies 16 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/en16227578.
4. S. Rasi, J. Läntelä, J. Rintala, Trace compounds affecting biogas energy utilisation - A review, Energy Convers. Manag. 52 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2011.07.005.
5. T.L. Ruwa, S. Abbasoğlu, E. Akün, Energy and Exergy Analysis of Biogas-Powered Power Plant from Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Food and Animal Waste, Processes 10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10050871.
6. A. Fetanat, M. Tayebi, M. Moteraghi, Technology evaluation for biogas production from animal waste in circular carbon economy: A complex spherical fuzzy set-based decision-making framework, Bioresour. Technol. Reports 23 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2023.101521.
7. M.A. Haghghi, M. Feili, H. Ghaebi, H. Athari, Multi-criteria study and machine learning optimization of a novel heat integration for combined electricity, heat, and hydrogen production: Application of biogas-fueled S-Graz plant and biogas steam reforming, Case Stud. Therm. Eng. 63 (2024) 105323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2024.105323.
8. M.S. Gaballah, H. Chand, J. Guo, C. Zhang, Mixed veterinary antibiotics removal and effects on anaerobic digestion of animal wastes: Current practices and future perspectives, Chem. Eng. J. 483 (2024) 149131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.149131.

9. A. Golmakani, S. Ali Nabavi, B. Wadi, V. Manovic, Advances, challenges, and perspectives of biogas cleaning, upgrading, and utilisation, Fuel 317 (2022) 123085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.123085.
10. K. Archana, A.S. Visckram, P. Senthil Kumar, S. Manikandan, A. Saravanan, L. Natrayan, A review on recent technological breakthroughs in anaerobic digestion of organic biowaste for biogas generation: Challenges towards sustainable development goals, Fuel 358 (2024) 130298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.130298.
11. C. Mao, T. Zhang, X. Wang, Y. Feng, G. Ren, G. Yang, Process performance and methane production optimizing of anaerobic co-digestion of swine manure and corn straw, Sci. Rep. 7 (2017) 9379. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09977-6.
12. K. Karim, R. Hoffmann, K. Thomas Klasson, M.H. Al-Dahhan, Anaerobic digestion of animal waste: Effect of mode of mixing, Water Res. 39 (2005) 3597–3606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2005.06.019.
13. S.A. Gebrezgabher, M.P.M. Meuwissen, B.A.M. Prins, A.G.J.M.O. Lansink, Economic analysis of anaerobic digestion—A case of Green power biogas plant in The Netherlands, NJAS Wageningen J. Life Sci. 57 (2010) 109–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2009.07.006.
14. J.B. Holm-Nielsen, T. Al Seadi, P. Oleskowicz-Popiel, The future of anaerobic digestion and biogas utilization, Bioresour. Technol. 100 (2009) 5478–5484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.12.046.
15. T. Guan, P. Alvfors, G. Lindbergh, Investigation of the prospect of energy self-sufficiency and technical performance of an integrated PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell), dairy farm and biogas plant system, Appl. Energy 130 (2014) 685–691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.04.043.
16. A. Mertins, T. Wawer, How to use biogas?: A systematic review of biogas utilization pathways and business models, Bioresour. Bioprocess. 9 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-022-00545-z.
17. Y. Sayan, Investigation of the effect of a different trapezoidal inclination angle in a reverse trapezoidal cross-section flow channel on the performance of the pem fuel cell with the computational fluid dynamic (cfd) method, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Univ. J. Eng. Sci. 26 (2023) 408–423. https://doi.org/10.17780/ksujes.1180483.
18. Y. Sayan, Investigating the impact of inverted-trapezoidal cross-section flow channels on the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with a parallel flow channel configuration, Renew. Energy 256 (2026) 124001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.124001.
19. L. Pera, M. Gandiglio, P. Marocco, D. Pumiglia, M. Santarelli, Trace contaminants in biogas: Biomass sources, variability and implications for technology applications, J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 12 (2024) 114478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.114478.
20. S.S. Seyitoglu, E. Avcioglu, M.R. Haboglu, Determination of the biogas potential of animal waste and plant location optimisation: A case study, Int. J. Energy Res. 46 (2022) 20324–20338. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.8523.
21. S. Işık, S. Yavuz, Determination of Biomass Energy Potential That Can Be Obtained from Agricultural and Animal Wastes of Konya Province, Türk Doğa ve Fen Derg. 11 (2022). https://doi.org/10.46810/tdfd.1059408.
22. S. Atılğan, A. Yılmaz, Determination of Biogas Potential from Animal Manure in Mardin Province, Eng. Mach. 62 (2021) 429–445. https://doi.org/10.46399/muhendismakina.874857.
23. E. El, Investigation of Biogas Generation Capacity from Animal Manure in Bitlis Province, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilim. Derg. 14 (2025) 1024–1040. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1635391.
24. H. Et Yapılcan, H. Bakırtaş, Determination of biogas potential based on ovine and poultry manure in Aksaray province, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Univ. J. Eng. Sci. 13 (2023) 107–115. https://doi.org/10.28948/ngumuh.1285746.
25. İ. Şentürk, Investigation of the Usability of Manisa Province Livestock Potential for Energy Production, J. Eng. Fac. 2 (2024) 144–151.
26. S. Tırınk, Calculation of Biogas Production Potential of Animal Wastes: Example of Iğdır Province, J. Inst. Sci. Technol. 12 (2022) 152–163. https://doi.org/10.21597/jist.1026987.
27. L. Gazigil, R. Yetiş, A. Demir Yetiş, Sustainable Energy Future: Investigation of Biogas Production with Livestock Waste and Energy Potential, Uludağ Univ. J. Fac. Eng. 30 (2025) 107–122. https://doi.org/10.17482/uumfd.1610402.
28. S. Işık, S. Yavuz, Investigation of biogas production potential from livestock manure by anaerobic digestion in Bingöl province, Türk Doğa ve Fen Derg. 11 (2022). https://doi.org/10.46810/tdfd.1031911.
29. A. [Internet], General information about Zonguldak province;2025 [cited 2025 September 11], (2025).
30. A. [Internet]., Zonguldak civil administration provincial map;2024 [cited 2025 September 11], (n.d.). http://www.zonguldak.gov.tr/cografya.
31. A. [Internet], Address based population registration system results;2024 [cited 2025 September 11]., (2025). http://www.zonguldak.gov.tr/.
32. E. Deniz, G. Yeşilören, N.Ö. İşçi, Biomass and biofuel potential of food industry in Turkey, J. Food 40 (2015) 47–54. https://doi.org/10.15237/gida.GD14037.
33. M.F. Baran, F. Lüle, O. Gökdoğan, Energy potential can be produced by animal waste of Adiyaman province, Turkish J. Agric. Nat. Sci. 4 (2017) 245–249.
34. S. Altikat, A. Çelik, Biogas potential from animal waste of Iğdır province, Iğdır Univ. J. Inst. Sci. Tech 2 (2012) 61–66.
35. H. Nuralan, G. Elden, G. Genç, Investigation of The Biogas and Electric Production Potential and Cost from The Cattle Waste in Kayseri, Dicle Univ. J. Eng. 11 (2020) 1175–1185. https://doi.org/10.24012/dumf.745837.
36. M. Gümüşçü, S. Uyanık, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi hayvansal atıklarından biyogaz ve biyogübre eldesi, Tesisat Mühendisliği (MMO) 16 (2010) 59–65.
37. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Zonguldak Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, “2024 agricultural data,” Zonguldak, Türkiye, data obtained through direct communication, 2024.
38. E. Energy Market Regulatory Authority, Electricity market sector report September 2024 [cited 2025 September 29], (2024). https://www.epdk.gov.tr/Detay/Icerik/5-15713/2024-yili-eylul-ayi-sektor-raporlari.
39. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Türkiye’s Electricity Production and Electricity Consumption Point Emission Factors [cited 2025 October 10], (2025). https://enerji.gov.tr/evced-cevre-ve-iklim-elektrik-uretim-tuketim-emisyon-faktorleri.