Opportunities for biogas plants in Emilia Romagna region : energetic and environmental analysis

Italy experienced a proliferation of biogas energy plants. In Northern Italy the number of plants has grown incredibly and in Emilia Romagna bioenergy production caused repulsion of locals and incompatibility with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese chain production. This thesis analyses the impacts of biogas development in Emilia Romagna region from a social, energetic and environmental perspective by direct depositions of operators, farmers and owners working in biogas energy production context. The study compares biogas production by using cattle manure and energy crops by taking into account all the corn cultivation process stages, transportation and digestate post-treatment in order to highlight biogas plant impact in terms of CO2 emissions and primary energy consumption. Ten plants in Reggio Emilia, Modena and Piacenza province were investigated and analysed.