Energy Extraction from Horse Manure Biogas plant vs. Heating Plant : A Case Study in Wången

Abstract: Wången is a trotting school located in Alsen region in Mid Sweden. Currently they keep almost 105 horses in their premises, which produce 2 400 m3 of stall waste per year.  Stall waste has always been a concern for those who keep animals, and though composting has been a viable solution to this problem for quite some time, it is no longer the only solution. Stall waste can be converted to energy and there are different techniques and approaches to do so.  In this study the writer compares the viability of two possible techniques (Biogas and heating plant) by collecting data from two existing biogas and heating plant providers for Wången trotting school. The results show that with almost same amount of investment on the reactors, a heating plant can meet 85% of Wången heating demand while Biogas plant could only meet 10 % of Wången’s heating consumption. On the other hand, as a result of nitrogen bound compound existence in horse manure, burning stall waste in the heating plant showed a more acidifying potential compared to the biogas plant.