/EW4_wk1_Tarrisse

Biogas from Opuntia A cheap renewable source of Methane from uncultivable land in the Mediterranean Basin Axel Tarrisse 2012

Problems • Arable land 10% of emerged land area • World is trying to produce food, feed, fiber, fuel from these 10% arable land.

• 26% of emerged land area covered by forests under pressure for fuel, fiber, food • Biomass only source carbon hydrates capable of replacing hydrocarbons

Axel Tarrisse 2012

Solutions • Producing biomass: – On non-arable, drought affected land – Highly Water/Fertilizer Use Efficient – High yielding – Easily digested and turned into Methane – 2-3 times cheaper to produce then conventional crops

Axel Tarrisse 2012

The potential of Opuntia Biomass for energy production in semi-arid areas • 100 to 400 tons of biomass/ha/year • 1 ton Opuntia biomass = 50-60 m3 of biogas = 250-360 kWh of gas • 30 000 to 140 000 kWh per ha • 2,5-12 toe/ha/yr • High efficiency in water & fertilizer use

Source: Axel Tarrisse (SA)

Axel Tarrisse 2012

Reduced risk for farmers of crop failure due to high drought tolerance • No competition with food crops on arable land as it can grow on degraded land.

Axel Tarrisse 2012

Source: Axel Tarrisse (Urfa TR; Al Ain UAE)

Rehabilitation of marginal lands

Axel Tarrisse 2012

Source: A. Tarrisse (South Africa); H.N. Le HouĂŠrou (Algeria)

A good valorization of scarce water sources

Source:; Google earth; Axel Tarrisse (Urfa, TR & SA)

Axel Tarrisse 2012

Generating Secure Employment Opportunities • 15 to 20 permanent jobs per 1MW unit • 1 permanent job per 100 toe produced/yr • Investment: 75-100k€/job created

Source: Axel Tarrisse (SA)

Axel Tarrisse 2012

Axel Tarrisse 2012