EUBCE 2024 - Lara CARVALHO - Environmental and Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC) Applied in Horse Stables

Environmental and Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC) Applied in Horse Stables

Short Introductive summary

Sustainable waste management is a crucial components of a circular economy, where waste materials are transformed into valuable resources. Implementing sustainable waste management practices, such as the utilisation of horse manure for nutrient and energy recovery is not only beneficial for the environment, but also for the soil, which is currently facing significant threats such as erosion, nutrient depletion, and pollution. Moreover, the production of synthetic fertilisers, which are widely used to compensate for the loss of nutrients in degraded soils, is resource-intensive and results in significant greenhouse gas emissions [4]. Horse manure is a valuable source of plant nutrients, energy, and humus-forming substances that could play an essential role in recovering the soil and reducing the dependence on synthetic fertilisers. However it is often considered a cost for horse owners. The present study aims at investigating the environment and techno-economic impact of integrating hydrothermal carbonisation to transform horse manure mixed with bedding material into hydrochar that can provide an additional source of income to horse owners.

L. Carvalho, Mälardalen University, Västerås, SWEDEN
Y. Jani, Mälardalen University, Västerås, SWEDEN
S. Schwede, Mälardalen University, Västerås, SWEDEN