Thesis
The economics of anaerobic digestion
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2007
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102368
Abstract
This thesis examines the economics of anaerobic digestion technology with specific application to dairy waste management. The economics of digestion technology are considered from both socioeconomic and economic feasibility perspectives. Each perspective is presented as an individual investigation in the second and third chapters of this thesis. These chapters are presented in manuscript format. The second chapter examines attitudes toward the adoption of this conservation technology on dairy farms. To specify an appropriate dependent variable without a large number of adopters, an ordered probit model is constructed. The empirical analysis uses data from a 2006 survey of Northwest dairy farms. In addition to demographic, structural, and economic variables, the roles of stewardship motives and diffusion typology are explored and found to significantly affect willingness to adopt. The findings do not support conventional hypotheses relating to acreage, herd size, or productivity. The focus of the third chapter is on an operational digester in Washington State. Using the first two years of physical and financial data from the operational digester, a base scenario is constructed. The analysis focuses on the impact of developing various co-product markets on the digestion system's feasibility. The co-product markets analyzed include electricity, digested fiber, tipping fees, and carbon credits. The results of the economic analysis show that tipping fees and electricity are key revenue sources for the digester.
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Details
- Title
- The economics of anaerobic digestion
- Creators
- Clark Paul Bishop
- Contributors
- C. Richard Shumway (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Economic Sciences, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525025301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis