Procter and Gamble Technology Process Assessment for Bioenergy Production

Abstract

Procter & Gamble intend to replace much of their current heat and power with renewable energy sources. For 2014, Procter & Gamble's total energy, including electricity, natural gas, and steam, is approximately 1,540,000 MMBTU annually. The biomass and waste around a Procter & Gamble facility can be grouped into six categories: (1) agriculture residue and grass, (2) refuse solid material, (3) food waste, (4) organic waste stream, (5) livestock manure, and (6) wastewater and sludge. The six feedstock sources theoretically can provide a total energy of 3,520,000 MMBTU per year, among which agriculture residue is the biggest fraction with about 67%, followed by livestock manures at 27%. The practical estimation of bioenergy would be about 2,840,000 MMBTU annually. Therefore, the available energy sources around a Procter & Gamble facility are enough to meet their energy needs.These energy feedstocks would be treated by two processes: (1) anaerobic digestion for biogas and, subsequently, for heat and power and (2) thermochemical processes (e.g., combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification) for heat and power. For anaerobic digestion, a one-stage complete mixing digester is preferable; fluidized bed reactors are favorable for the thermochemical process.