Diploma Thesis Defense by Mr Georgios Kostopoulos
Thesis Title: «TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF A BIOGAS UNIT FROM CHEESE WASTE IN THE PREFECTURE OF CHANIA »
Wednesday 24 February 2021, at: 14:00, Venue: https://tuc-gr.zoom.us/j/86291756772?pwd=eFBVdHVZUUFoWmFVTlhONWt2TGN3QT09
Examination Committee
- Associate Professor Stelios Rozakis (advisor)
- Professor Ioannis V. Yentekakis
- Professor Theocharis Tsoutsos
Abstract
This dissertation studies the economic viability of a biogas unit, utilizing dairy units’ wastes as raw material, mainly whey, located on the prefecture of Chania. This unit will be receiving whey, on a daily basis, from dairies of Chania prefecture. Through the process of anaerobic digestion, the wastes will be turned to biogas, including liquid and solid residues. Afterwards, biogas, will be turned to power and heat. Heat will be used for the unit’s needs, while power will be distributed to HEDNO (Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator). All the liquid residues, shall be available to the market, providing income to the unit. Through, the application of the investment evaluation methodology, it will be studied, whether this investment is profitable.
Considering the study of the matter mentioned above, the rapid growth in the RES sector has played a key role, which has benefited so much from technical progress, that it is now possible to produce energy from such sources. Such an RES is biogas, as well. For its production, agricultural and livestock wastes are being used. In this way, the productive utilization of these wastes is succeeded, since the state obliges the producers to manage their wastes, in a special procedure. Referring, to the whole procedure which precedes, up to the production of power, our main goal is to find the percentage of how efficient, such a procedure really is, based on the current situation and some similar assessments, that have been made.
After we looked-up the proper bibliography and did the necessary calculations, we ended up with positive results. The expenses of the investment cost and the incomes from the products for sale - meaning, the electricity generated and the liquid lubrication – were calculated. Then, the Balance Sheet and the Income Statement (CCA) were analyzed and the productiveness, liquidity, efficiency and leverage ratios were calculated, all of whom were, in a period of 5 years, showing an encouraging increase. Finally, the evaluation indicators were calculated, which were rather recompensating for such an investment, making it desirable and profitable.
