This study evaluates the environmental outcomes of integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) with pyrolysis (Py) and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) to treat cattle slurry and grass silage in an Irish agricultural context. A consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) was carried out for six scenarios based on 1 t of feedstock (0.4:0.6 cattle slurry/grass silage on a VS basis): two standalone AD systems (producing bioelectricity and biomethane) and four integrated AD–Py/HTC systems with different product utilisation pathways. Across all impact categories, the integrated systems performed better than standalone AD. This improvement is mainly due to the surplus bioenergy (electricity, biomethane, hydrocarbon fuel, hydrochar) that replaces marginal fossil energy (hard coal, natural gas and heavy fuel oil), together with the displacement of mineral NPK fertilisers by digestate-derived biochar and HTC process water. Among the configurations, the AD–HTC bioelectricity scenario (S4) achieved the best overall performance, driven by higher hydrochar yields, a favourable heating value, and a lower pretreatment energy demand compared with Py-based options. Across the integrated scenarios, climate change, freshwater eutrophication, and fossil depletion impacts were reduced by up to 84%, 86%, and 99%, respectively, relative to the fossil-based reference system, while avoiding digestate and fertiliser application reduced terrestrial acidification by up to 74%. Overall, the results show that the cascading utilisation of digestate via AD–Py/HTC can simultaneously enhance bioenergy production and nutrient recycling, providing a robust pathway for low-emission management of agricultural residues. These findings are directly relevant to Ireland’s renewable energy and circular economy targets and are transferable to other livestock-intensive regions seeking to valorise slurry and grass-based residues as low-carbon energy and biofertiliser resources.
Mediboyina et al. (Tue,) studied this question.