Feasibility study on biogas production potential from Iran's rural biomass sources.

Rising fossil energy prices and waste disposal costs , coupled with an increased sense of environmental responsibility, is driving a market for renewable energy. The use of waste products as an energy source will reduce depen dence on traditional source of energy and reduce or eliminate environmental concerns associated with waste management. In r ural areas anaerobic digestion is a potential way in which the Rural Management Organization (Dehyari) can work together with agricultural sector to address broad issues such as waste management, pollution control, energy self-s ufficiency and climate change. The purpose of present paper is the feasibi lity study on biogas production potential from Iran ’s rural Biomass sources. The potential for biogas production from a nimal manure in Iran’s rural areas is 11195 million cubic meter from 63446021 animals annually. Another biomass source is organic part of solid waste. The findings indicat e that the potential for biogas production from organic wastes is 487 mi llion cubic meter from 1249 thousand tons per year.