ASSESMENT OF THE BIOGAS POTENTIAL  OF LIVESTOCK WASTE in THE LENINGRAD REGION

Biogas technologies have become widespread in the world because of their relative simplicity, low cost, and possibility to obtain valuable energy consumption as well as compost (valuable fertilizer) as a byproduct. The paper estimates the biogas potential of livestock and poultry waste in the Leningrad region and assesses the prospects to use biogas in energy production. Results of the calculations are presented using the technology of geographic information systems (GIS). GIS allow visualizing the spatial distribution of the biogas potential throughout the region and creating thematic maps in the GIS environment for the regional biogas potential. These maps help identify areas which could be considered as the most prospective to site biogas plants.