Renewable Fuel Production from Biogas and Carbon Dioxide: A Sustainability and Resilience Framework Analysis

Abstract

The global transition to renewable energy requires innovative approaches to address climate change while ensuring energy security. This study examines renewable fuel production using biogas from organic waste and carbon dioxide from industrial emissions as feedstocks, evaluating their contributions to sustainability and resilience through two distinct case studies. The Michigan State University South Campus Anaerobic Digester (SCAD) processes approximately 22,000 metric tons of organic waste annually, generating 300-500 kW of electricity while reducing methane emissions and producing nutrient-rich digestate for agricultural applications. Twelve Technologies' sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility in Moses Lake, Washington, employs electrochemical carbon transformation to convert captured CO₂ into jet fuel, achieving up to 90% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional aviation fuel. Through comparative analysis, this research demonstrates that both systems contribute significantly to circular economy principles through waste-to-resource conversion, greenhouse gas mitigation, and economic benefits. SCAD exemplifies localized energy solutions with educational outreach and community engagement, processing diverse feedstocks including dairy manure (52% by 2016) and fats, oils, and grease (23%). Twelve addresses aviation sector decarbonization through advanced Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, targeting initial production of 40,000 gallons annually with plans for tenfold expansion. The findings underscore the importance of policy support, technological advancement, and stakeholder collaboration in overcoming scalability and cost competitiveness challenges. This study provides empirical evidence for designing and implementing renewable energy projects that enhance both environmental sustainability and system resilience.