Ability for generating electricity at the La Totora wastewater treatment plant

Abstract

The aim was to determine the potential for generating electricity from biogas produced at the La Totora wastewater treatment plant in Ayacucho, 2024–2026. The study focused on urban wastewater generated in the city of Huamanga; to determine this potential, four quantification methods were used: the amount of volatile solids, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), the population served, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5). These values were averaged to determine the potential for electricity generation, and the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that could be avoided was also quantified. The result was that the average biogas produced by the plant was 3,554.42 m³/day; the electricity generation potential of the biogas produced by the plant was 23,034.42 kWh/day, and the total reduction in greenhouse gases at the plant was 20,778.23 tCO₂eq/year (92.73%). A procedure was developed to determine the potential for electricity generation from the biogas produced at the La Totora wastewater treatment plant, as well as the resulting reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It is recommended that, for wastewater treatment facilities to be implemented in Huamanga and other locations in the country, the use of biogas should be an initial consideration, with the aim of diversifying the energy mix.