Exploration of Organic Waste to Energy at the Spy Hill Campus

Overview:  

The Spy Hill Campus at the University of Calgary owns a fully operational organic waste composting facility with 800 tons/year capacity. This project aims to manage the organic waste generated by the animal farm located on campus, including animal manure. The primary reason for identifying potential uses of compost would enhance economic, environmental and energy benefits. It has been identified from this project that an anaerobic digester is an option because energy production is possible besides maintaining zero emissions. Generating 3.41 kWh/year of electricity from 1 kg of waste is possible. Also, other options, i.e. moving compost to WA Ranch or the university's main campus, can save a significant amount of fertilizer cost, which is financially and environmentally profitable. Thus, by implementing the fertilizer management strategy, this research addresses SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. 

Outcomes:  

Publication 

Mondal, M. S. A. (2023). Sustainable Management of the Organic Waste at the Spy Hill Campus (Unpublished master's project). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/42358  

Next Steps:  

UCalgary is developing an Action Plan to continue the momentum of sustainable campus impacts conceptualized in the 2016 Institutional Sustainability Strategy. There are likely to be opportunities to design and implement technology (such as anaerobic digesters) within capital projects.