Evaluación económica y ambiental de una planta de biogás a pequeña escala: Caso de estudio en el Valle Chillón, Perú

The economic and environmental assessment of decentralised energy technologies is crucial for sustainable development in rural communities. In this context, an evaluation of financial indicators and a Life Cycle Assessment is carried out for a small-scale biogas plant in the Chillon Valley, Peru. The research uses an experimental and analytical approach, evaluating a 770 litre biodigester, with a useful volume of 640 litres and a hydraulic retention time of 20 days. The daily feed consists of 4 kg of organic matter (70% cow excreta and 30% organic waste), together with 12 litres of water. The average biogas production is around 255 litres/d, generating 14 litres/d of biofertiliser. From an economic perspective, the initial investment in the system was $2,030 USD, resulting in a Payback Period (payback period) of 2.67 years, evidencing its rapid payback. The Life Cycle Assessment, according to ISO 14040 and 14044, compared the environmental impact of biogas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and firewood in cooking food. The results showed that biogas reduces by 1.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of waste treated and reduces by 23% the formation of particulate matter (PM2.5), thus improving air quality and human health. The biogas plant in the Chillon Valley represents a sustainable alternative that could be expanded in rural areas, promoting energy independence both in Peru and globally, offering an efficient, economically and environmentally viable solution that contributes to an energy transition through a circular economy model.