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With the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, New Zealand must reduce its national greenhouse gas emissions. As New Zealand has a large proportion of its national emissions as methane (~31%), and methane (CH4) has a short atmospheric lifetime, it provides a good target for mitigation strategies. The initial aim of this research was to identify high and low CH4-emitting cattle to assess factors that contribute to low CH4 production. Initial studies using the SF6 tracer technique to estimate CH4 production could not identify consistently high and low CH4 emitters. Research was therefore undertaken to confirm whether this was due to high variation in estimated CH4 yields, and to quantify the within- and between-animal variation in CH4 production when using the SF6 technique. This research showed considerable within- (coefficient of variation, CV = 7-10%) and between-animal (CV = 7-18%) variation in CH4 yield (g CH4/kg DMI) over time when using the SF6 technique. This is larger than the within- (CV = 3%) and between-animal (CV = 10%) variation reported for calorimetry. This led to the recommendation that the SF6 technique not be used in identifying animals for high or low CH4 yield. A power analysis was developed based on the measured variances for the SF6 technique. Results from this analysis provide researchers with important information on the number of animals and measurements per animal required when undertaking CH4 experiments. One of the sources of variation with the SF6 technique is the SF6 release from permeation tubes. Estimated CH4 yield increases by approximately 8.5% when going from a release rate of 3 mg SF6/day to a rate of 5 mg SF6/day. Further, an in vitro study indicated that SF6 release from permeation tubes is approximately 8% lower in rumen fluid than in air. While further research is required to confirm these results, they emphasise the need to allow time for the release rate to stabilise in the rumen for 4-5 days prior to undertaking measurements. It also led to the recommendation that release rates used in experiments should be within a narrow range, and balanced across experimental treatments.

Mathematical modeling in animal agriculture can be applied at various levels including at the tissue, organ, animal, farm, regional and global levels. The purposes of this research were i) to evaluate models used to estimate volatile fatty acid (VFA) and methane (CH4) production and assess their impact on regional enteric CH4 inventory, and ii) to develop a process-based, whole-farm model to estimate net farm GHG emissions. In the first study, four VFA stoichiometric models were evaluated for their prediction accuracy of rumen VFA and enteric CH4 production. Comparison of measured and model predicted values demonstrated that predictive capacity of the VFA models varied with respect to the type of VFA in rumen fluid which impacted estimated enteric CH4 production. Moving to a larger scale assessment, we examined the enteric CH4 inventory from Manitoba beef cattle (from 1990 to 2008) using two mechanistic rumen models that incorporate VFA stoichiometric models: COWPOLL and MOLLY, and two empirical models: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 and a nonlinear equation (Ellis). The estimated absolute enteric CH4 production varied among models (7 to 63%) indicating that estimates of GHG inventory depend on model selection. This is an important consideration if the values are to be used for management and/or policy-related decisions. Development of models at the individual farm component level (animal, soil, crop) does not accurately reflect net GHG emissions generated from the whole production system. We developed a process-based, whole-farm model (Integrated Components Model, ICM), using the existing farm component models COWPOLL, manure-DNDC and some aspects of IPCC to integrate farm components and their associated GHG emissions. Estimates of total farm GHG emissions and their relative contribution using the ICM were comparable to estimates using two other whole-farm models (Integrated Farm System Model and Holos model). Variation was observed among models both in estimating whole-farm GHG emissions and the relative contribution of the different sources in the production system. Overall, whole-farm models are required to explore management options that will mitigate GHG emissions and promote best management practices. However, for full assessment of the production system, other benefits of the system (e.g., carbon sequestration, ecosystem services), which are not part of current whole-farm models, must be considered.

Mathematical modeling in animal agriculture can be applied at various levels including at the tissue, organ, animal, farm, regional and global levels. The purposes of this research were i) to evaluate models used to estimate volatile fatty acid (VFA) and methane (CH4) production and assess their impact on regional enteric CH4 inventory, and ii) to develop a process-based, whole-farm model to estimate net farm GHG emissions. In the first study, four VFA stoichiometric models were evaluated for their prediction accuracy of rumen VFA and enteric CH4 production. Comparison of measured and model predicted values demonstrated that predictive capacity of the VFA models varied with respect to the type of VFA in rumen fluid which impacted estimated enteric CH4 production. Moving to a larger scale assessment, we examined the enteric CH4 inventory from Manitoba beef cattle (from 1990 to 2008) using two mechanistic rumen models that incorporate VFA stoichiometric models: COWPOLL and MOLLY, and two empirical models: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 and a nonlinear equation (Ellis). The estimated absolute enteric CH4 production varied among models (7 to 63%) indicating that estimates of GHG inventory depend on model selection. This is an important consideration if the values are to be used for management and/or policy-related decisions. Development of models at the individual farm component level (animal, soil, crop) does not accurately reflect net GHG emissions generated from the whole production system. We developed a process-based, whole-farm model (Integrated Components Model, ICM), using the existing farm component models COWPOLL, manure-DNDC and some aspects of IPCC to integrate farm components and their associated GHG emissions. Estimates of total farm GHG emissions and their relative contribution using the ICM were comparable to estimates using two other whole-farm models (Integrated Farm System Model and Holos model). Variation was observed among models both in estimating whole-farm GHG emissions and the relative contribution of the different sources in the production system. Overall, whole-farm models are required to explore management options that will mitigate GHG emissions and promote best management practices. However, for full assessment of the production system, other benefits of the system (e.g., carbon sequestration, ecosystem services), which are not part of current whole-farm models, must be considered.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Ultra-lean methane combustion in porous burners is investigated by means of a pilot-scale demonstration of the technology supported by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling study. The suitability of porous burners as a lean-burn technology for the mitigation of methane emissions is also evaluated. Methane constitutes 14.3% of total global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The mitigation of these emissions could have a significant near-term effect on slowing global warming, and recovering and burning the methane would allow a wasted energy resource to be exploited. The typically low and fluctuating energy content of the emission streams makes combustion difficult; however porous burners—an advanced combustion technology capable of burning low-calorific value fuels below the conventional flammability limit—are a possible mitigation solution. A pilot-scale porous burner is designed expressly for the purpose of ultra-lean methane combustion. The burner comprises a cylindrical combustion chamber filled with a porous bed of alumina saddles, combined with an arrangement of heat exchanger tubes for preheating the incoming methane/air mixture. A CFD model is developed to aid in the design process. Results illustrating the operating range and behaviour of the burner are presented. Running on natural gas, the stable lean flammability limit of the system is 2.3 vol%, a considerable extension of the conventional lean limit of 4.3 vol%; operating in the transient combustion regime allows the lean limit to be reduced further still, to 1.1 vol%. The heat exchanger arrangement is found to be effective; preheat temperatures of up to 800K are recorded. Emissions of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons are negligible. The process appears stable to fluctuations in fuel concentration and flow rate, typically taking several hours to react to any changes. A CFD model of the porous burner is developed based on the commercial CFD code ANSYS CFX 12.0. The burner is modelled as a single 1-dimensional porous domain. Pressure loss due to the presence of the porous solid is accounted for using an isotropic loss model. Separate energy equations for the gas and solid phases are applied. Models for conductive heat transfer within the solid phase, and for convective heat transport between the gas and solid phases, are added. Combustion is modelled using a finite rate chemistry model; a skeletal mechanism for ultra-lean methane combustion is developed and incorporated into the model to describe the combustion reaction. Results from the model are presented and validated against experimental data; the model correctly predicts the main features of burner behaviour. Porous burners are found to show potential as a methane mitigation technology.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Ultra-lean methane combustion in porous burners is investigated by means of a pilot-scale demonstration of the technology supported by a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling study. The suitability of porous burners as a lean-burn technology for the mitigation of methane emissions is also evaluated. Methane constitutes 14.3% of total global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The mitigation of these emissions could have a significant near-term effect on slowing global warming, and recovering and burning the methane would allow a wasted energy resource to be exploited. The typically low and fluctuating energy content of the emission streams makes combustion difficult; however porous burners—an advanced combustion technology capable of burning low-calorific value fuels below the conventional flammability limit—are a possible mitigation solution. A pilot-scale porous burner is designed expressly for the purpose of ultra-lean methane combustion. The burner comprises a cylindrical combustion chamber filled with a porous bed of alumina saddles, combined with an arrangement of heat exchanger tubes for preheating the incoming methane/air mixture. A CFD model is developed to aid in the design process. Results illustrating the operating range and behaviour of the burner are presented. Running on natural gas, the stable lean flammability limit of the system is 2.3 vol%, a considerable extension of the conventional lean limit of 4.3 vol%; operating in the transient combustion regime allows the lean limit to be reduced further still, to 1.1 vol%. The heat exchanger arrangement is found to be effective; preheat temperatures of up to 800K are recorded. Emissions of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons are negligible. The process appears stable to fluctuations in fuel concentration and flow rate, typically taking several hours to react to any changes. A CFD model of the porous burner is developed based on the commercial CFD code ANSYS CFX 12.0. The burner is modelled as a single 1-dimensional porous domain. Pressure loss due to the presence of the porous solid is accounted for using an isotropic loss model. Separate energy equations for the gas and solid phases are applied. Models for conductive heat transfer within the solid phase, and for convective heat transport between the gas and solid phases, are added. Combustion is modelled using a finite rate chemistry model; a skeletal mechanism for ultra-lean methane combustion is developed and incorporated into the model to describe the combustion reaction. Results from the model are presented and validated against experimental data; the model correctly predicts the main features of burner behaviour. Porous burners are found to show potential as a methane mitigation technology.

Tesis por compendio / [EN] The main objective of this Thesis was to study the energy metabolism in small ruminants under different nutrition sceneries. As methodology we utilized indirect calorimetry instead of direct calorimetry or feeding trials. Within indirect calorimetry we worked with a portable open circuit gas exchange system with a head hood. This open circuit respiration system permitted completed the whole energy balance and evaluate the efficiency of utilization of the energy of the diet for different physiological circumstances as milk production in dairy goats or maintenance in sheep. Besides, we could quantify in each trial some of the wastes related to environmental pollution as CH4 emissions and excretion of nitrogen in feces and urine. In this thesis three experiments were designed, two in dairy goats and other in sheep as we described below. In the first experiment, digestibility, energy balance, carbon and nitrogen balance, milk performance, rumen parameters and milk fatty acids and metabolites were obtained. Metabolic cages and open circuit indirect calorimetry system were the methods applied. Treatments consist in two mixed diets with alfalfa as forage. Within the concentrate, oat grain was replaced with rice bran. No significant differences were found for metabolizable energy intake (MEI), 1254kJ/kg of BW0.75 on average, and heat production (HP); 640 kJ/kg of BW0.75 on average. No differences were obtained for milk production (2.2 kg/d on average) and milk fat was greater in the rice bran diet (6.9% vs. 5.3% for rice bran and oat diets, respectively). Energy balance was positive and milk metabolites correlated these found. Regards to CH4 emissions, determined in vivo by gas exchange indirect calorimetry, goats fed the rice bran significantly reduced methane production (23.2 g/d vs 30.1 g/d). In the second experiment, we also used two types of diets, but in this case we substituted the forage and maintained the same concentrate; in one of the diets a grass (Maralfafa [Pennisetum sp.]- M diet) was used as forage and in the other an extensively used leguminous (Alfalfa [Medicago sativa]- A diet). Methods and analysis were the same that in Experiment 1, and here we include metabolites in urine and blood plasma. The dry matter intake was higher for diet A (1.8 vs 1.6 kg/d, respectively) and digestibility coefficients were higher for diet M. However, no significant differences were shown in MEI (1089 kJ/kg of BW0.75, on average) and HP (639 kJ/kg of BW0.75on average). Higher milk yield was observed in A diet than M diet (1.8 vs. 1.7 kg/d, respectively) and metabolites in urine, plasma and milk indicated better use of diet A than M, while no differences in milk composition were found (5% of fat and 4.3% of protein). Methane production was higher for A diet (28.5 g/d) than M diet (25.9 g/d), although these differences were not statistically significant. In the third experiment, energy partition was compared in two sheep breeds (Manchega vs. Guirra) fed above maintenance. We fed again with mixed diets and metabolic cages, indirect calorimetry, nitrogen balance and integral calculus were the tools used for these energy partitioning approach. An approximation of division of heat production was done. ME for maintenence was estimated at 354 kJ/kg of BW0.75and day, on average for the two breeds. Basal metabolic rate was different between breeds; 270 vs. 247 kJ/kg of BW0.75for Guirra and Manchega, respectively. / [ES] El objetivo principal de esta tesis fue estudiar el metabolismo energético en pequeños rumiantes bajo diferentes escenarios de nutrición. Como metodología se utilizó la calorimetría indirecta en vez de calorimetría directa o pruebas de alimentación. Dentro de la calorimetría indirecta trabajamos con un sistema portátil de circuito abierto de intercambio de gases con una "urna" (Heat hood). Este sistema de circuito abierto de respiración nos permitió completar todo el balance energético y evaluar la eficiencia de la utilización de la energía de la dieta para diferentes estados fisiológicos como producción de leche en cabras u oveja en mantenimiento. Además fue posible cuantificar en cada ensayo algunas perdidas relacionadas con la contaminación ambiental como emisiones de CH4 y la excreción de nitrógeno en heces y orina. En esta tesis se diseñaron tres experimentos, dos en cabras en lactación y otro en ovejas como describimos a continuación. En el primer experimento se han determinado, digestibilidad, balance energético, balance carbono nitrógeno, producción de leche, parámetros ruminales, ácidos grasos y metabolitos en leche. Jaulas metabólicas y un sistema de circuito abierto de calorimetría indirecta fue el método aplicado. Los tratamientos consistieron en dos dietas mixtas con alfalfa como forraje y dentro del concentrado el grano de avena fue reemplazado por cilindro de arroz. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la energía metabolizable ingerida (MEI) de 1254 kJ/kg PV0.75 en promedio y una producción de calor (HP) de 640 kJ/kg PV0.75 en promedio. La producción de leche no presentó diferencias significativas entre las dos dietas, (2,2 kg/den promedio), la grasa de la leche fue mayor en la dieta de cilindro de arroz (6,9% vs. 5,3% para cilindro de arroz y avena respectivamente). El balance energético fue positivo y correlacionado a los metabolitos en leche determinados. En cuanto a las emisiones de CH4, determinadas en vivo mediante el intercambio de gases por calorimetría indirecta, las cabras alimentadas con el subproducto redujeron significativamente la producción de metano (23,2 g / d vs 30,1 g / d.). En el segundo experimento, también utilizamos dos tipos de dietas, pero en este caso sustituimos los forrajes y mantuvimos el mismo pienso; en una de las dietas se utilizó como forraje una gramínea (Maralfafa [Pennisetum sp.] - dieta M) y en el otro una leguminosa de uso extendido (Alfalfa [Medicago sativa] - dieta A). Los métodos de análisis y análisis fueron los mismos que los utilizados en el Experimento 1, y se incluyeron además análisis de metabolitos en orina y plasma. La materia seca ingerida fue mayor para dieta A (1,8 vs 1,6 kg/d, respectivamente), los coeficientes de digestibilidad fueron mayores para la dieta M. Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en MEI (1089 kJ/kg PV0.75, en promedio) y HP 639 kJ/kg PV0.75, en promedio). La producción de leche fue mayor en la dieta A que la dieta M, (1,8 vs. 1,7 kg/d, respectively) y los metabolitos en orina, plasma y leche indican un mejor aprovechamiento de la dieta A. No se presentaron diferencias en la composición de la leche (5% de grasa and 4.3% de proteína). La producción de metano fue mayor para la dieta A (28,5 g/d) que para la dieta M (25,9 g/d), aunque estas diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas. En el tercer experimento se compararon la partición energética en dos razas de ovejas (Manchega vs. Guirra) en mantenimiento. Fueron alimentadas con dietas mixtas en jaulas metabólicas, calorimetría indirecta, balance carbono nitrógeno y cálculos integrales fueron las herramientas utilizadas para un aproximación de la partición energética. Se realizó una aproximación de división de producción de calor. El ME para mantenimiento se estimó en 354 kJ/kg PV0.75/ día, en promedio para las dos razas. Las diferencias en la tasa metabólica basal entre las razas fu / [CA] El principal objectiu d'aquesta tesi va ser estudiar el metabolism energètic en xicotets ruminants baix diferents escenaris de nutrició. Com a metodologia es va utilitzar la calorimetria indirecta en compte de calorimetria directa o proves d'alimentació. Dins de la calorimetria indirecta treballarem amb un sistema portatil de circuit obert d'intercanvi de gasos amb "urna" (Heat hood). Aquest sistema de respiració de circuit obert ens va permetre completar tot el balanç energètic i avaluar l'eficiència de la utilització de l'energia de la dieta per a diferents circumstàncies fisiològiques com produccion de llet en cabres o manteniment en ovelles. A més va ser possible quantificar en cada assaig algunes perdues relacionades amb la contaminacion ambiental com a emissions de CH4 i l'excreció de nitrogen en femta i orina. En aquesta tesi es van dissenyar tres experiments, dos en cabres en lactación i un altre en ovelles com vam descriure a continuació. En el primer experiment s'han determinat,digestibilidad, balanç energètic, balanç carboni nitrogen, producció de llet, paràmetres ruminales, àcids grassos i metabòlits en llet. Gàbies metabòliques i un sistema de circuit obert de calorimetria indirecta va ser el mètode aplicat. Els tractaments van consistir en dues dietes mixtes amb alfals com a farratge i dins del concentrat el gra de civada va ser reemplaçat per cilindre d'arròs. No es van trobar diferències significatives en l'energia metabolizable ingerida (MEI) de 1254 kJ/kg PV0.75 en mitjana i una producció de calor (HP) de 640 kJ/kg PV0.75 en mitjana. La producció de llet no va presentar diferències significatives entre les dues dietes, (2.2 kg/donen mitjana), el greix de la llet va ser major en la dieta de cilindre d'arròs (6.9% vs. 5.3% per a cilindre d'arròs i civada respectivament). El balanç energètic va ser positiu i correlacionat als metabòlits en llet determinats. Quant a les emissions de CH4, determinades en viu mitjançant l'intercanvi de gasos per calorimetria indirecta, les cabres alimentades amb el subproducte van reduir significativament la producció de metà (23.2 g / d vs 30.1 g / d.).En el segon experiment, també utilitzem dos tipus de dietes, però en aquest cas substituïm els farratges i vam mantenir el mateix pinso; en una de les dietes es va utilitzar com a farratge una gramínea (Maralfafa [Pennisetum sp.] - dieta M) i en l'altre una **leguminosa d'ús estès (Alfals [Medicago sativa] - dieta A). Els mètodes d'anàlisis i anàlisis van ser els mateixos que els utilitzats en l'Experiment 1, i es van incloure a més anàlisi de metabòlits en orina i plasma. La matèria seca ingerida va ser major per a dieta A (1,8 vs 1,6 kg/d, respectivament), els coeficients de digestibilidad van ser majors per a la dieta M. No obstant açò no es van trobar diferències significatives en MEI (1089 kJ/kg PV0.75, en mitjana) i HP 639 kJ/kg PV0.75, en mitjana). La producció de llet va ser major en la dieta Al fet que la dieta M, (1,8 vs. 1,7 kg/d, respectively) i els metabòlits en orina, plasma i llet indiquen un millor aprofitament de la dieta A. No es van presentar diferències en la composició de la llet (5% de greix i 4.3% de proteïna). La producció de metà va ser major per a la dieta A (28,5 g/d) que per a la dieta M (25,9 g/d), encara que aquestes diferències no van anar estadísticament significatives. En el tercer experiment es van comparar la partició energètica en dues races d'ovelles (Manxega vs. Guirra) en manteniment. Van ser alimentades amb dietes mixtes en gàbies metabòliques, calorimetria indirecta, balanç carboni nitrogen i càlculs integrals van ser les eines utilitzades per a un aproximació de la partició energètica. Es va realitzar una aproximació de divisió de producció de calor. L'EM para manteniment es va estimar en 354 kJ/kg PV0.75 / dia, en mitjana per a les dues races. Les diferències en la taxa metabòlica basal entre les races va ser de 2 / Criscioni Ferreira, PF. (2016). Application of an open circuit indirect calorimetry system for gaseous exchange measurements in small ruminant nutrition [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/64069 / Compendio

Para a maioria dos municípios brasileiros, a instalação de um aterro sanitário é um desafio, sendo uma das dificuldades o custo elevado. Existem algumas formas de mitigar estes custos e uma delas é através do mercado de emissões. Com planejamento prévio suficiente, é possível queimar o metano gerado através da degradação do resíduo, podendo resultar em benefícios para o aterro tanto através do aproveitamento (geração de energia ou venda direta) quanto recebimento de algum tipo de certificado de emissões negociável. Incluído neste planejamento prévio suficiente está a realização da estimativa ex-ante de emissão de metano para saber previamente qual será o aproveitamento mais indicado e a eventual receita oriunda da queima. Quando analisados os projetos de MDL feitos em aterros sanitários, pode ser notado que estas estimativas são muitas vezes mal feitas, gerando valores estimados muito acima do realmente observado durante a operação. Este erro acarreta uma perda de credibilidade deste tipo de projeto, já que o número esperado é raramente alcançado. Existem alguns fatores que contribuem para esta discrepância de valores, sendo problemas operacionais (como exemplo podem ser citados deficiência no sistema de captura do biogás e problemas na captação e recirculação de lixiviado) e de modelagem (utilização de valores de entrada experimentais obtidos sob situações muito diferentes das encontradas nos aterros brasileiros, por exemplo) os possíveis principais vilões. Este trabalho visa apresentar e discutir os principais problemas na realização de estimativas prévias de emissão de metano em aterros sanitários utilizando projetos brasileiros de MDL registrados e que estejam atualmente emitindo créditos de carbono como base para analisar a qualidade das estimativas feitas atualmente. Além disto, busca-se também entrevistar profissionais da área para tentar obter diferentes pontos de vista sobre esta questão. Fica claro que os valores estimados, de um modo geral, são entre 40 e 50% superiores aos observados. Metade dos especialistas aponta problemas operacionais diversos como os principais contribuintes desta diferença, mas problemas na modelagem parecem influenciar decisivamente na realização das estimativas. A utilização de valores de entrada no modelo precisa ser criteriosamente analisada e devem ser utilizados números obtidos através de pesquisas que representem a realidade do aterro em questão. / Most of the Brazilian municipalities find the installation of a Solid Waste Disposal Site a challenge due to the high investment needed. There are some ways to mitigate these costs, including emissions trading. With previous planning, it is possible to burn the methane produced by the decomposition of the waste, resulting in benefits for the landfill by either the simple use of the gas (generating electricity or directly selling the gas) or the revenues from negotiations of emissions certificates. Included in previous planning is the ex-ante estimation of the methane produced by the landfill in order to know beforehand how to make the best use of the biogas and the amount of revenues that can be obtained from this use. When the CDM projects developed in landfills are analyzed, it can be noticed that these estimations generally are poorly made, resulting in estimated values far above the real methane production. This mistake results in a credibility loss by this type of project, since the expected number is rarely achieved. There are some factors that contribute to this difference in values, being operational problems (such as deficiency in the biogas capture and problems in the collection and recirculation of the leachate) and modeling problems (such as the use of input values obtained from experiments in laboratories under different situations from the ones found in Brazilian landfills) the major issues. The present work aims to present and discuss the main problems in estimating ex-ante the methane produced by landfills, using Brazilian CDM projects that are registered and issuing carbon credits as sources to analyze the quality of estimations currently being made. Additionally, experts in landfills and estimations are interviewed in order to obtain different points of view. It is clear that the estimated values, in general, are between 40 and 50% higher than observed during the operation of the landfill. Half of the experts point operational problems as the main contributors, however modeling problems seems to have a decisive influence in estimations. The use of input values must be carefully analyzed and must be used numbers obtained through researches that represent the reality of the landfill in question.

Models showing the anthropogenic and natural flows of two sustainability indicators; carbon based GHG and energy (as work energy) have been made for the Swedish region Jämtland. The methodology used was inspired by the study sustainability analysis conducted on the small Danish island Samsø using the above two indicators. The aim was to upscale the methodology used for Samsø and make necessary adaptations for Jämtland in order to be able to evaluate sustainability in terms of global warming. We also wanted to study the linkages between research, education and regional sustainability initiatives. Working at a regional level has advantages compared to working at a national or global level, as socio-ecological processes can be covered more extensively to reach a deeper understanding of practical aspects. In parallel to this we have also been participating in local and regional sustainability activities to increase our understanding of practical approaches and human behaviour. Studies of the energy flows in Jämtland show that 46,000 TJ (88% renewable) flows into the region and about 31,000 TJ is exported. The remaining 15,000 TJ (63% renewable) drives ‘the machine Jämtland’. Added to this is about 4000TJ as matter. The total global warming potential (GWP20) impact of Jämtland (as carbon dioxide equivalents, CO 2eq ) indicating influence on the global mean temperature as radiative forcing) is an annual uptake of 2.4 Mton. The total regional emissions, as CO 2eq, from anthropogenic activities, including consumption, are 1500 kton. The region has large emissions of methane, 80kton (6700 kton CO 2eq ), mainly from mires, lakes and animals but also large uptakes of CO2 from assimilation in woody biomass. Jämtland can be regarded as relatively sustainable from several perspectives, but taking the large forests and a population of only 127,000 inhabitants into consideration, the total uptake of CO 2eq is not very large and of the 15,000 TJ driving Jämtland, 37% comes from non-renewable sources. From a national (and global) perspective Jämtland needs to perform better, in view of its considerable reserves of natural resources. How to increase long-term sustainability in the region is a complex issue that requires penetration from many perspectives. Modelling results presented here needs to be interpreted in a broader sustainability context, together with regional stakeholders, to serve as a base for future knowledge development and sustainability activities. / Två modeller har utvecklats för att studera antropogena och naturliga flöden av energi (exergi) och kolbaserade växthusgasflöden i Jämtland. Metodiken har inspirerats av en metodik för att göra hållbarhetsanalyser som genomförts för den lilla danska ön Samsø utifrån dessa båda indikatorer. Att arbeta på regional nivå har fördelar gentemot att arbeta på en nationell eller global nivå eftersom man har större möjligheter att gå ned på djupet både gällande samhälleliga processer och ekologiska processer. Kopplingen mellan siffror och faktiska skeenden blir tydligare. Parallellt med arbetet med de regionala modellerna har vi också deltagit i lokalt och regionalt arbete för att förståelsen omkring praktiska angreppssätt och mänskligt beteende. Studien av energiflöden i Jämtland visar att 46.000 TJ (varav 88% förnyelsebart) flödar in i regionen och 31.000 TJ exporteras ut och att resterande 15.000 TJ (varav 63% förnyelsebart) driver maskineriet Jämtland. Till detta kommer omkring 4000 TJ i form av material. Den totala GWP20-påverkan från Jämtland är ’kylande’ och motsvarar ett upptag av koldioxid-ekvivalenter årligen på 2.4 Mton, vilket ungefär motsvarar emissionen från225.000 genomsnittssvenskar. De totala antropogena emissionerna av CO 2eq , inklusive konsumtion, är 1500 kton. Regionen uppvisar betydande emissioner av metan, 80 kton (motsvarande 6700 kton CO 2eq ) från sjöar, myrar och våtmarker samt djur. Jämtland kan ur flera perspektiv betraktas som relativt hållbart, men tar man de enorma skogsarealerna och den i ett internationellt perspektiv blygsamma befolkningen på 127 000 personer i beaktande är hållbarheten mindre övertygande. Vidare är 37% av den energi som driver Jämtland faktiskt icke-förnyelsebar. Sett ur ett globalt perspektiv och med hänvisning till Jämtlands enorma naturresurser behöver Jämtland prestera bättre. Hur man skall kunna öka den långsiktiga hållbarheten är en komplex fråga som kräver belysning från flera olika perspektiv. Resultat som de som presenteras här måste tolkas tillsammans med regionala intressenter i ett bredare hållbarhetssammanhang för att kunna utarbeta lämpliga implementeringsstrategier. / <p>Vid tidpunkten för framläggningen av avhandlingen var följande delarbete opublicerat: delarbete 4 (manuskript).</p><p>At the time of the defence the following paper was unpublished: paper 4 (manuscript).</p>

Para a maioria dos municípios brasileiros, a instalação de um aterro sanitário é um desafio, sendo uma das dificuldades o custo elevado. Existem algumas formas de mitigar estes custos e uma delas é através do mercado de emissões. Com planejamento prévio suficiente, é possível queimar o metano gerado através da degradação do resíduo, podendo resultar em benefícios para o aterro tanto através do aproveitamento (geração de energia ou venda direta) quanto recebimento de algum tipo de certificado de emissões negociável. Incluído neste planejamento prévio suficiente está a realização da estimativa ex-ante de emissão de metano para saber previamente qual será o aproveitamento mais indicado e a eventual receita oriunda da queima. Quando analisados os projetos de MDL feitos em aterros sanitários, pode ser notado que estas estimativas são muitas vezes mal feitas, gerando valores estimados muito acima do realmente observado durante a operação. Este erro acarreta uma perda de credibilidade deste tipo de projeto, já que o número esperado é raramente alcançado. Existem alguns fatores que contribuem para esta discrepância de valores, sendo problemas operacionais (como exemplo podem ser citados deficiência no sistema de captura do biogás e problemas na captação e recirculação de lixiviado) e de modelagem (utilização de valores de entrada experimentais obtidos sob situações muito diferentes das encontradas nos aterros brasileiros, por exemplo) os possíveis principais vilões. Este trabalho visa apresentar e discutir os principais problemas na realização de estimativas prévias de emissão de metano em aterros sanitários utilizando projetos brasileiros de MDL registrados e que estejam atualmente emitindo créditos de carbono como base para analisar a qualidade das estimativas feitas atualmente. Além disto, busca-se também entrevistar profissionais da área para tentar obter diferentes pontos de vista sobre esta questão. Fica claro que os valores estimados, de um modo geral, são entre 40 e 50% superiores aos observados. Metade dos especialistas aponta problemas operacionais diversos como os principais contribuintes desta diferença, mas problemas na modelagem parecem influenciar decisivamente na realização das estimativas. A utilização de valores de entrada no modelo precisa ser criteriosamente analisada e devem ser utilizados números obtidos através de pesquisas que representem a realidade do aterro em questão. / Most of the Brazilian municipalities find the installation of a Solid Waste Disposal Site a challenge due to the high investment needed. There are some ways to mitigate these costs, including emissions trading. With previous planning, it is possible to burn the methane produced by the decomposition of the waste, resulting in benefits for the landfill by either the simple use of the gas (generating electricity or directly selling the gas) or the revenues from negotiations of emissions certificates. Included in previous planning is the ex-ante estimation of the methane produced by the landfill in order to know beforehand how to make the best use of the biogas and the amount of revenues that can be obtained from this use. When the CDM projects developed in landfills are analyzed, it can be noticed that these estimations generally are poorly made, resulting in estimated values far above the real methane production. This mistake results in a credibility loss by this type of project, since the expected number is rarely achieved. There are some factors that contribute to this difference in values, being operational problems (such as deficiency in the biogas capture and problems in the collection and recirculation of the leachate) and modeling problems (such as the use of input values obtained from experiments in laboratories under different situations from the ones found in Brazilian landfills) the major issues. The present work aims to present and discuss the main problems in estimating ex-ante the methane produced by landfills, using Brazilian CDM projects that are registered and issuing carbon credits as sources to analyze the quality of estimations currently being made. Additionally, experts in landfills and estimations are interviewed in order to obtain different points of view. It is clear that the estimated values, in general, are between 40 and 50% higher than observed during the operation of the landfill. Half of the experts point operational problems as the main contributors, however modeling problems seems to have a decisive influence in estimations. The use of input values must be carefully analyzed and must be used numbers obtained through researches that represent the reality of the landfill in question.