Biodigester Feasibility
PACKLab Project: Is an on-campus biodigester economically and operationally feasible on campus?
An Industrial and Systems Engineering Senior Design team used operations research and economic modeling to evaluate energy output, capacity and costs for a potential campus biodigester.
Project Overview
Team: Industrial and Systems Engineering Senior Design course, Climate and Sustainability Academy
Duration: Fall 2025
Status: Complete
Focus: Energy, Consumption and Production
Summary
The team sought to determine the feasibility of installing an on-campus biodigester. The senior design team applied operations research and economic analysis techniques, updating historical campus data to evaluate the concept. The team evaluated the project overall energy generation, organic waste-processing capacity, and estimated capital and operational costs.
Findings
The project established key economic and capacity thresholds, delivering data-backed financial and operational estimates to clarify whether a biodigester is a viable investment.
