Date of Award

Fall 12-15-2025

Document Type

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Advisor

Odesma Dalrymple

Abstract

Diversifying the sources of energy production is a key issue as the world looks to transition to more sustainable energy sources. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste is one example of waste-to-energy (WTE) methods for energy production that is of particular interest in this clean energy transition because of benefits to both waste management and energy production, supporting the development of circular economies. In this work, I used geographic information systems and experimental methods to identify ways to both minimize the energy inputs and maximize the energy production of WTE biogas systems, to create energy efficient and sustainable systems. I focused on transportation as a controllable variable to reduce energy inputs and investigated cider wastewater as a potential feedstock for AD to broaden usable feedstocks and support more resilient operations. I found that mixtures of cider wastewater, beached kelp seaweed, and fish waste can effectively support biogas production, expanding the range of viable feedstocks for AD and potentially increasing biogas production. Furthermore, I found that the coastal San Diego region is particularly well suited for these feedstocks, reinforcing the importance of using localized waste sources to improve energy efficiency. Finally, the methodologies established here provide a foundation for the ongoing development of sustainable WTE biogas systems of varying scales in San Diego and beyond.

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