Graduate Program

Sustainability

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

Spring 2026

Thesis Director

Isaac Slaven

Thesis Committee Member

Christopher R. Laingen

Thesis Committee Member

Kelly Best

Abstract

The growing demand for renewable energy and sustainable waste management has intensified interest in agricultural residues such as bioenergy feedstocks. This study evaluated the feasibility of converting corn stover into biogas through anaerobic digestion (AD) in Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois, with consideration of the Savanna Industrial Park as a potential centralized processing hub. Although corn stover represents one of the largest biomass resources in the United States, this research identifies a critical gap between theoretical availability and practically recoverable feedstock. Using a mixed-methods framework, the study integrates biomass quantification, methane yield modeling, economic analysis, and policy assessment. Results indicate that the study region generates approximately 1.17 million dry tons of stover annually; however, sustainable removal is constrained to 30–50% due to soil conservation requirements. While AD can produce significant methane yields, process efficiency depends on pretreatment and co-digestion strategies to overcome lignocellulosic limitations. Economic feasibility is strongly influenced by feedstock logistics, including harvesting inefficiencies, transport costs, and seasonal storage challenges, alongside high capital investment requirements. Furthermore, farmer participation remains limited due to risk perceptions and market uncertainty. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) D3 credits and Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) mechanisms, were identified as critical drivers of the project viability. Overall, the study concludes that corn stover-based biogas systems are conditionally viable, with successful implementation dependent on coordinated technological innovation, policy alignment, and stakeholder participation. These findings advance the discourse on circular bioeconomy transitions by demonstrating the limits of theoretical resource potential under real-world constraints.

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