*2.6. Energy Suitability of the Proposed Process: Energy Balance Analysis*

One of the objectives to be covered by this research is to determine whether the proposed solution (anaerobic treatment of barley crop residues) is highly cost-effective. To do this, it analyses its potential, taking into account the energy generated in form of biogas, the needs that must be met in the process, and whether there is energy available for external uses.

The procedure has been developed according to the one described by the authors in the article [33], which in turn is based on the one described in [19]. Firstly, analyses and calculates the energy needs of the anaerobic process. Subsequently, with the laboratory data obtained in this research calculates the energy available in the biogas generated, depending on the amount of biogas that is produced and its methane content. Finally, it is determined whether net energy available for external uses exists or not, once the needs of the process (heat demand and electricity demand) have been met, for example for supply in the residential sector. In this way, if net available energy exists, the process would be considered as energy efficient.
