Open storage of digestate at anaerobic digestion (AD) sites emit methane from releasing entrapped gas and continued methanogenesis. AD operational conditions strongly impact downstream emissions by governing residual available carbon and the dominating microbial communities present in digestates. Operational conditions at increasing organic loading rates (OLR) of 2-3.5 kg VS m-3 d-1 and 3.5-5 kg VS m-3 d-1 with hydraulic retention time of 12-22 days were tested for conventional sludge and sludge pre-treated through thermal hydrolysis process (THP) respectively and to investigate post AD emissions under stable and stressed conditions. Results showed a greater potential of post-AD emissions with increased OLR for both digestate types. Conventional and THP digestates were subjected to controlled aeration for a period of 30 minutes, 6 hrs and 12 hrs THP digestate, dominated by hydrogenotrophic and versatile methanogens exhibited a different inhibition- reactivation pattern than conventional digestate which was dominated by acetoclastic methanogens, reflecting distinct community-specific responses to oxygen exposure. Following oxygen exposure, conventional digestate showed earlier reactivation within 5-8 days while THP digestate recovered after 12-13 days, despite the dominance of versatile and hydrogenotrophic methanogens present. Simultaneously a 3-month storage study assessed digestate handling practices at 4°C, 18°C and 38°C. Cold temperatures lead to suppressed microbial activity and methanogenesis whilst resulting in accumulated volatile fatty acids (VFA), posing a risk for subsequent emissions. In contrast, warmer storage conditions enhanced methane production and reduced VFA concentrations.