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| Fig. 1: Biogas System. (Source: Wikimedia Commons) |
As fossil fuels and greenhouse gases cause damage to our atmosphere and climate, other sources of energy are being sought out. One such example is biogas production. Biogas is the natural biofuel produced from the decay of organic waste. [1] This process occurs in anaerobic environments and leads to the release of gases, chiefly methane and carbon dioxide. [1]
One of the benefits of biogas production is the use of waste from livestock, making it accessible in rural areas and developing nations. The production is made possible through AD (anaerobic digestion) technology. [2] The two primary biogas technologies are centralized plants and decentralized plants. While centralized plants allow for large-scale production, the disadvantage is that it requires that plants store large quantities of waste from feedstock. This specification can cost a financial burden as a long-term contract may need to be signed to guarantee a continuous flow of waste. [3] For instance, fat produces the highest electricity production per ton fresh matter (kWh) at 1687.4 kWh, which is not nearly enough provide enough electricity for a whole house for a day. [2] Fig. 1 is a demonstration of how this process would look. On the other hand, decentralized biogas plants are smaller, and thus may be more advantageous for rural areas, small farms, and relatively isolated areas. [3]
The amount of biogas produced depends on the substrates used. Furthermore, co-substrates are added to the waste of feedstocks to supplement the primary source and produce more biogas.
There is potential in using biogas, though certain economic factors may weigh down the accessibility of this process. Furthermore, the low biogas density in biowaste poses another limitation in implementing such technology. However, cases such as Germany, which is the highest producer of biogas worldwide, give hope that it is possible for biogas to replace the fossil fuels that are destroying our world. [3]
© Ogochukwu Chiamaka Agali. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.
[1] S. R. de Motta Pires et al., "Study on the Feasibility of Waste-Based Biogas for Electricity Generation in the Irish Grid for a High Renewables Penetration Scenario," IEEE 8003721, 2017.
[2] S. Achinas, V. Achinas, and G. J. W. Euverink, "A Technological Overview of Biogas Production from Biowaste," Engineering 3, 299, (2017).
[3] J. Wang, "Decentralized Biogas Technology of Anaerobic Digestion and Farm Ecosystem: Opportunities and Challenges," Front. Energy Res. 2, 10, (2014).
