Biogas, commonly referred as gas, is one of the key renewable energy sources, produced by the anaerobic degradation (or fermentation) of biodegradable materials such as manure, plant materials, green waste, energy crops, household and industry wastes, sewage sludge, and municipal waste. A methane-rich gas, it has carbon dioxide (CO2) as the second major constituent. In addition to being a renewable energy source, other benefits of biogas include:
An alternate for fossil fuel
Low level of methane release compared to conventional manure management
Nil greenhouse gas emissions
Low emissions to environment from the waste treatment
High quality fertilizers
Produced using industrial and small-scale digesters, biogas is utilized for various purposes worldwide, such as electricity production, vehicle fuel, cooking, water heating etc. However, exclusive treatments are essential as the energy content in biogas differs according to applications. For instance, to use as vehicle fuel, biogas should be upgraded to the Swedish standard specifications for vehicle fuel gas (SS 15 54
38). Thus, to enable efficient use of biogas, upgrading and the relevant technologies have gained increased attention across the globe, fuelled by the price hike in natural gas and oil as well.
2.
Traditional Biogas Production
Biogas has been in use for about 200 years now; it originated as gas lights in London, when biogas was drawn from the underground sewer pipes to burn the street lamps in the city. In the traditional biogas production, digesters (airtight chambers) are constructed with brick or concrete and only specific herbal substrates could be used. In developing countries such as China, India, Pakistan, and Nepal, biogas has been a key energy source for households, and the same scenario prevails in Africa and South America.
Though the conventional method of producing biogas has been beneficial to the economy and the environment, there are demerits associated with them:
More construction time
Possibilities of gas leakage in case of faulty construction
Maintenance of bio-gas digesters
The above disadvantages have paved way for the new, improved, efficient technologies for biogas production worldwide.
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3.
Why Biogas!
Globally, the energy requirements increase everyday, which pose the risk of energy crisis in the future, as majority of the current need is met by crude oil. Further, environment pollutions caused by waste materials are a major concern. With global population expected to reach 9.2 billion by 2050, there is a pressing need to develop solutions that utilize our planet's finite resources more efficiently. Solution for these comes in the form of biogas, which is produced from the otherwise pollutants, and hence it is sustainable, eco-friendly energy source worldwide.
Below is the contribution-based split of biogas sources:
