What Is Biogas Energy and Why Is It Important?
Biogas is basically a combination of byproducts, most commonly containing carbon dioxide and methane, and it is produced during the decomposition of organic materials like agricultural waste, livestock manure, municipal solid waste, sludge, and food waste. It is an extremely useful renewable energy resource for many people, and has domestic and industrial applications. In recent years it has become the favoured fuel for heating in households and small scale industrial and agricultural production in particular. There are many other applications for this type of fuel in the home, as well as commercial applications.
It is generally seen that biogas comprises two main components: methane gas and carbon dioxide, though it also includes other substances and compounds such as nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and certain alcohols. The term biogas comes from the Greek word ‘bio’ which means ‘life’ and ‘gas’ which is a specific state of matter, and so the word biogas refers to gases which are produced by the natural processes of living organisms. These gases are usually odourless or can smell like rotten eggs, depending on their composition.
Biogas can be produced on its own, by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria breaking down organic waste into methane, carbon dioxide and water within the environment. When allowed to mix with freshwater and groundwater, it dissolves into a solution and this can build up in water pipes which can cause problems and can even disrupt domestic water supplies. The problem comes from the fact that the dissolved methane quickly returns to a gaseous state which can cause excess pressure in water systems, and can even lead to flammable gases coming from taps in homes and businesses.
Dissolved methane also has a negative effect on the potability of water, giving it an unpleasant scent and flavour in addition to the other problems it causes. These gases can also be contaminated with other toxic substances and can be dangerous. Therefore it is important to detect any problems as soon as possible so that they can be solved before serious health hazards are caused.
As mentioned, biogas can be derived from different sources, such as animal digestion, human digestion, or from sewage and waste management. One of the more common ways to generate biogas is through the breakdown of organic matter in a landfill, and this requires proper landfill gas monitoring. In the UK, landfill managers are legally required to capture all the biogas produced at the site so it can be used as a fuel rather than escaping into the environment as a pollutant, but this is not a permanent solution as landfills are only productive for a number of decades before the methane production at the site slows and eventually stops.
There is both an organic and inorganic content in biogas. When these two elements combine, a chain reaction occurs, resulting in hydrogen and oxygen being produced. These gases are very volatile and can easily escape from gas management and collection systems, so great care must be taken to ensure there are no weak points and potential leaks in the system.
What is biogas used for?
As we have previously mentioned, there are many uses for biogas, the most notable being to produce green energy. Green energy is any source of energy that is low impact, renewable, and produces minimal emissions and pollution. Biogas can efficiently produce up to about 36% of the renewable energy that is created and used in the UK. Many households in the UK and in much of Europe are now powered by biogas rather than fossil fuel equivalents, and this is helping to reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Can biogas be stored?
Biogas can easily be stored when it is properly collected from landfills and other sources; however, this should only be done in certain conditions since some conditions would increase the likelihood that the methane gas will pose a risk. It is advised that biogas be stored in barrels and canisters under the right pressure, and that it is stored at the right temperatures. Whether you need natural gas for domestic, commercial, industrial or agricultural uses it is best to source it from a fully licensed and insured provider who can guarantee the safety and purity of their natural gas products.
Resources:
Methane Monitoring - GitBook
Groundwater Extraction - Hashnode
Portable Gas Analyser - Oregon State University
Biogas Monitoring - Slides
Biogas Monitoring - Substack
Biogas Upgrading - Temple University
Biogas Upgrading - Wakelet
It is generally seen that biogas comprises two main components: methane gas and carbon dioxide, though it also includes other substances and compounds such as nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and certain alcohols. The term biogas comes from the Greek word ‘bio’ which means ‘life’ and ‘gas’ which is a specific state of matter, and so the word biogas refers to gases which are produced by the natural processes of living organisms. These gases are usually odourless or can smell like rotten eggs, depending on their composition.
Biogas can be produced on its own, by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria breaking down organic waste into methane, carbon dioxide and water within the environment. When allowed to mix with freshwater and groundwater, it dissolves into a solution and this can build up in water pipes which can cause problems and can even disrupt domestic water supplies. The problem comes from the fact that the dissolved methane quickly returns to a gaseous state which can cause excess pressure in water systems, and can even lead to flammable gases coming from taps in homes and businesses.
Dissolved methane also has a negative effect on the potability of water, giving it an unpleasant scent and flavour in addition to the other problems it causes. These gases can also be contaminated with other toxic substances and can be dangerous. Therefore it is important to detect any problems as soon as possible so that they can be solved before serious health hazards are caused.
As mentioned, biogas can be derived from different sources, such as animal digestion, human digestion, or from sewage and waste management. One of the more common ways to generate biogas is through the breakdown of organic matter in a landfill, and this requires proper landfill gas monitoring. In the UK, landfill managers are legally required to capture all the biogas produced at the site so it can be used as a fuel rather than escaping into the environment as a pollutant, but this is not a permanent solution as landfills are only productive for a number of decades before the methane production at the site slows and eventually stops.
There is both an organic and inorganic content in biogas. When these two elements combine, a chain reaction occurs, resulting in hydrogen and oxygen being produced. These gases are very volatile and can easily escape from gas management and collection systems, so great care must be taken to ensure there are no weak points and potential leaks in the system.
What is biogas used for?
As we have previously mentioned, there are many uses for biogas, the most notable being to produce green energy. Green energy is any source of energy that is low impact, renewable, and produces minimal emissions and pollution. Biogas can efficiently produce up to about 36% of the renewable energy that is created and used in the UK. Many households in the UK and in much of Europe are now powered by biogas rather than fossil fuel equivalents, and this is helping to reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Can biogas be stored?
Biogas can easily be stored when it is properly collected from landfills and other sources; however, this should only be done in certain conditions since some conditions would increase the likelihood that the methane gas will pose a risk. It is advised that biogas be stored in barrels and canisters under the right pressure, and that it is stored at the right temperatures. Whether you need natural gas for domestic, commercial, industrial or agricultural uses it is best to source it from a fully licensed and insured provider who can guarantee the safety and purity of their natural gas products.
Resources:
Methane Monitoring - GitBook
Groundwater Extraction - Hashnode
Portable Gas Analyser - Oregon State University
Biogas Monitoring - Slides
Biogas Monitoring - Substack
Biogas Upgrading - Temple University
Biogas Upgrading - Wakelet
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