This mixture of gases is called biogas. Biogas can be used for a variety of purposes, such as cooking, heating, electricity generation, and vehicle fuel. As with fossil fuel methane, fugitive emissions are a concern at biogas plants. In both cases, methane emissions result when biogas is incompletely burned.
Step 1 – Pre-treatment and filling the digester
Multiple types of organic matter, called substrates, go into the digester. Some substrates can be liquid manure, renewable raw materials (such as corn or grass), or waste produced by the food industry. Some of them may need to be stored in cement containers and pre-treated before entering the air-tight tank. One plant can include several digesters, depending on its size.
Step 2 – The fermentation process
The substrates are heated to various temperatures inside the fermenter, and a series of microorganisms start breaking down the organic matter in the absence of light and oxygen. During the process, the organic matter is shifted to prevent layers from forming at the top and bottom of the tank.
Step 3 – Producing biogas
As a result of the fermentation, biogas with methane as the main ingredient is produced inside the fermenters. At this stage of the process, the gas includes, besides methane and carbon dioxide, water and hydrogen sulfide—which is one of the main reasons containers should be made in steel, known to withstand the effects of the gas for long periods.
Step 4 – Pulling out the residues
After fermentation, the residues called digestate are pulled out of the tank to be used as environment-friendly, high-quality fertilizer. This way, the biogas production process becomes a zero-waste system of eliminating garbage from landfills while providing a solution for better crops at the same time.
Step 5 – Eliminating impurities
The biogas goes through a cleanup process, in which water, hydrogen sulfide, and impurities are removed to produce biomethane that can further be used to generate energy and heat. The biogas is permanently monitored to ensure the quality of the final product.
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Most benefits of biogas plants are environment-related, as they produce renewable energy for domestic and industrial use. This energy can be stored or injected into the electricity grid to reduce dependence on fossil-fuel energy, which can help reduce our carbon footprint.
In other words, biogas plants can help to fight climate change. As domestic and industrial users rely less on the energy produced with fossil fuels, greenhome gas emissions become lower. At the same time, by gathering organic matter and controlling the fermentation process, fewer methane emissions get into the atmosphere for improved air quality.
Communities reach these results while managing food waste and preventing garbage from ending up in landfills. Recycling organic waste means fewer odors, a minimum risk for spreading diseases, and protected water bodies, among other things.
Another advantage of biogas plants is eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers, as they get replaced by digestate. It recirculates a series of nutrients, such as phosphorus, which is essential for healthy crops.
Besides the positive effects on the environment, biogas plants contribute to building a circular economy, in which more industries can become sustainable and self-sufficient by using their waste to obtain energy or heat. As the number of facilities grows, new jobs are generated across multiple verticals, with a significant impact on the quality of life in numerous communities worldwide.
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