About Biogas
Biogas, also known as biomethane, is a type of renewable energy created through the transformation of organic material such as food waste, plant debris, urban waste, and livestock manure. This transformation occurs in biogas plants through anaerobic digestion, a process that happens without oxygen. This method transforms the organic material into biogas, which can be used for various purposes, including as fuel for vehicles, for heating, and for generating electricity.
The Use of Biogas
Vehicles powered by biomethane pollute less than those running on conventional fuels such as gasoline and diesel. Biogas is converted into renewable fuels such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for the transport sector. Biogas can also be used to generate electricity through combustion, which is more efficiently transported and measured than heat and gas, although it requires significant infrastructure to be integrated into the power grid.
Additionally, biogas is used in the hotel and restaurant industry, in the production and manufacturing industry, as well as in retail and wholesale trade.
Advantages of Biogas
Biogas technology offers several advantages, mainly due to the low cost of the raw materials used, especially in agriculture where it is almost free. Moreover, burning biogas does not produce harmful emissions, making it an environmentally friendly energy source. The technology behind biogas production is relatively simple and can be scaled both up and down without the need for large investments.
Since biogas is a renewable and carbon-neutral energy source, its use does not contribute to increased carbon in the atmosphere. It helps to reduce waste disposal and lowers pollution from organic waste, benefiting both the environment and the economy. By reducing methane emissions, biogas also contributes to combating climate change.
Biogas - Good or Bad?
Biogas represents an effective path to clean energy with less environmental impact compared to fossil fuels. Although it is not without effect on ecosystems, it is considered carbon-neutral. This is because its production from plants contributes to a cyclical balance, wherein the carbon emitted by the use of biogas is offset by the amount of carbon originally absorbed from the atmosphere by the plant material.