Biogas technology transforms organic waste into energy, primarily methane, through anaerobic digestion. It can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels and is often used on farms to control waste pollution while creating energy. There are three types of biogas digesters: covered lagoon, full mix, and plug-flow.
In the field of renewable energy, biogas technology refers to systems designed to transform organic waste into usable energy. Biogas is a type of gas produced during the anaerobic treatment of organic matter such as manure, plant material or even municipal waste. Biogas typically consists primarily of methane, with a significant proportion of carbon dioxide, and smaller amounts of other gases such as nitrogen and hydrogen.
Biogas fuel is a flammable substance that burns similar to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and as such, biogas energy can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels. Biogas production is often achieved using a biogas plant, which is a system that “digests” organic matter to produce gas. Biogas technology is often used on farms with the primary aim of controlling waste pollution. Dairy farms, for example, can have significant problems with manure polluting water sources. Biogas technology allows farmers to address this problem with the beneficial side effect of also creating a new source of energy.
Biogas electricity and heating energy can be produced locally with biogas technology systems on some farms. For example, a farmer with 500 cows could install a system that processes the manure produced by the cows and could generate enough electricity to power the entire dairy system. Large-scale systems in some countries collect manure from multiple farms and carry out the digestion process centrally in one large plant.
Similar biogas technology can be used in wastewater treatment. Wastewater contains organic matter, including organic solids, and anaerobic digestion can be used to break down these solids. This process, often called sludge digestion, can also reduce the levels of harmful bacteria in the water.
There are three main types of biogas technology digesters: covered lagoon, full mix and plug-flow. All of these types digest manure to produce biogas. They differ in their efficiency, the concentration of solids they can handle and their suitability for different climates and applications.
Covered lagoon digesters are the simplest type, consisting of a storage tank to hold the manure and a cover to trap the gas. This type of technology is suitable for hot climates, and is mainly used for sewage with a small percentage of solid matter. Full mix digesters hold the manure in a heated tank and have a mechanical mixing device to speed up the digestion process. Plug-flow digesters are more complex biogas technology systems that actively pass the processed manure through the system while it is being digested.
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