Below, we list and discuss the potential pros and cons of biogas.
Summary – Potential Pros & Cons Of Biogas
Firstly, What Is Biogas?
In this guide, we provide more information about what biogas is.
Potential Pros
Some Countries Already Use A Significant Amount Of Biogas
Can Be Used As A Gas Energy Source In Rural & Remote Areas
Can Have Multiple Uses
Gas Can Be Captured In Multiple Ways
Raw Biogas Can Be Refined & Converted Into Other Gas Products
Might Help Manage Some Waste Issues, & Also Utilize Waste For Energy
Might Be Considered As Renewable
Might Be Eco Friendly Or Sustainable In Some Ways
There May Be Various Economic & Social Benefits To Biogas Generation
Biogas Plants May Not Require Major Maintenance Or Incur Other Major Costs Over Their Lifespan
Might Be Good For Diversifying A Country’s Energy & Fuel Supply, & Gain More Energy Independence
Might Provide Baseload Power In Place Of Coal Or Natural Gas
Might Be Good Potential For Biogas Industry Growth In Some Countries
Potential Cons
Not As Established As Some Other Energy Sources
Some Reports Question The Economic Viability Of Biogas
May Need Additional Support & Funding To Continue To Develop In Some Countries
Biogas May Be Dangerous, Unsafe Or Toxic In Some Ways
May Have Practical Issues Or Operational Issues To Consider
Biogas May Have Some Environmental Issues
Potential Pros Of Biogas
Some Countries Already Use A Significant Amount Of Biogas
For example, nationalgrid.com notes how (paraphrased) China is a world leader in the use of biogas, with millions of households using biogas
The UK and US also have hundreds or thousands of biogas plants currently in operation according to some reports
Can Be Used As A Gas Energy Source In Rural & Remote Areas
This might currently be the case in some countries like China, where rural areas and villages have biogas plants that supply biogas
Can Have Multiple Uses
Some of the uses for biogas and it’s by-products might include:
– Uses for raw biogas
Raw biogas with little to no processing can be used for heating or to power boilers, and can also be used for electricity production
– Uses for raw biogas refined into biomethane
Raw biogas can be refined into methane (also called renewable natural gas, or RNG)
It can be injected into existing natural gas infrastructure, and used in a similar way to methane to replace a certain portion of natural gas for activities like heating and cooking
RNG can also be converted into CNG or LNG and used as vehicle fuel.
– Uses for digestate
Additionally, separate to the biogas produced at biogas plants, digestate is the material left after organic waste digestion, and it might be sold or used as a soil amendment.
Gas Can Be Captured In Multiple Ways
The most common controlled way to produce and capture biogas at an industrial (or commerical) level is at biogas plants in anaerobic digesters.
However, LFG (landfill gas) can also be captured in the from of methane at landfill sites where organic waste releases this methane.
This gas might have different abilities for use though.
Raw Biogas Can Be Refined & Converted Into Other Gas Products
Raw biogas is the most pure form of biogas.
Raw biogas can also be refined into biomethane (RNG)
Biomethane can also be converted into CNG or LNG
Might Help Manage Some Waste Issues, & Also Utilize Waste For Energy
Different types of organic waste can be utilized to produce biogas
Not only might this sometimes help address some waste issues like waste pollution (particularly water pollution), but, waste can be used for energy instead of being dumped without further utilising it
One example of using waste for biogas is specifically using food waste as organic waste for biogas – this may help address food waste as an issue
nationalgrid.com notes that (paraphrased) Xmas food waste in particular could be used for biogas energy.
Might Be Considered As Renewable
Might Be Eco Friendly Or Sustainable In Some Ways
Such as:
– Helping limit waste pollution
This may also have a flow on effect of helping reduce the resulting water pollution, leaching of nutrients and pathogens, and other potential effects of waste getting into the environment
– Limiting methane release into the atmosphere from the break down of organic waste
– Reducing greenhouse gas emissions when used as a fuel compared to the use of petroleum gasoline
– Recycling nutrients from food supply (via digestate)
This might reduce the need for petrochemicals and mined fertilizers in some instances
eesi.org outlines some potential greenhouse gas reduction savings when using biogas in their report
There May Be Various Economic & Social Benefits To Biogas Generation
Such as the creation of jobs, the generation of revenue, and the provision of income from the operation of biogas systems
eesi.org also notes (paraphrased) how:
– Using waste for biogas production might help reduce some waste management and waste pollution remediation costs
– Using waste for biogas may help reduce the amount of nutrients or chemicals leaching or running off into the environment, which might help keep drinking water supplies cleaner
Biogas Plants May Not Require Major Maintenance Or Incur Other Major Costs Over Their Lifespan
wikipedia.org mentions that ‘A high quality biogas plant needs minimum maintenance costs and can produce gas for at least 15–20 years without major problems and re-investments’
However, other reports have different conclusions about the economics of biogas plants
Might Be Good For Diversifying A Country’s Energy & Fuel Supply, & Gaining More Energy Independence
Biogas is another energy source that can diversify the existing energy sources in place
It may also help decrease some of the dependence a country may have on a certain % of foreign gas or coal supply
Might Provide Baseload Power In Place Of Coal Or Natural Gas
At least one report from eesi.org indicates (paraphrased) this might be the case, and they qualify this statement in their report
Might Be Good Potential For Biogas Industry Growth In Some Countries
nationalgrid.com indicates (paraphrased) this may be the case with the US, identifying that the potential could be as high as hundreds of trillions of kilowatt hours of electricity being able to be produced per year
iea.org also indicates that (paraphrased) upgrading biogas to biomethane could be a major source of potential future growth for the biogas industry
eesi.org notes that ‘… the United States currently only has 2,200 operating biogas systems, representing less than 20 percent of the total potential’
Potential Cons Of Biogas
Not As Established As Some Other Energy Sources
Traditional energy sources like coal and natural gas tend to be more established than biogas in many countries
Additionally, it’s growth and developing might be dependent on several factors
iea.org notes that ‘The development of biogas has been uneven across the world, as it depends not only on the availability of feedstocks but also on policies that encourage its production and use’
Some Reports Question The Economic Viability Of Biogas
At least one report from energypedia.info might indicate that the economic viability of biogas might be questionable in various ways.
For example (as a paraphrased summary):
– Biogas has to compete with other energy sources like fossil fuels on cost, and it may not be as competitive in some instances.
In California, biomethane might sometimes be more expensive than natural gas
– Statements on the economic feasibility of biogas may be contradictory or inconsistent
– Biogas power plants may not be commercially viable or profitable in some nations without technical and financial support.
Some developing nations may be an example of this
Overall, the economics of biogas production for electricity and heat might vary between projects, and might be impacted by the variables of each project.
May Need Additional Support & Funding To Continue To Develop In Some Countries
eesi.org indicates that (paraphrased) consistent policy support, reliable funding, and strong standards to encourage investment and innovation are needed for the future of the biogas industry and to reach it’s potential
May Have Practical Issues Or Operational Issues To Consider
Biogas plants and biogas production have a range of potential practical issues or operational issues to consider, including but not limited to:
– Cracks in biodigesters
– Leaks from gas pipes
– Dealing with impurities in the mix
– Requiring specific conditions for digestion
– Some waste being harder to break down than others
So, this may impact scaling or using biomethane on larger or wider levels.
Biogas May Be Dangerous, Unsafe Or Toxic In Some Ways
liebertpub.com notes that ‘Biogas is flammable, highly toxic, and potentially explosive’
eia.gov notes that (paraphrased) landfill gas with a high methane content in particular might be dangerous to people and the environment in some ways
Biogas May Have Some Environmental & Sustainability Issues
In addition to the potential safety issue of biogas for humans, liebertpub.com also notes that: ‘Harmful compounds and air contaminants are introduced into the environment during biogas production and use through both combustion processes and diffusive emissions’
So, biogas might not be without it’s potential environmental issues to consider
Sources
1. https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-biogas
2. https://energypedia.info/wiki/Economic_Aspects_of_Biogas
3. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-biogasconverting-waste-to-energy
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogas#Benefits_of_manure_derived_biogas
5. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biomass/landfill-gas-and-biogas.php
6. https://www.iea.org/reports/outlook-for-biogas-and-biomethane-prospects-for-organic-growth/an-introduction-to-biogas-and-biomethane
','' ); } ?>