Biogas constitutes a sustainable energy resource. This section outlines the principles behind Biogas including products, suppliers and contractors available in the UK. Renewable Energy Resources the use of Green Energy to help define a sustainable future.
What is Biogas?
Biogas refers to organic matter which is derived from a wide range of fuels known as biomass. Biomass fuels include material such as timber or specific crops that are grown for processing as biomass fuel to provide energy to operate a facility providing district heating for example. Biofuels offer an alternative way of developing energy, without the total reliance of fossil fuels. Biogas is produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, it originates from biogenic materials.
Biofuels and Biogas
Biofuels and Biogas fuels are derivatives of Biomass the source of which is primarily agricultural and domestic waste also anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable products like biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, and green waste products. Biogas is also produced as landfill gas (LFG) as a by-product of organic waste.
The demand for biogas is increasing, partly due to oil price rises and security for energy resources for some countries, who have invested in sustainable biomass technology for the production of biofuels, particularly for transportation purposes.
Biogas (as a biofuel) is produced by the anaerobic digestion, or fermentation of organic matter. This may include products such as manure, sewage sludge produced from raw sewage, municipal solid waste, biodegradable waste sources, agricultural slurry produced at farms, or other biodegradable products. The principle components of Biogas are methane and carbon dioxide. Methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases and are not favourable to the environment.
CEN/TC 335 biomass standards
CEN/TC 335 is the committee developing the standards and associated conversion technologies applicable to all forms of solid biofuels within Europe, including wood chips, wood pellets and briquettes, logs, sawdust and straw bales.
Solid Biofuels
These consist of primarily wood, sawdust, grass cuttings, domestic refuse, charcoal, agricultural waste, dried manure as examples.
Biomass Crops
The most popular UK biomass crops are short rotation coppice, willow and poplar, Miscanthus (Elephant Grass), Reed Canary Grass and Oil Seed Rape.
Details
Landfill gas
Landfill gas principle components are methane and carbon dioxide. The gases produced in landfill sites in the UK are harvested and pumped into the gas distribution network to supplement natural gas supplies. Using this principle reduces the amount of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere directly.
Alternative Fuel Grants
Alternative fuel grants are available for the provision of refuelling equipment in the UK. In order to qualify the alternative fuel must include hydrogen, E85 bioethanol, natural gas and biogas. Further information about the scheme can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website.
For further information see also: