Biogas 101

Biogas is the renewable, natural gas produced by the decomposition of organic waste materials in the absence of oxygen during a process called Anaerobic Digestion (AD). The waste is called feedstock, consisting of organic matter like food waste, manure, plant material, wastewater, sewage, etc. Biogas can be upgraded into renewable energy known as RNG, a pipeline-quality gas interchangeable with conventional fossil fuel, used for heating, electricity, and other applications. Learn more about how we optimize biogas.

Anaerobic Digestion process involves the breakdown of organic waste materials, such as agricultural residues, manure, and food waste, by bacteria in a controlled, oxygen-free environment inside anaerobic digesters. The biogas produced is primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide and is used for energy. The solid waste left behind is called Digestate and is a nutrient-rich fertilizer. AD offers agricultural producers a sustainable waste management solution, renewable natural gas, & soil quality enhancement. Find out the potential of your biogas plant with Anessa AD·A.

Biogas is a renewable energy source produced during the Anaerobic Digestion process, wherein microorganisms break down organic waste materials (food waste, wastewater, etc.) inside an anaerobic digester. It produces a mixture of mostly methane gas mixed with carbon dioxide. Generally, the steps are as follows:

Feedstock in biogas plant→ AD in Digestor → Biogas Production→ Upgrade to Renewable Natural Gas (optional)→ Digestate as Natural Fertilizer

This process also occurs naturally at the bottom of water bodies or swamps.

The Anaerobic Digestion process produces Biogas.

Organic waste material (such as food waste, sewage sludge, FOGs, etc) is fed into the digester as feedstock, and microbes in the absence of oxygen break it down in the digestion process (AD). Biogas bubbles up to the digester's dome and is captured. The solid waste left behind can be used as digestate.

The biogas can be further processed into renewable natural gas (or biomethane).

Anessa Suite helps you evaluate feedstock mix, track temperature, monitor conditions, and maximize yield, helping you fine-tune conditions and make biogas production sustainable.

The synergy of Anessa’s digital twin monitoring and data-driven analytics turns waste into low-carbon energy efficiency that you can monetize!

The sealed container inside which the process of AD happens is called a digester. It comes in different shapes and sizes depending on its use and the kind of organic material mix that is being processed. A biogas plant can contain one or more digesters based on predicted biogas production levels.

Different kinds of waste can be processed through anaerobic digestion, like manure from farms, food leftovers from homes and restaurants, organic matter from municipal solid waste, organic industrial waste, crop residues, and even fats, oils and greases (FOG). Each type of waste has its own characteristics that affect how well it breaks down and what kind of biogas it produces.

Inside the anaerobic digester, different microorganisms break down the waste and produce two key things: biogas and digestate.

Biogas is useful in many ways. Most common uses of biogas are:

• Renewable Natural Gas → Biogas can be upgraded to pipeline-quality methane for direct grid-injection (Green Fuel) . It is also known as Biomethane in the EU.

• Electricity → Biogas can generate enough electricity to power businesses, turbines, and industrial facilities. It can also be used to power entire houses, especially in rural areas.

• Organic Fertilizer → Digestate, the solid waste left behind after biogas production, can be used to improve soil fertility, preventing nutrient loss for farms and creating a circular economy.

Yes, biogas is a renewable energy source. It creates a circular economy as biogas is produced from continuously generated organic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. When utilized, it displaces fossil fuels, prevents landfill emissions (carbon dioxide & methane) and turns waste into energy and natural fertilizers.

Biogas can be described as a sustainable and renewable energy source, due to its dual impact:

• It reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by capturing atmospheric methane that would otherwise be produced in uncontrolled landfills. Biogas plants process organic waste in sealed anaerobic digesters, capturing these emissions.

• Transforming waste into clean energy and a nutrient-rich digestate fuels a circular economy. This helps lower pollution and the dependence on synthetic fertilizers, thereby reducing soil erosion

Biogas, in contrast to fossil fuels, is carbon-neutral and, in most scenarios, carbon-negative. It positively contributes to emission reduction. When complemented with favourable technologies and policies, biogas can reach net-zero emissions, encourage independent energy generation, and contribute towards a better environment.

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is upgraded biogas that has been purified to the quality of conventional natural gas. It’s created by removing contaminants such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, and other residues from biogas.

Once upgraded, RNG is 90% or more methane and can be combusted for heating, power generation, transportation fuel, or injected into the natural gas pipeline / distribution grid. Compared to fossil fuels, RNG is a green fuel and is an effective solution for lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to meet clean energy goals.

Biogas upgrading process refers to the purification of produced biogas to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) through the removal of contaminants and non-methane compounds such as trace amounts of volatile organic compounds, siloxanes, carbon dioxide (CO₂), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), and moisture.

Raw biogas has up to 60% methane and 40% CO₂, plus trace gases. Upgrading technologies increases the concentration of methane to greater than 90%, so that it's chemically identical to fossil-based natural gas and ready for grid injection, vehicle fuel, or industrial applications.

Upgraded biogas can be utilized as renewable natural gas as a substitute for fossil fuel, but it has a much lower carbon intensity score and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It helps in clean energy transitions, increases biogas plant economic value, and provides access to carbon credit markets and renewable fuel standards.

Biomethane is another term for Renewable Natural Gas. It's the upgraded, high-purity methane-rich renewable energy source derived from biogas. It can be directly injected into the gas grid as a low carbon emission fuel, aiding in the clean energy transition. 

Biomethane can be substituted one-for-one for fossil fuels and can be used in the same pipes, appliances, and engines as a green gas at a much lower environmental cost.

In short:

Biogas = raw gas out of waste (about 60% methane).
Biomethane / RNG = upgraded gas (90%+ methane) suitable for grid or commercial use.

A crucial part of the renewable energy mix is RNG. It works in parallel to other renewable energy sources to help lower air pollution, smog, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The benefits of RNG become even more important as increased global warming triggers more natural disasters and calamities that result in power failures. RNG is a dependable, storable energy resource that can be used in situations where other fuel sources are unavailable.

Apart from being a clean fuel alternative, RNG also helps expand local energy alternatives, ensuring that people always have access to clean power, especially those who live in remote areas. RNG doesn't require alterationsto a typical home's infrastructure, as some other clean energy sources (wind, solar, etc.) do. Further, it is also priced similarly to other energy sources. Individual households can lower their carbon footprint without making major lifestyle adjustments by switching to RNG.

Biogas has many environmental benefits, most importantly, biogas reduces GHG emissions by capturing methane that would otherwise escape from landfills, wastewater, etc. When upgraded to RNG, it reduces the dependence on fossil fuels and is a clean fuel alternative.

Biogas also helps protect the environment by creating a circular economy, as instead of organic waste ending up in landfills, it goes through AD and methane is captured. The residue left behind from this process, digestate, is used as a natural fertilizer, replacing synthetic fertilizers. This enriches and protects soil health.

By controlling the production of biogas in enclosed digesters, it minimizes odours, lowers pathogens and reduces air pollution. This helps improve the air quality for local communities.

Biogas is generated by converting organic waste into a renewable energy source. Organic waste decomposes during AD, releasing a methane-rich gas, preventing atmospheric release.

Methane gas is then captured and utilized in the same manner as traditional natural gas: to generate electricity, provide heat, or serve as a fuel for cars. If it is converted to RNG, it can be put directly into the natural gas system. At the same time, digestate can be used as a natural fertilizer to replace chemical alternatives.

The beauty of AD is that it not only produces clean energy but also prevents methane from escaping into the atmosphere, which is a huge win for our planet’s health.

Thus, AD not only creates renewable energy but also creates a circular economy.

Biogas is a highly adaptable option for producing energy. It has multiple uses, including generating day-to-day electricity needs, providing low-carbon heating options, and can be upgraded for transportation fuel. It reduces emissions and alleviates climate change by reusing organic waste, producing renewable electricity, and restoring nutrients to the soil.

Biogas reduces overall emissions by replacing fossil fuels with clean, carbon-neutral (and often carbon-negative) energy, while also promoting a circular economy. Digestate reduces pollutants from artificial fertilizers, while biogas offers societies a consistent, local supply of renewable energy.

In a nutshell, biogas converts waste into an environmental solution, reducing emissions now while laying the groundwork for a more sustainable energy future.