W A ST E M A N A G E M E NT In the world of waste management, much has been made recently about the rise of biogas. Produced from the breakdown of raw materials, such as recycled waste, it leaves a very small carbon footprint and is a sustainable energy source. ‘ However, as with every form of renewable energy, biogas is currently experiencing some growing pains on a number of different fronts. The real question is: are they severe enough to hinder the industry? The Industry’s Potential In simple terms, biogas is produced using an anaerobic digester. Agricultural waste, sewage, and food waste is fed into the digester. It’s highly effective and leaves little A typical anaerobic digestion plant
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carbon footprint. Also, it’s an effective form of waste management, as it provides a use for otherwise unusable waste. Its real benefits, however, lie in the waste-to-energy sector, as it has a variety of different uses. It has been estimated that the usage of biogas could meet up to 3% of North America’s electricity needs. Compression of biogas could also replace compressed natural gas for usage in vehicles. Its real potential lies in its uses in the agricultural sector. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 8,200 U.S. dairy and swine operations could support biogas recovery systems. This would be equivalent to roughly 13 million MWh and potentially displace 1,670
“EPA estimates that 8,200 U.S. dairy and swine operations could support biogas recovery systems. This would be equivalent to roughly 13 million MWh and potentially displace 1,670 MW of fossil fuel generation annually”