biogas. Unlike other types of renewable biofuels, biogas production is a natural
non-energy intensive process, and the raw materials are mostly renewable
resource and wastes – thus serving both purposes, bioremediation and energy
generation. Biogas is a blend of gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide. Over
the years, several biogas plant designs are available, which are compiled in
present chapter along with its advantages and disadvantages. At present several
countries are already utilizing biogas for various household and industrial
applications. The main applications are generating electricity, cooking, heating,
and using as a fuel for transportation. The ease of operation, maintenance, and
easy availability of substrate – waste materials – are some of the key selling points
for biogas to be an effective and common energy tool in the near future.
Keywords
Energy · Fossil fuels · Renewables · Biofuel · Biogas
3.1
Introduction
In order to perform work on or to heat the object, energy is one of the quantitative
properties that must be transferred to an object. It is a conserved quantity, where the
law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed,
rather only be converted in forms. Energy is an essential commodity for day-to-day
human activities, either directly (as fuel) or indirectly (to provide power, electricity,
mobility), which enables socioeconomic development. Villages in many developing
countries, firewood, crop residues, cow dung, etc. are still used for cooking
purposes. These practices are significant sources of environmental, economic, and
public health-related concerns. To achieve a sustainable progress in the developing
countries, clean and affordable energy could be offered by using the existing
biomass resources to produce biogas – a cleaner, more efficient, and reliable energy
(Surendra et al. 2014).
Biogas could be naturally produced from the decomposition of organic waste and
raw materials from agronomic, municipal, sewage, or food waste, under anaerobic
condition. Biogas is a blend of gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide. Biogas
production process is also known as anaerobic digestion, as the decomposition
occurs under anaerobic condition. Bacteria produce roughly two-thirds of methane,
as well as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and traces of other types of gases (Armaha et al.
2017; Sibiya et al. 2017). Biogas is produced by anaerobic organisms (such as
methanogen), inside a closed system. This process is non-polluting and also reduces
greenhouse emissions. Since no combustion takes place in the process, there is zero
emission of greenhouse gasses. It consists mainly of methane (CH 4 ) and carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ). The amount of CO 2 that is produced corresponds to the amount of
CO 2 captured when the biomass was created (Weiland 2010). Producing such fuel
from waste is actually a great way to lessen the global warming. Biogas helps to
reduce the reliance on fossil fuels (crude oil derivatives, and coal), which cause
environmental pollution and global warming. Unlike other types of renewable
66
S. Elangovan et al.
non-energy intensive process, and the raw materials are mostly renewable
resource and wastes – thus serving both purposes, bioremediation and energy
generation. Biogas is a blend of gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide. Over
the years, several biogas plant designs are available, which are compiled in
present chapter along with its advantages and disadvantages. At present several
countries are already utilizing biogas for various household and industrial
applications. The main applications are generating electricity, cooking, heating,
and using as a fuel for transportation. The ease of operation, maintenance, and
easy availability of substrate – waste materials – are some of the key selling points
for biogas to be an effective and common energy tool in the near future.
Keywords
Energy · Fossil fuels · Renewables · Biofuel · Biogas
3.1
Introduction
In order to perform work on or to heat the object, energy is one of the quantitative
properties that must be transferred to an object. It is a conserved quantity, where the
law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed,
rather only be converted in forms. Energy is an essential commodity for day-to-day
human activities, either directly (as fuel) or indirectly (to provide power, electricity,
mobility), which enables socioeconomic development. Villages in many developing
countries, firewood, crop residues, cow dung, etc. are still used for cooking
purposes. These practices are significant sources of environmental, economic, and
public health-related concerns. To achieve a sustainable progress in the developing
countries, clean and affordable energy could be offered by using the existing
biomass resources to produce biogas – a cleaner, more efficient, and reliable energy
(Surendra et al. 2014).
Biogas could be naturally produced from the decomposition of organic waste and
raw materials from agronomic, municipal, sewage, or food waste, under anaerobic
condition. Biogas is a blend of gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide. Biogas
production process is also known as anaerobic digestion, as the decomposition
occurs under anaerobic condition. Bacteria produce roughly two-thirds of methane,
as well as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and traces of other types of gases (Armaha et al.
2017; Sibiya et al. 2017). Biogas is produced by anaerobic organisms (such as
methanogen), inside a closed system. This process is non-polluting and also reduces
greenhouse emissions. Since no combustion takes place in the process, there is zero
emission of greenhouse gasses. It consists mainly of methane (CH 4 ) and carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ). The amount of CO 2 that is produced corresponds to the amount of
CO 2 captured when the biomass was created (Weiland 2010). Producing such fuel
from waste is actually a great way to lessen the global warming. Biogas helps to
reduce the reliance on fossil fuels (crude oil derivatives, and coal), which cause
environmental pollution and global warming. Unlike other types of renewable
66
S. Elangovan et al.