Advantages and Disadvantages of Biogas

29 Apr.,2024

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biogas

Worldwide interest in renewable energy sources is gathering momentum. Biogas production is growing steadily, as more people are setting up biogas plants to produce biogas. To get a better picture of what biogas is good for, we have created this list explaining the advantages and disadvantages of biogas.

The company is the world’s best specialty gas supplier supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

If you want to learn more about what biogas is, have a look:

Advantages of Biogas

1. Biogas is Eco-Friendly

Biogas is a renewable, as well as a clean, source of energy. Gas generated through biodigestion is Biogas is a renewable, as well as a clean, source of energy. Gas generated through biodigestion is non-polluting; it actually reduces greenhouse emissions (i.e. reduces the greenhouse effect). No combustion takes place in the process, meaning there is zero emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere; therefore, using gas from waste as a form of energy is a great way to combat global warming.

Unsurprisingly, concern for the environment is a major reason why the use of biogas has become more widespread. Biogas plants significantly curb the greenhouse effect: the plants lower methane emissions by capturing this harmful gas and using it as fuel. Biogas generation helps cut reliance on the use of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal.

Another biogas advantage is that unlike other types of renewable energies, the process to create the gas is natural, not requiring energy for the generation process. In addition, the raw materials used in the production of biogas are renewable, as trees and crops will continue to grow. Manure, food scraps, and crop residue are raw materials that will always be available, which makes it a highly sustainable option.

2. Biogas Generation Reduces Soil and Water Pollution

Overflowing landfills don’t only spread foul smells- they also allow toxic liquids to drain into underground water sources.

Subsequently,  another advantage of biogas is that biogas generation may improve water quality. Moreover, anaerobic digestion deactivates pathogens and parasites; thus, it’s also quite effective in reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases. Similarly, waste collection and management significantly improve in areas with biogas plants. This in turn, leads to improvements in the environment, sanitation, and hygiene.

3. Biogas Generation Produces Organic Fertilizer

The by-product of the biogas generation process is enriched organic digestate, which is a perfect supplement to, or substitute for, chemical fertilizers. The fertilizer discharge from the digester can accelerate plant growth and resilience to diseases, whereas commercial fertilizers contain chemicals that have toxic effects and can cause food poisoning, among other things.

4. It’s A Simple and Low-Cost Technology That Encourages A Circular Economy

The technology used to produce biogas is quite cheap. It is easy to set up and needs little investment when used on a small scale. Small biodigesters can be used right at home, utilizing kitchen waste and animal manure. A household system pays for itself after a while and the materials used for generation are absolutely free. The gas produced can be used directly for cooking and generation of electricity. This is what allows the cost of biogas production to be relatively low.

Farms can make use of biogas plants and waste products produced by their livestock every day. The waste products of one cow can provide enough energy to power a lightbulb for an entire day.

In large plants, biogas can also be compressed to achieve the quality of natural gas and utilized to power automobiles. Building such plants requires relatively low capital investment and creates green jobs. For instance, in India, 10 million jobs were created, mostly in rural areas, in plants and in organic waste collection.

5. Healthy Cooking Alternative

Biogas generators save women and children from the daunting task of firewood collection. As a result, more time is left for cooking and cleaning. More importantly, cooking on a gas stove, instead of over an open fire, prevents the family from being exposed to smoke in the kitchen. This helps prevent deadly respiratory diseases. Sadly, 4.3 million people a year die prematurely from illnesses attributed to the household air pollution caused by the inefficient use of solid fuels for cooking.

HomeBiogas – the perfect biogas solution for your home!

HomeBiogas systems allow you to enjoy all the advantages of biogas production and use from your home.  They are easy to install, require minimal effort to use and produce clean, renewable energy and fertilizer.  If you’re eager to reduce your fossil fuel dependency while safely and efficiently producing renewable energy for everyday use, find the HomeBiogas product that best fits your lifestyle! 

Disadvantages of Biogas

1. Few Technological Advancements

An unfortunate disadvantage of biogas today is that the systems used in the production of biogas are not efficient. There are no new technologies yet to simplify the process and make it accessible and low cost. This means large scale production to supply for a large population is still not possible. Although the biogas plants operating today are able to meet some energy needs, many governments are not willing to invest in the sector.

2. Contains Impurities

After refinement and compression, biogas still contains impurities. If the generated bio-fuel was used to power automobiles it could corrode the metal parts of the engine. This corrosion would lead to increased maintenance costs. The gaseous mix is much more suitable for kitchen stoves, water boilers, and lamps.

3. Effect of Temperature on Biogas Production

Like other renewable energy sources (e.g. solar, wind), biogas generation is also affected by the weather. The optimal temperature bacteria needed to digest waste is around 37°C. In cold climates, digesters require heat energy to maintain a constant biogas supply.

4. Less Suitable For Dense Metropolitan Areas

Another biogas disadvantage is that industrial biogas plants only make sense where raw materials (food waste, manure) are in plentiful supply . For this reason, biogas generation is much more suitable for rural and suburban areas.

Ready to set up your own small biogas generation system?

Do you think the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to biogas use for living a more sustainable life? Us too! 

If you’re ready to take an actionable step in reducing your carbon footprint by making and using renewable energy at home, then the HomeBiogas system is right for you. Check out our variety of products to see which HomeBiogas system will help you turn your waste into clean energy.

Thanks for reading our discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of biogas. We at HomeBiogas are here for any questions. You are also welcome to sign up for our newsletter, and get monthly updates about special deals, coupons, industry news, sustainability trends, recipe videos, and more!

The biggest advantages and disadvantages of natural gas

Natural gas is a non-renewable, odorless, colorless hydrocarbon. It is non-toxic but extremely flammable.

In 2017, natural gas accounted for 36% of the EU energy consumption, next to electricity, which accounted for 24%, renewables for 18%, and petroleum for 11% – according to Eurostat. In the U.S., it accounts for more than 25% of energy consumption. It is used as a source of energy for:

  • Heating
  • Electricity
  • Fuel for vehicles

These are facts. But is it okay that we rely on natural gas so much? In this article, we will find out.

What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of natural gas, what are the pros and cons of fossil fuels, and what else should we know about natural gas?

Advantages and disadvantages of natural gas

If we want to examine the pros and cons of natural gas objectively, we should first clarify what “advantages” and “disadvantages” mean.

What is an advantage to one is a disadvantage to another. For example, natural gas is an extremely flammable gas. It is its most significant advantage because, without it, we could extract much less energy from it.

But extreme inflammation is a potential danger because if a gas leak occurs, and it reaches a certain concentration, there will be a risk of explosion.

Sadly, there is no heating season without tragedies linked to natural gas. So, its advantages and disadvantages depend largely on the way it is used.

Benefits of natural gas

What are the advantages of natural gas?

First of all, natural gas is a fossil fuel. That is why it is worth comparing it to other fossil fuels first.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit bf3 gas.

Natural gas is less expensive than other fossil fuels.

If somebody asks what the 3 main advantages of natural gas are, the price will definitely be among them.

 

According to Ourworldindata.org, natural gas is much less expensive than other fossil fuels, such as oil or coal.

Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel because it burns cleaner

Other fossil fuels have many more harmful combustion products than natural gas.

If we burn natural gas under perfect combustion circumstances, its light will be blue and there will be minimal to none harmful compounds.

Natural gas is one of the best energy sources to store and transport. It can be transported via international pipelines, or with tankers (in LNG form). It is safer and easier to store than other fossil fuels

It is clear that natural gas is one of the best non-renewable sources of energy. But what about renewable energy?

Natural gas is extremely reliable

Electric power is great until a storm comes. It can be knocked out during the storm, and our electrical devices may malfunction after it.

A similar problem cannot occur with natural gas.

More efficient storage and transportation compared to renewable energy

Transportation over long distances is much more efficient than in the case of sustainable energy (less network loss).

It is one of the biggest disadvantages of renewable energy – we cannot store it effectively.

Natural gas disadvantages

What are the disadvantages of natural gas?

It is dangerous in case of irresponsible use

Natural gas must be handled very carefully because it is a combustible material which can explode, as mentioned in the introduction.

It is not worth saving on installation and inspection costs. A gas leak meter is a very important accessory if we want to be sure that natural gas works properly.

It pollutes the environment

Yes, natural gas does contribute to greenhouse gases, if it is burnt under inappropriate conditions – and it is inevitable.

It is more environmentally friendly than other fossil fuels because it burns cleaner, but natural gas still pollutes the environment.

Non-renewable energy source

It comes from decomposed plants and animals buried deep under the Earth’s surface – for millions of years. That is why we call it non-renewable. If it’s gone, we cannot produce more.

If we do not reduce consumption, we will run out of natural gas in 52 years — according to Worldometers. 

Natural gas has a long processing process

Before commercial and residential use, there is a long and costly process. 

First, it is mixed with a liquid called crude oil. Then most by-products are extracted from it, such as:

  • Propane
  • Ethane
  • Butane

The extracted by-products can be used elsewhere – and natural gas is almost in its final form, which can be used in everyday life.

However, this is preceded by another important last step, as natural gas is a colorless and odorless hydrocarbon and, although non-toxic, extremely flammable. To avoid accidents, it will be scented to make gas leaks easily recognizable.

After that, a new composition of natural gas is formed – this is how it reaches end-users. This process raises the complexity and the cost of natural gas production.

Relatively expensive storage

Even though natural gas is easier to store and transport than other fossil fuels and renewables, it has one big storage disadvantage. Its volume happens to be four times as big as petrol’s.

Because of this, natural gas storage is much more expensive since more storage space is needed.

Conclusion — pros and cons of natural gas 

Natural gas is the most important energy source in the world right now. It accounts for 36% of the EU energy consumption and for more than 25% of the U.S. energy consumption.

There are a lot of advantages of using natural gas, but like everything, it also has its drawbacks. What is an advantage to one is a disadvantage to another.

If we want a cheap, reliable energy source, natural gas will be perfect. But in the long term, if we want to use a green energy source that will never run out, there are better alternatives than natural gas.

 

Are you interested in learning more about d2 specialty gas? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!