WASTE MANAGEMENT
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 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 ”
34 November 2014