Biogas Benefits

What is biogas?

Biogas originates from bacteria in the process of bio-degradation of organic

material under anaerobic (without air) conditions. In the absence of oxygen,
anaerobic bacteria decompose organic matter and produce a gas mainly
composed of methane (60%) and carbon dioxide called biogas. This gas can
be compared to natural gas which is 99% methane.

Biogas and the global carbon cycle

Each year some 590-880 million tons of methane are released worldwide into
the atmosphere through microbial activity. About 90% of the emitted
methane derives from biogenic sources, i.e. from the decomposition of
biomass. The remainder is of fossil origin (e.g. petrochemical processes). In
the northern hemisphere, the present tropospheric methane concentration
amounts to about 1.65 ppm(parts per million).

Unlike fossil fuel combustion, biogas production from biomass is considered

CO2 neutral and therefore does not emit additional Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
into the atmosphere.

However, if biogas is not recovered properly, it will contribute to a GHG effect

20 times worst than if methane is simply combusted. Therefore, there is a
real incentive to transfer biogas combustion energy into heat and/or
electricity.

Finally, biogas production from anaerobic digester presents the additional

advantage of treating organic waste and reducing the environmental impact
of these wastes. It contributes to a better image of the farming community
while reducing odor, pathogens and weeds from the manure and producing
an enhance fertilizer easily assimilated by plants.
Benefits of Biogas

A Polythene Biogas unit can yield a whole range of benefits for their users,
the society and the environment in general, the chief benefits being;

1. Production of energy (heat, light, electricity).

2. Transformation of organic wastes into high quality fertilizer.

3. Improvement of hygienic conditions through reduction of pathogens,

worm eggs and flies.

4. Reduction of workload, mainly for women, in firewood collection and

cooking.

5. Environmental advantages through protection of forests, soil, water and

air.

6. Global Environmental Benefits of Biogas Technology.

1. Production of energy (heat, light, electricity)

The calorific value of biogas is about 6 kWh/m3 - this corresponds to about

half a litre of diesel oil. The net calorific value depends on the efficiency of
the burners or appliances. Methane is the valuable component under the
aspect of using biogas as a fuel.

Biogas use, replacing conventional fuels like kerosene or firewood, allows for
the conservation of environment. It therefore, increases its own value by the
value of i.e. forest saved or planted.

Biogas is able to substitute almost the complete consumption of firewood in

rural households.
1 m3 Biogas (approximately 6 kWh/m3) is equivalent to:

Diesel, Kerosene (approx. 12 kWh/kg) 0.5 kg

Wood (approx. 4.5 kWh/kg) 1.3 kg

Cow dung (approx. 5 kWh/kg dry matter) 1.2 kg

Plant residues (approx. 4.5 kWh/kg d.m.) 1.3 kg

Hard coal (approx. 8.5 kWh/kg) 0.7 kg

City gas (approx. 5.3 kWh/m3) 1.1 m3

Propane (approx. 25 kWh/m3) 0.24 m3

The biogas generated from small and medium sized units (up to 6m3) is
generally used for cooking and lighting purposes. Large units and/or
communal units produce this gas in large quantities and can be used to
power engines and generators for mechanical work or power generation.

2. Transformation of organic wastes into high quality organic fertilizer

The polythene bio gas digester is fed with cow dung slurry at a design rate,
which is governed by local parameters. The output from the digester
(digested manure) is actually a high quality organic fertilizer.

This fertilizer is very important, especially in a country like India where the
farmers do do not have the resources to buy chemical fertilizers frequently. It
has been calculated through university lab tests in India that the fertilizer
which comes from a bio-gas plant contains three times more nitrogen than
the best compost made through open air digestion. If you compost chicken
manure, for example, the finished compost will have in it only 1.58 to 2%o
nitrogen. The same manure digested in a bio-gas plant will analyze 6%
nitrogen.
Assuming that the digested slurry is immediately utilized - and properly
applied - as fertilizer, each daily kg can be expected to yield roughly 0.5 kg
extra nitrogen, as compared with fresh manure. If the slurry is first left to dry
and/or improperly applied, the nitrogen yield will be considerably lower.

This nitrogen is already present in the manure. The nitrogen is preserved

when waste is digested in an enclosed bio-gas plant, whereas the same
nitrogen evaporates away as ammonia during open air composting. The bio-
gas plant does not make extra nitrogen; it does not create nitrogen, it merely
preserves the nitrogen that is already there.

The bio gas plant is the perfect fertilizer-making machine and it has been
tested all over the world. There is no better way to digest or compost manure
and other organic material than in a bio-gas plant. One can compare the
bacteria in a digester tank to fish worms. Fish worms help the soil by eating
organic matter, passing it through their bodies and expelling it as very rich
fertilizer. They live by breaking waste material down into food for plants. It is
the same with the bacteria in a methane digester.

One can also think of it another way. Seven cubic feet of methane gas can be
generated from one pound of dry leaves but only one cubic foot of gas will
come from one pound of cow dung. The cow dung, on the other hand; is just
that much richer in fertilizer than the leaves. One can say, then, that the cow
has digested the leaves and partly turned them into plant food. When the
cow manure is then composted in a bio-gas plant, the bacteria there merely
further process—or refine—the former dry leaves into a still richer plant food.
It is all very natural.

Bio-fertilizer is a 100 % natural and organic fertilizer, based on composted

organic material (=> renewable energy source). The composting process
is achieved through microbe activity and contains all the nutrients and
microbe organisms required for the benefits of the plants.

Bio-fertilizers also secrete growth promoting substances like hormones,

vitamins, amino acids and anti-fungal chemicals, as well as improve seed
germination and root growth. Bio-fertilizers, thereby also aid in the better
establishment of plants.
Bio-fertilizers are cost effective and eco-friendly supplements to chemical
fertilizers. They provide a sustainable source for nutrients and healthy soils.
Each biogas plant produces about five ton's of bio-fertilizer annually, which
can replace chemical fertilizer.*

3. Health benefits of biogas and the improvement of hygienic conditions

(reduction of pathogens, worm eggs and flies)

Biogas can have significant health benefits. According to the Integrated

Environmental Impact Analysis carried out by BSP** for 600 biogas users and
600 non-users, four percent more non-biogas users have respiratory diseases
than those who own biogas plants (1). Qualitative information from various
household surveys carried out by BSP has revealed that problems like
respiratory illness, eye infection, asthma and lung problems have decreased
after installing a biogas plant (Tables 1 & 2).

Table 1: Health benefits of biogas

Disease

Problems in the past (HHs)*

Present status of HHs

Yes

No

Improved
Remained same

Eye Infection

72

18

69

Cases of burning

29

71

28

Lung problem

38

62

33

Respiratory problems

42

58

34

Asthma

11

89

2
Dizziness/headache

27

93

16

11

Intestinal;/diarrhea

58

42

14

44

*HHs = households

Source: Biogas Users’ Survey 2000, BSP**

Table 2 Health benefits of biogas (2)

Disease

20

80

Cough

53

47

Headache

33
3

67

Nausea

95

Chest pain

15

85

Lethargy

11

89

Respiratory disease

41

59

Malaria

92

Typhoid10

10

90
Total (%)

22

77

Source: Biogas Users’ Survey,1999 ,BSP**

According to the Biogas Users’ Survey conducted in 2000 with 100

households, biogas can have positive impacts on the health of its users. Out
of 42 respondents who had respiratory problems in the past, it was reported
that the problem has improved for 34 of them. Similarly, those who had
problems like asthma, eye infections and lung problems found that their
problems had decreased after displacing dirtier fuels with biogas.

If parasitic diseases had previously been common, the improvement in

hygiene also has economic benefits (reduced working time). The more fully
the sludge is digested, the more pathogens are killed. High temperatures and
long retention times are more hygienic.

The following are the principal organisms killed in biogas plants:

o Typhoid

o Paratyphoid,

o Cholera and dysentery bacteria (in one or two weeks),

o Hookworm and bilharzia (in three weeks).

o Tapeworm and roundworm die completely when the fermented slurry is

dried in the sun.

The availability of biogas can have effects on nutritional patterns too. With
easy access to energy, the number of warm meals may increase. Whole grain
and beans may be cooked longer, increasing their digestibility, especially for
children. Water may be boiled more regularly, thus reducing waterborne
diseases.

4. Reduction of workload, mainly for women, in firewood collection and

cooking.

Polythene Biogas Plants units (BGU) have many benefits and address many
problems. To gather wood, women can spend up to 2-4 hours per day
searching and carrying the firewood*. Once a BGU is installed, she will have
that much extra time for herself and her children. This will help in improving
the quality of women’s and children’s lives .They will now have more time for
education and interesting activities outside the home.

Biogas plants also improve health conditions in the homes:

Since biogas burns clean, homes do not fill with smoke and ash.

Women and children experience less bronchial problems and can expect to
live longer.

Homes are also more hygienic.

Dung cakes are no longer stored in the homes.

Cooking with gas takes less time than with wood or charcoal or any other
commonly used fuel.

It is easier to cook with gas stove.

The annual time saving for firewood collection and cooking averages to
almost 1000 hours in each household provided with a biogas plant*.

5. Environmental advantages: through protection of forests, soil, water and

air.

Estimating an average per capita consumption of 3 kg of wood per day for

energy (cooking, heating and boiling water) in rural areas, the daily per
capita demand of energy equals about 13 kWh which could be covered by
about 2 m3 of biogas*. A biogas plant therefore directly saves forest.

Annually, each biogas plant can save more than four ton's of firewood and 32
liters of kerosene*.

A single biogas system with a volume of 100 cubic feet (2,8 m3) can save as
much as 0.3 acres (0,12 ha) of forest (woodland) each year*.

A recent study by Winrock**, Nepal and others found that each biogas plant
can mitigate about five ton's of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

The credits thus earned could provide alternative financing for the
sustainability of biogas program in that particular region.

The widespread production and utilization of biogas is expected to make a

substantial contribution to soil protection and amelioration. First, biogas
could increasingly replace firewood as a source of energy. Second, biogas
systems yield more and better fertilizer. As a result, more fodder becomes
available for domestic animals. This, in turn, can lessen the danger of soil
erosion attributable to overgrazing.

6. Global Environmental Benefits of Biogas Technology

The greenhouse effect is caused by gases in the atmosphere (mainly carbon

dioxide, CO2) which allow the sun’s short wave radiation to reach the earth
surface while they absorb, to a large degree, the long wave heat radiation
from the earth’s surface and from the atmosphere.

Due to the "natural greenhouse effect" of the earth’s atmosphere the

average temperature on earth is 15°C and not minus 18°C.

The increase of the so called greenhouse gases which also include methane,
ozone, nitrous oxide, etc. cause a rise of the earth's temperature. The World
Bank Group expects a rise in sea levels until the year 2050 of up to 50 cm.
Flooding, erosion of the coasts, salinization of ground water and loss of land
are but a few of the consequences mentioned.
Until now, instruments to reduce the greenhouse effect considered primarily
the reduction of CO2-emissions, due to their high proportion in the
atmosphere. Though other greenhouse gases appear to be only a small
portion of the atmosphere, they cause much more harm to the climate.

Methane is not only the second most important greenhouse gas (it
contributes with 20% to the effect while carbon dioxide causes 62%), it has
also a 25 times higher global warming potential compared with carbon
dioxide in a time horizon of 100 years. The Bio gas plant effectively reduces
the amount of methane directly released into the atmosphere, by trapping it
and facilitating its use as a green fuel. After burning, methane only releases
harmless gases in air. Given below are the figures relating to this:

With anaerobic digestion, a renewable source of energy is captured, which

has an important climatic twin effect:

1. The use of renewable energy reduces the CO2-emissions through a

reduction of the demand for fossil fuels.

2. At the same time, by capturing uncontrolled methane emissions, the

second most important greenhouse gas is reduced:

1m3 cattle manure = 22.5 m3 biogas = 146 kWh gross = 36 kg CO2-

emissions

Smaller agricultural units can additionally reduce the use of forest resources
for household energy purposes and thus slow down deforestation, soil
degradation and resulting natural catastrophes like flooding or
desertification.

1 m3 biogas (up to 65% CH4) = 0,5 l fuel oil = 1,6 kg CO2

1 m3 biogas = 5,5 kg fire wood = 11 kg CO2

The reduction of 1 kg methane is equivalent to the reduction of 25 kg CO2.

The reduction of greenhouse gases with a high global warming potential can
be more efficient compared with the reduction of CO2.

Even if there is only one biogas plant in a country - the following valuable
assets of biogas use from the environmental point of view can be
determined.

As CO2 generation by burned biogas only amounts to 80 per cent of the CO2
generation of fired fuel oil (per kWh electrical energy) and is even more
advantageous in relation to coal (about 50 per cent), the environmental
benefits of biogas in relation to fossil fuels are indisputable.

Because of the high cohere efficiency of wood (0.7 kg CO2 per kWh gross
energy), the substitution of the wood based biomasses by biogas rise the
national and global storage capacity of CO2.

Thus, using biogas has a direct and telling effect on local, regional and global
atmosphere, by considerably reducing the greenhouse effect.

* According to the ICAR paper (report issued by the Indian Council of

Agricultural Research, New Delhi)

http://www5.gtz.de/gate/techinfo/biogas/framecond/environ.html

** Winrock International, Nepal Biogas Support Program (BSP) Nepal