Biogas – a natural source of energy

Schmack Biogas – sustainable energy for a future worth living

A significant rise in global population, combined with the rapid development of industrialisation worldwide, has resulted in a substantial increase in energy consumption, consumption that is largely based on fossil fuel. As a result, large amounts of carbon dioxide now enter the Earth‘s atmosphere resulting in substantial, long term damage to our climate and environment.

Today, Germany is up to 70 percent dependent for its energy supply on imports of oil, gas, coal and uranium. World-wide, fossil fuel is becoming ever more scarce and expensive. The question of how to secure an affordable energy supply has now become a central political issue around the world.

Given our concerns regarding climate change, we need a fundamental review; energy politics must take a lead and positively demonstrate how it is possible to consistently develop CO2 neutral forms of energy.

Biogas provides lasting environmental protection

Biogas is one of the key renewable sources of energy next to solar and wind. After all, biogas can be produced in a particularly environmentally responsible and CO2 neutral way from sustainable raw and energy-rich waste materials that are available at a regional level. Biogas utilises the natural energy present in organic matter.

The major benefits of biogas are:

	It supplies power, heat, cooling and gas in one
	It is available all year round – 24/7 – and can be stored
	It is independent of the weather and can, therefore, be made available on demand
	Processed biogas can be used in all vehicles converted to natural gas without problems, and it can be filled in tanks and transported in bottles or pipelines

When it comes to the potential of renewables, biogas is right out in front. According to a UN report, biomass and combined heat and power generation are reckoned to be amongst the key technologies in the endeavour to control climate change.

Production of biogas

How is biogas produced?

Biogas plants predominantly process energy-rich vegetation, such as grass silage, maize and sugar beet, as well as solid manure and slurry. In addition, organic residues, such as lawn cuttings, food leftovers or by-products from the food processing industry can be fermented.

Biomass is broken down by special bacteria under the exclusion of oxygen. In this process, approximately two thirds of the total amount of gas produced by the bacteria is methane; carbon dioxide, nitrogen and a small number of other gases are also produced. Biomass turns into energy.

The methane can be used as fuel in CHP modules, where it generates power and heat. If the biogas is scrubbed, it can also be fed into the gas mains to supply decentralised CHP modules with biogas. One cubic meter of methane contains a calorific value of 10 kWh. The fermented plant residues can be reused in agriculture as a high grade fertiliser.

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