Biogas

Biogas Is A Form Of Non-Fossil Fuel

Biogas is a word that's been coined to describe gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas has potential as an alternative fuel that is not produced from petroleum or other fossil sources. It is therefore called a non-fossil fuel.  

Biogas occurs in nature in several ways. It may be due to anaerobic digestion or fermentation of renewable energy sources like biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, and energy crops. Methane and carbon dioxide are its primary components. Swamp gas is a form of biogas or non-fossil methane. Swamps, marshes and landfills are good sources of biogas which can be used for creating electricity. Studies have reported that use of biogas would generate enough electricity to meet up to three percent of North America's electricity needs.

One of the most interesting sources of biogas is cow manure. A single cow produces enough manure in one day to generate three kilowatt hours of electricity. This would be more than enough electricity to power a single one hundred watt light bulb for 24 hours. Plus, decomposing cow manure produces methane that escapes into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming. It's estimated that if we could convert cow manure into biogas, it would reduce global warming gases present in the atmosphere by approximately four percent.

Biogas can be produced inexpensively and therefore has appeal as an alternative fuel for heating homes or cooking food. Like natural gas, biogas can be compressed and used to power motor vehicles.

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is the shortest, lightest hydrocarbon molecule (CH4). Currently, much of the methane used in the world is fossil-based. 

Fossil-based natural gas is primarily made up of methane, but also containes ethane, butane, propane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen sulfide in significant amounts. Natural gas is found in oil fields, natural gas fields, and coalbeds. This clear, odorless gas is commonly used for fuel in the U.S. and abroad.

One major use of natural gas is electricity generation; another is to produce hydrogen. In some countries, natural gas is also used to power motor vehicles. Many homes use natural gas for heating, cooking and running appliances such as clothes dryers, and natural gas is a major source of the ammonia used in producing fertilizer.

Biogas has great potential as an alternative fuel based on a renewable energy source. In the case of the United States and many other countries, this would reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy - like oil. Since biogas is a renewable fuel, it qualifies for tax credits and subsidies in a number of countries.