Biogas

AT Information Biogas - Index

What is biogas?

Biogas and the global carbon cycle

Biology of methanogenesis

Substrate and material balance of biogas production

Composition and properties of biogas

Utilization

The Benefits of Biogas Technology

The Costs of Biogas Technology

Fuel and Fertilizer

Public and Political Awareness

What is the section Basics about?

History of Biogas Technology: Europe/Germany; China and India; German promotion of biogas technology in the south; Outlook

Parameters and process optimisation: Substrate temperature; Temperature range of anaerobic fermentation; Minimal average temperature; Changes in temperature; Available nutrient; Retention time; Batch-type and continuous plants; Cost efficiency; Substrate; pH value; Nitrogen inhibition and C/N ratio; Nitrogen inhibition; C/N ratio; Substrate solids content and agitation; Substrate solids content; Agitation; Inhibitory factors

Microbiology: The three steps of biogas production; Hydrolysis; Acidification; Methane formation; Symbiosis of bacteria

The Contribution of Biogas Technology to Conservation and Development: Conservation; Development; Under which conditions can biogas technology contribute to development and conservation?

The Physical Appearance of Different Types of Biogas Plants: Balloon plants; Fixed-dome plants; Floating-drum plants

Biogas Appliances: Gas cookers/stoves; Two-flame burners; Gas demand; Biogas lamps; Efficiency of biogas lamps; Light output; Optimal tuning; Shortcomings of commercial-type biogas lamps; Adjusting a biogas lamp; Radiant heaters; Thermal radiation of heaters; Gas pressure; Safety pilot and air filter; Incubators; Warm-water-heated planar-type incubators; Refrigerators; Burner; Gas demand; Biogas-fueled engines; Gas demand; Types of engines

Limitations of Biogas Technology

Organic Fertilizer from Biogas Plants: Organic substances in fertilizers; Nutrients and soil organisms; Reduction of soil erosion; Reduction of nitrogen washout; Effects on crops

Nitrogen-content and C/N-ratio of organic substrates

Biogas - Framework Conditions

Social aspects in the planning process

Social and political aspects in the dissemination process

Specific regional developments

National energy & fertilizer supply strategies

Chemical fertilizer

Fertilizer policies, energy policies

Environmental aspects

Environmental Frame Conditions of Biogas Technology: Climatic conditions for biogas dissemination; Temperatures; Precipitation; Suitability of climatic zones; Firewood consumption and soil erosion; Soil protection and reforestation; Reduction of the greenhouse effect

Socio-Cultural Aspects of Biogas Projects: Participation; Religious and social taboos; Authorities; Disregard of taboos; Social classes and class barriers; Development of a general model; Definition of position of the target group; Social regulations for the division of labor; Reasons for regulations on the division of labor; Difficulties in researching social regulations; Conclusions; Gender considerations; Forms of participation; Special female committees

Social Problems Affecting the Propagation of Biogas Technology: Ethical barriers; Socio-cultural taboos; Defense mechanisms against the use of human excrements as fertilizer; Irregular attendance and maintenance of biogas systems; Fertilization

Political and Administrative Frame Conditions for Biogas Programmes: Political will and public opinion; Program goals; Administration

Biogas - Application and Product Development

Planning a biogas plant

Design

Physical conditions

Skills and labor

Standardization

Types of plants

Parts of a biogas plant

Stabilization of the process

Gas quality

Managing input- and output-material

Substrate input

Effluent sludge

Biogas - Digester types: Fixed-dome plants; Function; Digester; Gas-Holder; Types of fixed-dome plants; Climate and size; Floating-drum plants; The drum; Size; Water-jacket floating-drum plants; Material of digester and drum; Guide frame; Types of floating-drum plants; Further reading:

Biogas Plant Types and Design: Digester types in industrialized countries; Selection of appropriate design; Ballon plants; Horizontal plants; Earth-pit plants; Ferrocement plants

Parts of Biogas Plants: Influent collecting tank; Size and homogenization; Location; Inlet and outlet; Size and material; Position of inlet and outlet; Digester; Requirements; Internal and external forces; Shapes of digesters; Building material of digester; Further Reading:; Gasholders; Floating-drum gasholders; Fixed-dome gasholders; Plastic gas-holders; Separate gas-holders; Gas pipe, valves and accessories; Biogas piping; Steel pipes; Stirring facilities; Types of stirring facilities

Optional Parts of Biogas Plants: Heating systems; Direct heating; Indirect heating; Pumps; Types of pump; Data of pumps; Substrate; Positive displacement pumps; Pump delivery lines; Weak ring; Position of the weak ring; Materials and construction; Further reading:

Balancing Biogas Production and Energy Demand: Determining the biogas production; Measuring the biomass availability (quantities of excrement and green substrate); Determining the biomass supply via literature data; Determining the biomass supply via regional reference data; Determining biomass availability via user survey; Determining the energy demand; Table: Outline for determining biogas demand

Biogas Planning Guide: Detailed planning guide for biogas plants; 0. Initial situation; 1. Natural / Agricultural conditions; 2. Balancing the energy demand with the biogas production; 3. Plant Design and Construction; 4. Plant operation / maintenance / repair; 5. Economic analysis; 6. Social acceptance and potential for dissemination; 7. Summarization; Siting conditions; Overall rating of siting conditions

Step-by-Step Planning Checklist for Biogas Plants

Sizing a biogas plant: Sizing the digester; Calculating the daily gas production G; Establishing the plant parameters; Specific gas production Gp; Digester loading Ld; Sizing the gasholder

Siting of the Biogas Unit: Stable; Biogas plant

Substrate types and management: Cattle dung and manure; Pig dung and manure; Goat dung; Chicken droppings; Human excrements; The problem of scum; Separation of material; Substrate

Construction Details of Biogas Plants

Checklist for building a biogas plant

Piping Systems: PVC piping; Galvanized steel piping; Pipe diameters; Lay-out of the piping system; Water traps; Valves

Pumps for Biogas Plants: Types of pumps; Rotary pumps; Positive displacement pumps; Eccentric spiral pump; Rotary piston pump

Heating: Internal and external heating systems

Agitation: Mixing methods; Mixing through inherent flow; Mechanical paddle rotor; Submerged motor with rotor stirring; Shaft-driven rotors; Hydraulic mixing; Mixing through injection of biogas

Slurry-Use Equipment: Distribution via piping systems; Distribution via tanker; Separation of slurry and drying of the moist sludge; Composting of slurry

Plasters and Coats for Digester and Gas-Holder: Cement plaster with special additives; Bitumen (several layers); Bitumen coat with aluminum foil; Water-thinnable dispersion paint; Single- and dual component synthetic resin paints; Paraffin

Underground Water

Operation and Use: Daily operation; Feeding of the digester; Agitation; Controlling the overflow; Slurry distribution; Weekly / monthly operation; Annual operation; Security

Biogas - Sludge Management: Sludge storage; Liquid storage; Drying; Composting; Composition of sludge; Process of biomethanation; Viscosity; Odor; Nutrients; Nitrogen compounds; Fertilizing effect of effluent sludge; Caustic effect on grassland; Eutrophication

Annual Manure Yield and Nutrient Content of Animal Excrements

Maintainance, Monitoring and Repair: Daily maintenance work; Weekly/monthly (prophylactic) maintenance work; Control of functions; Annual maintenance work; Monitoring; Repair

Biogas Utilization: Gas production; Conditioning of biogas; Reduction of the moisture content; Reduction of the hydrogen-sulfide content; Reduction of the carbon-dioxide content; Biogas burners; Efficiency; Gas demand

Gas Yields and Methane Contents for Various Substrates

Biogas - Costs and Benefits

Economy and Financing

Techno-economic assessment

Comparison with other alternatives

Considering development tendencies

Economic evaluation of a biogas plant

Social policies

Benefits for the environment

The Benefits for Biogas Users: Monetarizing individual benefits; Acceptance by the target group; Energy; Bio-fertilizer; Improvement in quality of farmyard manure; Increased yield; Saved disposal cost as benefit; Time consumption

Costs of a Biogas Plant: Categories of costs; Production costs; Running costs; Capital costs; Average costs

Macro-economic evaluation: Objective; Economic effects of biogas plants; Energy and slurry; Environment; Health sector; Employment; Final remarks; Bibliography economic viability (financial analysis) and macro-economic evaluation

Economic Viability (Financial Analysis): Objectives, methodology and decision criteria; Procedure of dynamic approach; Investment criteria; A) Net Present Value (NPV); B) Internal Rate of Return (IRR); C) Dynamic Unit Cost criterion (C_dyn); D) Dynamic Annuity criterion (A_dyn); Input data; Cost data; Benefit data; Parameters and assumptions; Price basis and escalation; Discount rate; Foreign exchange rate; Final remarks

Cost benefit relation (investment calculation, sensitivity analysis): Methods; Difficulties; Observation of the development; Further reading:

The Annuities Method

Benefits and Impacts of Biogas Technology: Improvement of sanitary and health conditions; Reduction of the pathogenic capacity; Reduction of disease transmission; Gastrointestinal diseases; Economic value of disease reduction; Nutrition; Culture and education; Distribution of income; Effects on regional employment; Improvement of living conditions; Rural-urban migration; Reducing deforestation as benefit

Global Environmental Benefits of Biogas Technology: The impact on the greenhouse effect; Sources of methane emissions in the agricultural field; Methane reduction potential through the application of biogas technology; Reduction potential of nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture

Financing and public support: Sources for financing; Running, maintenance and repair costs; Financing by credit; State support; Families with low incomes

Biogas - Program Implementation

Dissemination of biogas technology

Implementation planning

Regional level

Local level

Factors for a successful dissemination

Cost of investment

Benefits of biogas technology

Biogas Programme Structure: Biogas research and development programs; Biogas pilot programs; Biogas dissemination programs; Biogas networking program

Criteria for the Dissemination of Biogas Technology: Excluding factors; Critical factors; Ideal conditions

Information and Public Relation Campaigns: Implementation campaigns; Information material and PR channels; Targeting information; National level; Regional or district level; Local and village level; Costs of campaigning; Demonstration plants; Model farmers

Educational and Training Programs: Theoretical and practical training; Target groups for practical training; Teaching methods; Relevance for the target group; Educational programs; Curriculum development

Financial Promotion and Public Support: Sources of financing; Running, maintenance and repair costs; Financing by credit; State support; Families with low income; Research and Development; Subsidies; Economic benefits for the target group; Financial incentives

Biogas - Organizations and Networks: Funding Organizations; International Organizations; National Organizations; Implementing Organizations; Networks for biogas and anaerobic digestion

Country Reports

Africa

Asia

Latin America

Biogas technology in Bangladesh: Potentials of biogas; Biogas utilization; Involvement of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in biogas technology

Geography, population and agriculture in Bangladesh: Geography and population; Economy and agriculture

Biogas technology in Belize: History; CAMARTEC model; Target group; Government

Geography, population and agriculture in Belize: Geography; Population; Economy and agriculture

Biogas technology in Bolivia (region Cochabamba): History

Geography, population and agriculture in Bolivia (region Cochabamba): Geography and population; Economy and agriculture

Biogas technology in Burundi: Biogas Dissemination Programme; History; Plant type

Geography, population and agriculture in Burundi: Geography; Population; Agriculture; Energy

Biogas technology in China (Sichuan): History; Dissemination structure; Subsidies; Types of plants; Strategy of biogas dissemination; Further reading:

Geography, population and agriculture in China (Sichuan): Geography and population; Agriculture and economy; Energy and environment

Biogas technology in Columbia: Special Energy Programme Columbia; Types of plants; Farm management

Geography, population and agriculture in Columbia: Geography and population; Agriculture and economy

Biogas technology in India: History; Types of plant; Promotion of biogas technology

Biogas technology in the Ivory Coast (region of Korhogo): History; Problems; Slurry

Geography, population and acriculture in the Ivory Coast (region of Korhogo): Geography; Population; Agriculture

Biogas technology in Jamaica: Biogas utilization; Potential for biogas production

Geography, population and agriculture in Jamaica: Geography; Population; Economy and agriculture

Biogas technology on Java (province of Central Java): History; Types of plant; The CAMARTEC type

Geography, population and agriculture on Java (province of Central Java): Geography; Population; Economy and agriculture

Biogas technology in Kenya: History; Financial supports; Function of the plants

Geography, population and agriculture in Kenya: Geography; Population; Economy and agriculture; Energy; Environment

Biogas technology in Morocco (region of Souss-Massa): History; Problems; Special Energy Programme of the GTZ; Potential for biogas

Geography, population and agriculture in Morocco (region of Souss-Massa): Geography and population; Agriculture and economy; Energy and environment

Biogas technology in Nepal: History; GGC biogas programme; Types of plant; Construction of a fixed-dome plant in Nepal

Geography, population and agriculture in Nepal: Geography; Population; Agriculture and economy; Energy; Environment

Biogas technology in Orissa (India): Dissemination structure; Gram Vikas; Masons; Guarantee period; Women; Utilisation of slurry; Types of plant; Dissemination costs

Geography, population and agriculture in Orissa (India): Geography; Population; Agriculture and economy

Biogas technology in Sangli (India): Khadi and Village Industries Commission; Biogas dissemination; Target group; Types of plant; Prices for a biogas plant

Geography, population and agriculture in Sangli (India): Geography and population; Economy and agriculture; Environment

Biogas technology in Tanzania: History; Standardisation; Technical development; Special Energy programme; Financing; Further dissemination programmes

Geography, population and agriculture in Tanzania: Geography; Population; Economy and agriculture; Environment

Biogas technology in Thailand: History; Thai-German Biogas Programme; Type of plant

Geography, population and agriculture in Thailand: Geography and population; Economy and agriculture; Environment

Biogas technology in Tunisia (Sejenane, El Kef): History; End of the Special Energy Programme

Geography, population and agriculture in Tunisia (Sejenane, El Kef): Geography and population; Economy and agriculture

Biogas technology in Vietnam: Biogas utilization; The benefits of biogas systems within integrated farming systems

Geography, population and agriculture in Vietnam: Geography and population; Economy and agriculture