Producing and using biogas has many benefits, both to the environment but also it’s users. Here are some of the amazing reasons to use biogas:
Benefits of Biogas
Alleviate Climate Change
CO2 is a common by-product of many reactions and is a known contributor to global warming. The production of biogas emits methane, a gas 21 times less harmful to the environment. Biogas production also makes use of organic and agricultural waste along with wastewater, limiting greenhouse gas contributions.
Clean & Affordable Energy for All
Poorer communities cannot afford high tech clean energy and resort to unsustainable sources. Through promoting the use of biogas, these communities and industries can become self-sufficient in their electricity and heat needs through using their own organic waste to produce biogas.
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security
Livestock digestate is rich in nutrients and, when used as a biofertilizer, can increase crop yield through improving soil fertility.
Improve Sanitation & Healthier Living
Rural and isolated communities struggle to treat wastewater and organic waste, increasing the risk of disease spreading and unpleasant odours. Biogas plants in these areas treat the water and make use of the waste, improving hygiene and sanitation standards.
Promote Gender Equality
In rural communities, women are often responsible for collecting and carrying firewood which then gets used for cooking. Biogas assists by offering an alternative cooking fuel.
Responsible Production & Consumption
Communities and industries are encouraged to adopt sustainable and accountable practices to manage their wastes and effluents.
Job Creation
Producing biogas creates dignified jobs in the fields of local manufacturing, construction and the operation of biogas plants. By making more jobs, biogas can play its part in reducing unemployment rates.
Programmable & Transportable
Unlike other renewable energy sources, biogas is programmable, meaning it can be used when needed, stored and transported great distances away from the plant that produced it. The methane can be compressed, making it even easier to transport.
Waste Reduction & Sustainable Cities
Pressure can be taken off overladen landfills, since biogas plants process organic waste that would normally end up in the landfill. This helps optimise landfill usage and plays a part in improving air quality.
Improved Urban Air Quality
Biogas can be captured at landfills, reducing the GHG and odour emissions that would have otherwise contributed to reduced air quality and sanitation in cities.
Social Upliftment
Local communities are being educated about greenhouse gases and climate change and are being upskilled in ways to combat it.
Economic Sustainability
Fossil fuels prices are historically unstable due to external market influences which can have a severe impact on economies. Biogas offers independency from fossil fuels and more stable, sustainable economies.
Promoting independent sustainability
Biogas helps individual households become sustainable and independent of the national power production. This lowers the risk of being affected by load shedding.
Protecting Forestry & Wildlife
A contributing factor to deforestation is the reliance on firewood as a domestic fuel. By substituting firewood with biogas less trees will be removed, meaning less of an impact on forests and the ecosystems they house.
Assist with land restoration
Energy crops planted specifically for biogas generation can be grown on non-arable or contaminated land. Over time this assists with land rehabilitation and improved biodiversity within the soil.