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Biogas Electricit (Small-scale)
PublIshed on SSW| (http://www.sswm.Info)
Biogas Electricit (Small-scale)
Niels Sacher (Xavier Universit), Shierln
S. Paclijan (Xavier Universit), Robert
Gensch (Xavier Universit), Dorothee Spuhler (seecon international
gmbh)
Bioga i a mie of mehane, cabon dioide, ae and hdogen lphide podced ding he
anaeobic decompoiion of oganic mae. Bioga can be ecoeed and ed eihe diecl fo
cooking, lighing o i can be anfomed in an kind of hemal, elecical o mechanical eneg. I
can alo be compeed, mch like naal ga, and ed o poe moo ehicle. Mehane i he
alable componen nde he apec of ing bioga fel. The caloific ale of bioga i abo 6
kWh/m3, ha coepond o abo half a lie of dieel oil.
In Out
8Iogas Energy
Inodcion
8Iogas Is a combustIble gas mIxture produced durIng the anaerobIc dIgestIon of organIc matter In an anaerobIc
bIogas reactor (e.g. smallscale dIgester, bIogas settler, dIgestIon of organIc waste, anaerobIc baffled reactor,
etc; see also anaerobIc dIgestIon, general factsheet). 0urIng anaerobIc dIgestIon, wastes are treated and degraded
and bIogas Is produced. AnaerobIc treatment also has the advantage over aerobIc treatment of a smaller emIssIon
of greenhouse gases. Therefore, bIogas Is a renewable green energy source.
Bioga Compoiion
8Iogas consIsts mostly of methane (CH
4
, around 6570) carbon dIoxIde (CD
2
, around 25J0) and varyIng
quantItIes of water (H
2
D) and hydrogen sulphIde (H
2
S) and some trace amounts of other compounds, whIch can be
found, especIally In waste dump bIogas (e.g. ammonIa, NHJ, hydrogen H
2
, nItrogen N
2
, and carbon monoxIde,
CD). The amount of each gas In the mIxture depends on many factors such as the type of dIgester and the kInd of
organIc matter. 0Iverse sludge composItIon requIres dIverse/specIalIsed reactor desIgns to achIeve a hIgh
conversIon.
|ethane Is the valuable component under the aspect of usIng bIogas fuel. The calorIfIc value of bIogas Is about 6
kWh/mJ, whIch corresponds to about half a lIter of dIesel oIl and can be utIlIsed dIrectly as a heat source or to
produce electrIcIty. n all cases, the bIogas must be dehumIdIfIed and purIfIed before combustIon; otherwIse It can
damage the gas engIne.
Coneing Technologie
7arIous technologIes to generate electrIcIty from bIogas on a household level are avaIlable. n prIncIple, the
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chemical energy of the combustible gases is converted to mechanical energy in a controlled combustion system by
a heat engine. This mechanical energy then activates a generator to produce electrical power. The most common
heat engines used in for biogas energy conversion are gas turbines and combustion engines. Combustion engines
can be either internal combustion engine (e.g. reciprocating engine) or external combustion engine (e.g. Stirling
engine).
For small-size heat engines, combustion engines are popular as they are more efficient and less expensive than
small gas turbines. However, gas turbines may be more efficient when operating in a cogeneration cycle producing
heat and electricity. Cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) describe the simultaneous generation of
both electricity and useful heat. Heat engines (also thermal power plants) in general do not convert all of their
thermal energy into electricity. In most cases, a bit more than half is lost as excess heat. By capturing the excess
heat, CHP use heat that would be wasted in a conventional power plant, potentially reaching an efficiency of up to
89%, compared with 55% for the best conventional plants (WRAPAI 2009). This means that less fuel needs to be
consumed to produce the same amount of useful energy. By-product heat at moderate temperatures (100-180C)
can also be used in absorption chillers for cooling (WRAPAI 2009). A plant producing electricity, heat and cold is
sometimes called trigeneration or more generally a polygeneration plant.
Combined heat and power (CHP) unit micro size in Germany. Source: GTZ (2009).
Micro cogeneration is a so-called distributed energy resource (DER). Biogas is burned for running a generator (e.g.
micro turbine). The installation is usually less than 5 kWe (Kilowatts-electrical, WRAPAI 2009). Instead of burning
fuel to merely heat space or water, some of the energy is converted to electricity in addition to heat. This
electricity can be used within the home or business or, if permitted by the grid management, sold back into the
electric power grid (WIKIPEDIA 2010).
Mini cogeneration is a DER producing usually more than 5 kWe and less than 500 kWe (WRAPAI 2009) and the
excess energy is generally fed into the electricity grid. To be viable a good base load for electrical demand and
heat demand must exist (WIKIPEDIA 2010).
Current Micro- and Mini CHP installations use five different technologies: micro turbines, internal combustion
engines, external combustion engines (stirling engines), steam engines and fuel cells.
Biogas systems are an environmental friendly way of energy production and have a positive impact on climate
change. In fact, the contribution of a methane molecule (CH
4
) to the greenhouse effect is 21 times greater than
that of a carbon dioxide molecule (SUSANA 2009). Therefore burning methane, even though producing CO
2
,
reduces its impact on the environment.
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Applicabilit
The technology is easily adaptable and can be applied at household or community level. To minimise distribution
losses, the reactors should be installed close to the CHP where the gas can be used.
Micro cogeneration is a so-called distributed energy resource (DER) useful for a single house or small business
because of the low power output. This electricity can be used within the home or business or, if permitted by the
grid management, sold back into the electric power grid.
Mini cogeneration DERs supplies electricity for more than one household and if the excess energy can be sold,
these installations are generally more viable from an economic point of view. Thus, mini CHPs have a large role to
play in the field of carbon reduction in buildings where more than 14% of carbon can be saved by using mini CHPs
(WRAPAI 2009).
Biogas cogeneration is extensively used and disseminated in rural China, Nepal, Vietnam, rural Costa Rica,
Colombia, Rwanda, and other regions of the world where waste management and industry closely interface.

Advantages
Generation of renewable, green electricity
Low operating costs
Underground construction minimizes land use
Long life span
Reduces greenhouse gases
Increases family income by selling back electric energy to the electric power grid
On site use of heat
Disadvantages
Requires expert design, skilled construction and expert maintenance required
Biogas production below 15C, is no longer economically feasible
High capital costs
References
GTZ (Editor) (2009): Biogas Sanitation for Blackwater or Brownwater, or Excreta Treatment and Reuse in Developing Countries.
Eschborn: German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) GmbH and Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA). URL [Accessed:
11.03.2010].
This document provides an overview and introduction on biogas sanitation (anaerobic digestion) for blackwater or for brown water, or
excreta treatment for reuse in developing countries. The main technologies discussed are biogas settlers (BSs), biogas septic tanks,
anaerobic baffled reactor (ABRs), anaerobic filter (AFs) and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors (UASBs).
I SAT/GTZ (Editor) (1999): Biogas - Costs and Benefits and Biogas Programme I mplementation. I nformation and Advisory Services on
Appropriate Technology (I SAT) and German Agency for Technical Cooperation GmbH (GmbH) . URL [Accessed: 19.04.2010].
This information service on biogas technology has been developed and produced on the order of the GTZ project I nformation and
Advisory Service on Appropriate Technology (I SAT). Volume I I I discusses the micro- and macro-economic viability of biogas sanitation
systems.
JENSSEN, P.D.; GREATOREX, J.M.; WARNER, W. S. (Editor) (2004): Sustainable Wastewater Management in Urban Areas. Hannover:
University of Hannover.
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A document about sustaInable wastewater management In urban areas.
|0C (EdItor) (200J): |Innesota's PotentIal for ElectrIcIty ProductIon UsIng |anure 8Iogas Fesources. FInal Feport. |Innesota:
|Innesota 0epartment of Commerce (|0C) and State Energy DffIce (SED). UFL [Accessed: 2J.04.2010].
ThIs report Is a basIc assessment of the feasIbIlIty and potentIal for usIng anImal wastes In anaerobIc methane dIgesters to create
electrIcIty In |Innesota. t covers an estImatIon of the electrIcIty potentIal, the farmsIze thresholds that warrant further
InvestIgatIon for a potentIal dIgester system, a quantIfIcatIon of the Impact of IncentIves as well as a fInancIal analysIs.
FE TH, J.H. (EdItor); W JFFELS, F.H. (EdItor); 8AFTEN, H. (EdItor) (200J): 8Iomethane and 8Iohydrogen. Status and perspectIves of
bIologIcal methane and hydrogen productIon. 0utch 8IologIcal Hydrogen FoundatIon and the Netherlands Agency for Energy and the
EnvIronment (Novem).
P PDL , T. (2005): FeasIbIlIty of 8Iomassbased Fuel Cells for |anned Space ExploratIon. n: ProceedIngs of the Seventh European Space
Power Conference, Stresa, taly. UFL [Accessed: 18.01.2011].
SCHALLEF, |. (2007): 8Iogas electrIcIty productIon hIts 17,272CWh a year In Europe. n: EngIneer LIve, 4649 . UFL [Accessed:
0J.05.2010].
8Iogas Is a green energy usIng new technology. Undoubtedly, the produced kW cost Is not yet a competItor agaInst nuclear or fossIl
fuel energIes, but the systems Installed are more and more effIcIent, and theIr fInancIal profItabIlIty Is IncreasIng. |arc Schaller
reports.
SUSANA (EdItor) (2009): LInks between SanItatIon, ClImate Change and Fenewable EnergIes. Eschborn. SustaInable SanItatIon AllIance
(SuSanA) . UFL [Accessed: 05.09.2010].
ThIs factsheet of SustaInable SanItatIon AllIance descrIbes the Impact of greenhouse gases on clImate change and focuses on the
advantages of renewable energIes. Therefore many dIfferent technologIes lIke productIon of bIogas or shortrotatIonplantatIons are
mentIoned.
TE XE FA CDELHD, S.; STDFT N CDNZALES 7ELAZQUES, S.|.; STELLA |AFT NS, D.; CASTFD 0E A8FEU, F. (2006): 8Iogas from Sewage
Treatment used to ElectrIc Energy CeneratIon, by a J0 kW ( SD) |IcroturbIne. Sao Paulo: 8razIlIan Feference Center on 8Iomass
(CEN8 D) . UFL [Accessed: 0J.05.2010].
The sewage treatment process at SA8ESP (8asIc SanItatIon Company of Sao Paulo State, 8razIl) has untIl now burnt some of the bIogas
produced In the anaerobIc dIgester to enhance the process temperature and the other part was burnt In order to lImIt Impact of
emIssIon. The transformatIon of thIs excess bIogas Into electrIcIty would be a sustaInable solutIon generatIng even addItIonal Income.
An alternatIve to burn It In flare Is the bIogas conversIon Into electrIcIty through engInes or mIcroturbInes. ThIs paper descrIbes the
proposed system to convert bIogas In electrIcIty and heat usIng mIcroturbInes (J0 kW SD).
T LLEY, E.; LUETH , C.; |DFEL, A.; ZUF8FUECC, C.; SCHEFTENLE 8, F. (2008): CompendIum of SanItatIon Systems and TechnologIes.
0uebendorf and Ceneva: SwIss Federal nstItute of AquatIc ScIence and Technology (EAWAC). UFL [Accessed: 15.02.2010].
ThIs compendIum gIves a systematIc overvIew on dIfferent sanItatIon systems and technologIes and descrIbes a wIde range of avaIlable
lowcost sanItatIon technologIes.
W K PE0 A (EdItor) (2010): CogeneratIon. WIkIpedIa. UFL [Accessed: 16.09.2011].
WFAPA (EdItor) (2009): 0ocument 8, 0ata |anagement 0ocument, AppendIx S 06 Energy Fesearch. AustralIa: Waste FefInery
AustralIa Project AssocIatIon ncorporated (WFAPA ). UFL [Accessed: 0J.05.2010].
ThIs document provIded by Waste FefInery AustralIa Project AssocIatIon nc. contaIns InformatIon on bIogas, dIfferent types of
cogeneratIon (CHP) and dIstrIct heatIng. AddItIonally there are also facts and InformatIon on hydronIcs and gas flare.
For further readings, case studies, awareness raising material, training material, important weblinks or the
related powerpoint presentation, see www.sswm.info/categor/implementation-tools/reuse-and-
recharge/hardware/reuse-energ-products-form-waste-and-was-2