Why biogas matters

Biogas—a byproduct of anaerobic digestion given off as organic matter decomposes—is an untapped, renewable, clean energy source produced at wastewater treatment, landfill, food processing, chemical manufacturing, gas transmission, brewing, and pulp and paper facilities around the world.

Whereas methane is a pollutant—a greenhouse gas 23 times more destructive than CO₂—biogas is a potential fuel with many advantages over traditional fuels. It’s always available, meaning it’s more reliable than wind, solar or thermal power. It’s carbon neutral, so it’s a cleaner base-load replacement for coal, oil or nuclear power. It’s also more cost-effective, because the source is local, so less energy is lost moving through an electric grid. And it is produced domestically, leaving us more energy-independent.

Biogas-based energy can take many forms. At the most basic level, it can generate heat to be used at the facility itself. A less refined form of biogas can power internal combustion engines, turbines, boilers or fuel cells and be converted into electricity. At higher levels of refinement, it becomes natural gas, compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas, potentially powering vehicles.

Because waste streams are varied and complex, conditioning biogas is a critical step in converting it to usable energy. For example, siloxanes, a class of silicone derivatives used industrially as machine lubricants since the 1930s, are now used commonly, in shampoos, cosmetics and even the hide-coating that protects cows from flies. Without conditioning, and under the high heat of digester treatment, siloxanes become machine-clogging deposits.

Applied Filter Technology is an expert at helping clients identify and eliminate contaminants and capitalize on their waste streams. Since 1996, the company has custom-designed, installed, fine-tuned and operated biogas-to-energy systems for hundreds of manufacturers, consultants, municipalities and energy companies so they can generate clean energy and achieve a stronger bottom line.