A biogas digester, also known as a methane digester, is equipment that can transform organic waste, such as cow manure, into usable fuel.
A biogas digester, also known as a methane digester, is equipment that can convert organic waste into usable fuel. In addition to providing a renewable fuel source, biogas digesters also provide low-cost fuel to the poor and help dispose of waste that would otherwise be disposed of. Various countries have invested in biogas digester research, from devices that can be used by a single household to industrial-scale equipment that can be used to generate large amounts of energy.
The biogas digester is based on the bacterial decomposition of biomass, waste of biological origin, ranging from kitchen scraps to cow manure. As anyone who has walked through a poorly maintained home or compost pile knows, when anaerobic conditions develop in a biomass harvest, they attract bacterial organisms that give off a number of different gases, primarily methane, in the digestion process. These gases are often seen as a symptom of inefficiency and are vented for removal, but they can actually be very helpful.
In a biogas digester, anaerobic digestion and fermentation are stimulated and the gases are vented into a storage vessel. The resulting biogas can be burned as fuel for cooking, heating and generating electricity. The sludge left in the biogas digester after the fermentation process is complete can be used as fertilizer. As the process harnessed in a biogas digester is anaerobic in nature, these devices are sometimes referred to as anaerobic digesters.
One of the main applications of biogas digesters is the disposal of human and agricultural waste. In many developing nations, the control of human waste is an important issue, as is the availability of energy. By providing communities with biogas digesters, organizations and government can help improve public health, while providing communities with a sustainable source of energy. Farms, which can generate large volumes of animal waste, can also use biogas disruptors to power their operations or generate energy that can be traded or sold.
Sustainable energy advocates promoted the biogas digester as an option that could be used to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. As well as providing sustainable energy, biogas digesters are also low cost, efficient and easy to maintain. This makes them a great tool for organizations trying to empower communities by giving them tools they can maintain and use on their own, rather than simply providing help, which can make communities dependent on outside assistance.