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Biogas for Electricity Generation , Hi-tech Applications

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Renewable Energy Systems

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Definition of the Subject

This entry focuses on the development, its reasons, and the perspectives of the electricity supply based on biogas through anaerobic digestion . This sector is worldwide very important for decentralized energy supply from organic materials. Beneath this fact, electricity from biogas reduces the demand for fossil fuels and reduces greenhouse gas emissions connected with fossil-energy supply systems. Thus the development of this sector is analyzed. Based on this, the possibilities and the challenges of electricity supply from biogas and its contribution to reach national and international renewable electricity targets is discussed.

Introduction

Biogas can be produced from a very broad variety of organic substrates. Internationally, the main biomass sources are wastewater treatment sludge (to produce...

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Abbreviations

Biogas:

Biogas is a gas which is produced as waste product during anaerobic microbiological breakdown of organic substances. The main constituents are methane and carbon dioxide.

Biogas cleaning:

Biogas cleaning is a technical process which adapts the biogas quality to a defined gas quality defined by the subsequent usage. That includes mainly the reduction of trace gases (H2S, NH3, water vapor, and others). Biogas cleaning does not focus on the removal of carbon dioxide from the biogas.

CHP unit:

Combined Heat and Power unit which consists of a gas-burning engine driving a generator which produces electricity. The waste heat from electricity production can be used for further applications.

Landfill gas:

Landfill gas is a special type of biogas which is produced in landfills during the degradation of the organic constituents of wastes. It is characterized by many organic long-chain trace gases.

Sewage sludge gas:

Sewage sludge gas is a special type of biogas produced within wastewater treatment plants during the anaerobic treatment of sewage sludge. It is characterized by the content of siloxanes.

Bibliography

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Rostock, Leipzig, Germany

    Frank Scholwin

  2. Department Waste Management, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Michael Nelles

Authors
  1. Frank Scholwin
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  2. Michael Nelles
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank Scholwin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. German Biomass Research Centre, Leipzig, Germany

    Martin Kaltschmitt

  2. Institute of Environmental Technology and Energy Economics, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany

    Martin Kaltschmitt

  3. Earth Engineering Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Nickolas J. Themelis

  4. Ormat Technologies, Inc., Reno, NV, USA

    Lucien Y. Bronicki

  5. Royal Institute of Technology, Electric Power Systems, Stockholm, Sweden

    Lennart Söder

  6. Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, School of Ocean And Earth Science And Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Luis A. Vega

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Scholwin, F., Nelles, M. (2013). Biogas for Electricity Generation , Hi-tech Applications . In: Kaltschmitt, M., Themelis, N.J., Bronicki, L.Y., Söder, L., Vega, L.A. (eds) Renewable Energy Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5820-3_251

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