Could Biogas Help Solve the Impending Capacity Shortfall?
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Biogas projects could help the electricity industry keep up with future demand; electricity use is expected to skyrocket due to the increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, the proliferation of data centers, and rising average temperatures, among other things.
Biogas to the Rescue?
Simplistically, biogas systems recycle human waste into clean electricity. Typically, these systems work by adding a step in the waste-handling process where the waste is diverted to anaerobic digesters that control decomposition and methane-release processes. The methane is then captured and harnessed for energy, and it can be stored in gas pipeline systems indefinitely.
Models suggest that maximizing biogas production in the U.S. could generate 166 terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable electricity just with the methane captured. Although the U.S. is expected to require an additional 500 TWh of electricity by 2028, the potential 166 TWh from biogas would make a nice dent in it, covering about a third of what is needed.
A related benefit of this clean energy source is that it would help reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere, which pose a threat to the climate. Over the last 100 years or so, methane from landfills, agricultural & food waste, and wastewater processes have compounded global warming by an estimated 30%.
So, on the surface this seems like an excellent idea, yet there are not a ton of biogas facilities currently online or under development. The reason is that there are few financial and/or tax incentives for developing these types of projects, which may be due to the fact that the benefits are undervalued or not well understood.
In the final analysis, we all know that demand for electricity is destined to continuously expand going forward. And, we all know that there is an issue with climate change. The good news is that biogas seems like the perfect solution to help both causes, but those involved need to do a better job of getting the word out there to make people aware of the benefits.
