The Biogas Handbook

Book excerpt: With increasing pressures to utilize wastes effectively and sustainably, biogas production represents one of the most important routes towards reaching renewable energy targets. This comprehensive reference on the development and deployment of biogas supply chains and technology reviews the role of biogas in the energy mix and outlines the range of biomass and waste resources for biogas production. Contributors provide detailed coverage of anaerobic digestion for the production of biogas and review the utilization of biogas for various applications. They consider all aspects in the biogas production chain from the origin of the biomass feedstocks, feedstock selection and preparation, the anaerobic digestion process, biogas plant equipment design and operation, through to utilization of the biogas for energy production and the residue, the digestate, which can be used as a biofertilizer. The book also addresses biogas utilization, and explores environmental impacts and commercial market applications. Table of Contents: Biogas as an energy option: An overview Part 1 Biomass resources, feedstock treatment and biogas production: Biomass resources for biogas production; Analysis and characterisation of biogas feedstocks; Storage and pre-treatment of substrates for biogas production; Fundamental science and engineering of the anaerobic digestion process for biogas production; Optimisation of biogas yields from anaerobic digestion by feedstock type; Anaerobic digestion as a key technology for biomass valorisation: Roles and contribution to the energy balance of biofuel chains Part 2 Plant design, engineering, process optimisation and digestate utilization: Design and engineering of biogas plants; Energy flows in biogas plants: Analysis and implications for plant design; Process control in biogas plants; Methane emissions in biogas production; Biogas digestate quality and utilization; Land application of digestate Part 3 Biogas utilisation: international experience and best practice: Biogas cleaning; Biogas up-grading to biomethane; Biomethane injection into natural gas networks; Generation of heat and power from biogas for stationery applications: Boilers, gas engines and turbines, combined heat and power (CHP) plants and fuel cells; Biomethane for transport applications; Market development and certification schemes for biomethane