Biogas Resource Potential and Technical Exploitation

Biogas is a renewable or waste fuel that comes from the fermentation of organic matter. According to recent estimates, the world biogas energy potential is about 12,000 TWh. Currently, in Europe, biogas covers about 1% of the total primary energy supply. The primary organic sources for biogas are waste food, sewage sludge, livestock manure, slaughterhouse residues, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, municipal solid waste accumulated in landfills, crop residues, and energy crops. The organic matter is degraded into reactors called anaerobic digesters in which microorganisms (bacteria) break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen.