Key PointsBiogas:
- Biogas is an emerging renewable, non-conventional energy source that is obtained through the degradation of organic matter by bacteria under anaerobic conditions.
- The major constituent of biogas is Methane.
- Biogas is usually made up of around 50-70% methane (CH4) and 25-45% carbon dioxide (CO2), with other gases such as hydrogen (H2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), watervapour (H2O), Nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), ammonia (NH3) making up the rest.
- It is released when Cow, Buffalo, and Pig manure is processed anaerobically i.e. in the absence of Oxygen.
- Biogas can be used for Space Heating, Generation of Electricity, Fuel for Cooking, etc.
Important Points
Advantages of Biogas -
- Biogas burns without smoke; hence no harmful gas such as CO2, CO, NO2, and SO2 are evolved.
- The slurry produced after the production of biogas is used as manure in fields.
- The method of disposal is safe and efficient and hence no space is wasted in the form of landfills.
- Biogas plants require very little installation costs and become self-sufficient in a span of 3-4 months.
- Work opportunity for thousands of people is created, especially in rural areas.
Thus, Biogas is a non-conventional type of natural resource.
Additional Information
There are basically two sources of energy:
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Renewable resources or Non-Conventional |
Non-Renewable resources or Conventional |
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The resources can renew themselves or can be used again and again. |
The sources cannot be replaced or reused once they are destroyed. |
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Renewable resources are replenished naturally and over relatively short periods of time. It is present in unlimited quantity |
These are limited resources and consume millions of years to make. So these are used limitedly. |
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It has low carbon emission and is hence is environment friendly. |
These are not environmentally friendly because the amount of carbon emission is high. |
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The cost is low. |
The cost of these resources is high. |
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A large land area is required for the installation of these plants. |
Less land requirement of installation of these plants. |
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They require high maintenance costs. |
They require low maintenance costs. |
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Example: soil, water bodies, sun (solar energy), wind, tidal energy, atomic energy, geothermal, forest, mountains, biogas, wildlife, atmospheric resources. |
Example: coal, oil, nuclear energy, petroleum, natural gas, LPG, batteries, shale gas, soil and phosphate are some examples. |
