Advantages & Disadvantages of Biogas Energy

As we have been hearing this since our childhood, that wood is used as a fuel, as at the same time we know, carbon is a very small quantity in woods. The efficiency of wood as fuel is decreased by the impurities such as chlorine, sulfur, silicon and water. It results in the production of the ash as well as smoke in adequate amounts.When these impurities which are volatile in nature and water are removed, it results in wood turning into charcoal. As a result, fuel of higher efficiency and fuel which produces less smoke, is generated.This fuels are of excellent quality.

Biomasses are also having similar observations. In case of cow dung being utilized as a fuel, it also produces ash and smoke in adequate amounts.

Let’s have a look.

Biomass

It is a matter made up of materials which are obtained from living organisms such as plants and animals, such as crop residue, animal waste etc.

The composition of biomass is such that it has carbon mainly, i.e., of the total composition.Along with this carbon, other molecules such as hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are also there. Along with these gasses, different types of metals are there in the composition such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and some heavy metals as well.

Biogas

It is a source of energy which is renewable in nature, eco-friendly. The process of production of biogas involves the anaerobic decomposition of organic matters. It can be understood better in a way that, when plant or animal wastes are decomposed in absence of oxygen it produces biogas.

To let this process happen so that this biogas would be produced, it is required to keep the plants or animals waste in a closed environment which is free of oxygen.

Biogas has methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide in a small amount and water in the form of moisture in its composition.

Advantages of Biogas

1. The very first advantage of this biogas is it is renewable in nature. It is renewable in a sense that the production of biogas depends on the waste (organic) which is not limited and can be said to be a continuous process.
2. At the time of burning as a fuel it does not produce any polluting agent.Thus, the second advantage can be said as Biogas are non-polluting in nature.
3. It requires very less amount of money to install a biogas plant and within a time of months it does not require any further installation cost from outside.Thus, the third advantage can be said as it is cheaper.
4. The fourth advantage of these biogas is that the waste generated during the production of biogas is being utilised as manure in fields. Since the way it is disposed of in the fields is safe, and it helps to increase productivity, it can be said that it does not waste the space in the forms of landfills.
5. The last advantage of this biogas is it helps to create employment in rural areas,as thousands of people are involved in this process of biogas production.

Disadvantages of Biogas

1. The major disadvantage of this biogas is it is not efficient on the larger scale. Since we are unable to increase its efficiency when it comes to a larger scale thus, it is not feasible to utilise biogas as a source of energy on a larger scale.
2. Another disadvantage of utilising the biogas as a source of energy is that it contains impurities even if it is filtered many times before its utilisation. It has been seen that whenever biogas is compressed to utilise it as a fuel, it turns out to be highly corrosive in nature to the container. The reason for this can be said as it is made up of organic wastes only.
3. One of the major disadvantages of this biogas utilising it as a source of energy is that it is very unstable and hazardous in nature. When methane reacts with oxygen it reacts vigorously to produce carbon dioxide and this produced carbon dioxide is highly inflammable in nature which makes it very prone for explosions.

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