Biogas for alternative energy

The increased consumption of energy all over the world has led to a drastic increase to the rates of all carbon based fuels. In addition to this, carbon based fuels has a finite source that will not be able to meet the increasing fuel needs in the world.

And with fossil fuels emitting excessive carbon dioxide and other gases, they prove to increase the incidence of global warming in the world. So to meet the energy needs of the world and to control global warming, scientists and researchers all over the world are working at creating new fuels.

One such discovery is the creation of biogas to be used for cooking purposes. It was the people of Santa Fe de Guatuso who came up with this idea as they could not afford to buy more than a tank of gas costing $15 to meet their monthly cooking needs.
The increased rate of the gas tank was because the town is basically located in a remote location.

Using firewood for cooking was an alternative they had thought of, however this was a harmful option in the short term as its ignition in the kitchen with plastics and rubbers made it burn and give off carcinogenic dioxins. Moreover felling of trees proved to be a long term problem to the people of Guatuso region.

Torn between health and finance concerns, the Santa Fe Women’s Group chose to use the animal waste produced from their cattle to create biogas for cooking. With this option, not only is the environmental threat from burning firewood eliminated, it also solves the problem of animal waste management in this dairy producing town.

Biodigesters had to be first built to use cow manure to produce biogas that is comprised more of methane. With the anaerobic digestion of the manure with the help of bacteria, biogas is produced with the consumption of the animal waste, reproduction and the elimination of methane rich waste.

So when animal waste is mixed with water and placed in the biodigesters, biogas starts bubbling up from this mixture to escape to the surface. This eliminated biogas is then collected in a large plastic balloon that is found hovering over the tank. In the middle of this plastic balloon, is a PCV tubing that connects the biogas source to the kitchen.

The biogas is then transferred from the biodigester to the gas range found in the kitchen, through this PCV tubing, to be used as an alternative energy source for cooking. With some help from the UN Women’s Group in Vienna and technical assistance from the Agriculture Ministry office this women’s group of Santa Fe built 16 biodigesters in 2006.

This process of producing biogas is today not only implemented in Santa Fe, but in many towns in developing countries all over the world like India and Pakistan. With biogas, the consumption of cooking gas can be lowered considerably in these towns, and help them deal with the energy crisis while maintaining their finances.

January 25, 2008 | Filed Under Articles, Renewable Energy 

Comments

One Response to “Biogas for alternative energy”

  1. laura on February 10th, 2008 10:17 pm

    In italy the solar energy is poor figure figure mind biogas :( .

    Compliment for your job.

    Laura

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