Biogas and Biomethane

Biogas is environmentally friendly gas produced from biomass. Bacteria in the process of fermentation break down waste, and as a result, a mixture of gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide, is formed, which can be used as a source of energy.

Since the biomass needed for production is renewable, biogas is a renewable energy source.

Biogas is formed as a result of anaerobic fermentation — a process in which bacteria process organic raw materials without oxygen.

Key stages:

• Loading biomass into fermenters;
• Bacterial activity that releases a gas mixture;
• Collection of biogas and further purification;
• Use in cogeneration units or for processing into biomethane.

Biogas is a mixture of combustible and non-combustible gases.

Typical composition:

• Methane (CH₄) — 50–70%;
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) — 25–45%;
• Impurities: water vapor, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), nitrogen, oxygen.
• The higher the methane content, the higher the energy value of biogas.

Ukraine has significant agricultural potential, making it one of the most promising countries for the development of biogas technologies.

Today, biogas complexes operate in large agroholdings, using animal and crop waste as raw materials, as well as in the food industry, processing beet pulp, distillery waste, and sewage.

Municipal enterprises, especially those based on treatment facilities, and energy companies building specialized biogas plants are also actively implementing biogas solutions.

The main leading regions are the central and western regions of the country, where agriculture is traditionally developed and there is sufficient raw material base for stable biogas production.

A biogas plant is a set of equipment for converting organic raw materials into biogas and its processed products.

A typical plant includes:

• Receiving tanks for biomass;
• Fermenters for fermentation;
• Gas holders for biogas storage;
• Cogeneration units for electricity and heat production;
• Gas purification and further processing system.

A complete set of BGP equipment covers the technological cycle from raw material to energy.

Main components:

• Grinders and mixers for biomass;
• Fermentation tanks (methane tanks);
• Heating systems and agitators;
• Gas holders for biogas collection;
• Cogeneration units (electricity + heat);
• CO₂ and H₂S purification systems;
• Digestate preparation units.

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Biogas can be directly used to generate electricity in cogeneration units. It is burned in a gas-piston engine that drives a generator, producing electricity for the plant’s own needs.

At the same time, a significant amount of heat is produced, which is collected and used for heating premises or technological processes.

If the produced electricity exceeds the consumer’s needs, the surplus can be sold to the general power grid, generating additional income.

Biogas and its processed products have several applications:

• Production of electricity and heat;
• Processing into biomethane for injection into gas networks;
• As fuel for transport (after compression to bioCNG or liquefaction to bioLNG);
• Digestate is used as an organic fertilizer, reducing mineral fertilizer costs and improving soil fertility.

The quality of biogas directly depends on proper raw material preparation. First, biomass is ground and homogenized, then thoroughly mixed to achieve the required consistency.

Next, moisture and acidity are regulated to create optimal conditions for bacterial activity. The final stage is loading the raw material into fermenters, where the necessary temperature and anaerobic environment are maintained.

This approach ensures the stability of the fermentation process and allows for maximum biogas output.

Organic raw materials (biomass) are fed to the biogas plant for fermentation in methane tanks. The generated biogas is accumulated in the domes of methane tanks, then it is purified from hydrogen sulfide and used to obtain energy.

Extracted biogas can be not only used, but also stored in large tanks. However, such a solution is very expensive. We can offer the installation of additional gas holders that store gas from 2 to 5 days. But the best solution for you will be an individual selection of a successful biogas plant concept without unnecessary costs.

The use of biogas allows you to significantly reduce energy costs and ensure complete energy independence of your enterprise. This is a stable source of energy with the opportunity not only to save, but also to receive additional income. The biogas plant will contribute to your business and the environment, and will also provide the prospect of becoming a player in the EU energy market.

It is a methane-rich gas obtained from biogas, which is an alternative to natural gas. In fact, biomethane is almost pure methane (97%), obtained as a result of cleaning biogas from CO2.

In general, biomethane can become an ecological substitute for natural gas and be used in industry or as fuel.

Biomethane is obtained by purifying biogas to a composition that corresponds to natural gas. This allows it to be injected into gas transmission networks and used as a full-fledged energy carrier.

Main stages of production:

• Anaerobic fermentation of biomass in fermenters to produce biogas.
• Purification of biogas from impurities (CO₂, hydrogen sulfide, water vapor).
• Increasing methane concentration to 95–98%.
• Further compression or supply to the network, enabling transportation and export.

The raw materials for biomethane are organic waste and agricultural products that are easily processed into biogas.

Most common sources::

• Manure and animal droppings;
• Corn silage, beet pulp, straw, energy crops;
• Food and agro-industrial waste;
• Sewage sludge.

This makes biomethane a renewable and local fuel with high environmental value.

In addition to domestic use, biomethane purified to European standards can be exported to EU countries through the gas transmission system.

The raw materials for the station can be: cow manure, pig manure, bird droppings, corn silage, post-alcohol waste, beet pulp, slaughterhouse waste, fat waste, grass, straw, expired products , grain, vegetable waste, beer grains, organic part of MSW, sorghum, milk whey, sewage sludge, etc.

Raw materials of any origin can be mixed. In addition, we will help to choose the most successful types of raw materials so as not to lose their potential for biogas production.

It is believed that cattle manure is the most profitable raw material for biogas plants.

We adhere to leading European standards in the process of building plants. Thanks to partnerships, we can choose optimal technologies and equipment that will be the best option in a specific case.

The duration of the project may vary depending on various factors. You can find out the preliminary estimate of the time for the implementation of the project during the consultation.

We apply an individual approach to each client for maximum effectiveness of implemented solutions. Therefore, we can choose a module for a biogas station after conducting a consultation and clarifying your goals and the type of raw materials.

The average payback period of biogas projects in Ukraine is 5-6 years.

The cost of biogas production depends on many factors:

• capacity of the biogas plant;
• cost of raw materials (even in the case of using production by-products, logistics can be expensive);
• of the final product (electricity or biomethane).

Therefore, we calculate the cost separately for each project.

Installing a biogas plant is a profitable investment in your own enterprise. In fact, this is an opportunity to get rid of energy dependence on suppliers, reduce costs and get additional income from the sale of gas/electricity.

The price of the equipment depends on the capacity of the biogas plant, the type of raw material, the final product (electricity or biomethane). You can find out the cost of the equipment after consultation and preliminary biogas calculations.

The final price of implementing the station will be known after individual planning of works and volumes of processing.

Contact us for a consultation, and we will calculate the project based on your individual needs.

Yes. According to statistics, 99% of biogas projects are built with credit funds.

There is currently a ban on the export of biomethane.