Skip to main content

An Overview About of Limitations and Avenues to Improve Biogas Production

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Improving Biogas Production

Part of the book series: Biofuel and Biorefinery Technologies ((BBT,volume 9))

Abstract

Worldwide, biogas production has been successfully happening in rural and urban areas, catering to livestock and industry. However, there are great obstacles to be overcome and public policies to be developed aiming at the materialization of biogas plants for green energy purposes and recycling of nutrients. In this context, this chapter will discuss the main challenges encountered worldwide in the biogas chain, highlighting the scenario and innovations on biogas chain and the legal and administrative framework/incentives for biogas production and uses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • ABC (2015) Biogas state profile: California. American Biogas Council, Washington, 5 p. https://www.americanbiogascouncil.org/State%20Profiles/ABCBiogasStateProfile_CA.pdf

  • ABC (2018) Operational and potential US biogas system. American Biogas Council, Washington, 2 p. https://www.americanbiogascouncil.org/pdf/ABC%20Biogas%20101%20Handout%20NEW.pdf

  • Abdelsalam E, Samer M, Attia YA, Abdel-Hadi MA, Hassan HE, Badr Y (2016) Comparison of nanoparticles effects on biogas and methane production from anaerobic digestion of cattle dung slurry. Renewable Energy 87:592–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdullahi YA, Akunna JC, White NA, Hallett PD, Wheatley R (2008) Investigating the effects of anaerobic and aerobic post-treatment on quality and stability of organic fraction of municipal solid waste as soil amendment. Bioresour Technol 99:8631–8636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adelard L, Poulsen TG, Rakotoniaina V (2015) Biogas and methane yield in response to co- and separate digestion of biomass wastes. Waste Manag Res 33:55–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AGGE-Stat (2018) Development of renewable energy sources in Germany 2017. Renewable Energy-Statistics, Federal Ministry for Economic Affair and Energy, 44 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Anjum M, Kumar R, Abdelbasir SM, Barakat MA (2018) Carbon nitride/titania nanotubes composite for photocatalytic degradation of organics in water and sludge: pretreatment of sludge, anaerobic digestion and biogas production. J Environ Manage 223:495–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassani I, Kougias PG, Treu L, Porté H, Campanaro S, Angelidaki I (2017) Optimization of hydrogen dispersion in thermophilic up-flow reactors for ex situ biogas upgrading. Bioresour Technol 234:310–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BRASIL (2009) Federal Law nº 12.187/2009. http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2007-2010/2009/lei/l12187.htm

  • BRASIL (2010) Federal Law nº 12.305/2010. http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_Ato2007-2010/2010/Lei/L12305.htm

  • Britz W, Delzeit R (2013) The impact of German biogas production on European and global agricultural markets, land use and the environment. Energy Policy 62:1268–1275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bu F, Dong N, Kumar Khanal S, Xie L, Zhou Q (2018) Effects of CO on hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis under thermophilic and extreme-thermophilic conditions: microbial community and biomethanation pathways. Bioresour Technol 266:364–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlini M, Mosconi EM, Castellucci S, Villarini M, Colantoni A (2017) An economical evaluation of anaerobic digestion plants fed with organic agro-industrial waste. Energies 10:1165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter AW, Laughton SN, Wiesner MR (2015) Enhanced biogas production from nanoscale zero valent iron-amended anaerobic bioreactors. Environ Eng Sci 32:647–655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CIBiogás (2017) Mercosur biogas and biomethane report. GAHB—Mercosur Ad Hoc Group on Biofuels. CIBiogás, Foz do Iguaçu, 58 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Córdoba V, Fernández M, Santalla E (2016) The effect of different inoculums on anaerobic digestion of swine wastewater. J Environ Chem Eng 4:115–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damave M-C (2018) Key points of the agr’iDay of 03/07/2018: innovating for the future: bioeconomy in the UK and France. 11 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniel-Gromke J, Rensberg N, Denysenko V, Stinner W, Schmalfuβ T, Scheftelowitz M, Nelles M, Liebetrau J (2018) Current developments in production and utilization of biogas and biomethane in Germany. Chem Ing Tech 90:17–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Francisci D, Kougias PG, Treu L, Campanaro S, Angelidaki I (2015) Microbial diversity and dynamicity of biogas reactors due to radical changes of feedstock composition. Bioresour Technol 176:56–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deremince B, Königsberger S (2017) Statistical report 2017. European Biogas Association, Brussels, p 13

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards J, Othman M, Burn S (2015) A review of policy drivers and barriers for the use of anaerobic digestion in Europe, the United States and Australia. Renew Sustain Energy 52:815–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EPRI (2017) Implications of the UK’s ban on petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040. Electric Power Research Institute: Quick Insights, California, p 7

    Google Scholar 

  • EU (2006) Directive 2006/12/CE. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/12/oj

  • EU (2009) Directive 2009/28/CE. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/28/oj

  • EU (2014) Directive 2014/94/UE. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/94/oj

  • EurObserv’ER (2017) Biogas barometer. 14 p. https://www.eurobserv-er.org/biogas-barometer-2017/

  • Fan YV, Klemeš JJ, Lee CT, Perry S (2018) Anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste: energy and carbon emission footprint. J Environ Manage 223:888–897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng Y, Guo Y, Yang G, Qin X, Song Z (2012) Household biogas development in rural China: on policy support and other macro sustainable conditions. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 16:5617–5624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferraro A, Dottorini G, Massini G, Mazzurco Miritana V, Signorini A, Lembo G, Fabbricino M (2018) Combined bioaugmentation with anaerobic ruminal fungi and fermentative bacteria to enhance biogas production from wheat straw and mushroom spent straw. Bioresour Technol 260:364–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FNR (2017) Bioenergy in Germany—facts and figures 2016. Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Gülzow-Prüzen, p 51

    Google Scholar 

  • Forgács G, Lundin M, Taherzadeh MJ, Sárvári Horváth I (2013) Pretreatment of chicken feather waste for improved biogas production. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 169:2016–2028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez X, Meredith W, Fernández C, Sánchez-García M, Díez-Antolínez R, Garzón-Santos J, Snape CE (2018) Evaluating the effect of biochar addition on the anaerobic digestion of swine manure: application of Py-GC/MS. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2644-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Fernandez C, Barreiro-Vescovo S, de Godos I, Fernandez M, Zouhayr A, Ballesteros M (2018) Biochemical methane potential of microalgae biomass using different microbial inocula. Biotechnol Biofuels 11:184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GSE (2015) Incentivazione delle fonti rinnovabili. Bollettino: Gestore Servizi Energetici. 77 p

    Google Scholar 

  • GSE (2017) Incentivazione delle fonti rinnovabili. Bollettino: Gestore Servizi Energetici. 97 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu L, Zhang Y-X, Wang J-Z, Chen G, Battye H (2016) Where is the future of China’s biogas? Review, forecast, and policy implications. Pet Sci 13:604–624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermann L, Hermann R (2018) Report on regulations governing AD and NRR in EU member states. Systemis: circular solutions for biowaste. The Netherlands, 123 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewetson BB, Zhang X, Mosier NS (2016) Enhanced acid-catalyzed biomass conversion to hydroxymethylfurfural following cellulose solvent-and organic solvent-based lignocellulosic fractionation pretreatment. Energy Fuels 30:9975–9977

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IEA (2014) Africa energy outlook: a focus on energy prospects in sub-saharan Africa. World energy outlook special report. International Energy Agency, Paris, p 237

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA (2016) Energy policies of IEA countries: Italy 2016 review. International Energy Agency, Paris, p 210

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA (2017a) Bioenergy task 37 biogas: country report Germany. International Energy Agency

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA (2017b) Energy access outlook 2017. International Energy Agency, Paris, p 140

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA (2017c) UK country reports. IEA bioenergy task 37. International Energy Agency

    Google Scholar 

  • IEEJ (2017) Outlook 2018—prospects and challenges until 2050: energy, environment and economy. The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, p 22

    Google Scholar 

  • IGU (2015) Biogas—from refuse to energy. International Gas Union, Fornebu, p 19

    Google Scholar 

  • IRENA (2017a) Biogas for domestic cooking: technology brief. International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi, p 31

    Google Scholar 

  • IRENA (2017b) Biogas for road vehicles: technology brief. International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi, p 61

    Google Scholar 

  • IRENA (2018a) Off-grid renewable energy solutions: global and regional status and trends. International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi, p 20

    Google Scholar 

  • IRENA (2018b) Renewable energy statistics 2018. International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi, p 347

    Google Scholar 

  • IT (2008) Ministerial decree 18/12/2008. http://www.energia.provincia.tn.it/binary/pat_agenzia_energia/normativa/Min.svil.econ._DM%2018.12.08.1233048510.pdf

  • IT (2012) Ministerial decree 06/07/2012. https://www.gse.it/servizi-per-te/fonti-rinnovabili/fer-elettriche/incentivi-dm-06-07-2012

  • ITAIPU (2017) Relatório annual 2017. Itaipu Binacional, 141 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Jain S, Newman D, Cepeda-Márquez R, Zeller K (2018) Global food waste management: an implementation guide for cities. World Biogas Association, London, p 143

    Google Scholar 

  • Jimeno M (2015) Renewable energy policy database and support—RES-LEGAL EUROPE. National profile: Italy. Eclareon GmbH, Berlin, p 146

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabir MM, Forgács G, Horváth IS (2013) Enhanced methane production from wool textile residues by thermal and enzymatic pretreatment. Process Biochem 48:575–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koçar G, Civaş N (2013) An overview of biofuels from energy crops: current status and future prospects. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 28:900–916

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kougias PG, Treu L, Benavente DP, Boe K, Campanaro S, Angelidaki I (2017) Ex-situ biogas upgrading and enhancement in different reactor systems. Bioresour Technol 225:429–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuzmanova E, Zhelev N, Akunna JC (2018) Effect of liquid nitrogen pretreatment on various types of wool waste fibres for biogas production. Heliyon 4:e00619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu YQ, Xu Y, Dong B, Dai XH (2018) Enhancement of anaerobic methane production by removal of organic-bonding metals from sewage sludge. Huan Jing Ke Xue 39:284–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggioni L (2017) Biomethane: the Italian way for sustainable mobility. https://www.ahk-italien.it/fileadmin/AHK_Italien/Documents/Events/2017/EEE_Biogas_26-28.09.2017/09_Consorzio_Italiano_Biogas_Maggioni.pdf

  • Markard J, Wirth S, Truffer B (2016) Institutional dynamics and technology legitimacy—a framework and a case study on biogas technology. Res Policy 45:330–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maroulis G (2015) Renewable energy policy database and support—RES-LEGAL EUROPE. National profile: United Kingdom. Eclareon GmbH, Berlin, p 117

    Google Scholar 

  • Moscoviz R, Toledo-Alarcón J, Trably E, Bernet N (2016) Electro-fermentation: how to drive fermentation using electrochemical systems. Trends Biotechnol 34:856–865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulat DG, Huerta SG, Kalyani D, Horn SJ (2018) Enhancing methane production from lignocellulosic biomass by combined steam-explosion pretreatment and bioaugmentation with cellulolytic bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. Biotechnol Biofuels 11:19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nzila A (2017) Mini review: update on bioaugmentation in anaerobic processes for biogas production. Anaerobe 46:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozbayram EG, Akyol Ç, Ince B, Karakoç C, Ince O (2018) Rumen bacteria at work: bioaugmentation strategies to enhance biogas production from cow manure. J Appl Microbiol 124:491–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patinvoh RJ, Feuk-Lagerstedt E, Lundin M, Sárvári Horváth I, Taherzadeh MJ (2016) Biological pretreatment of chicken feather and biogas production from total broth. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 180:1401–1415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paudel SR, Banjara SP, Choi OK, Park KY, Kim YM, Lee JW (2017) Pretreatment of agricultural biomass for anaerobic digestion: current state and challenges. Bioresour Technol 245:1194–1205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfau SF, Hagens JE, Dankbaar B (2017) Biogas between renewable energy and bio-economy policies—opportunities and constraints resulting from a dual role. Energy Sustain Soc 7:17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Podkaminer K, Xie F, Lin Z (2017) Analyzing the impacts of a biogas-to-electricity purchase incentive on electric vehicle deployment with the MA3T vehicle choice model. Oak Rodge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, p 40

    Google Scholar 

  • Quan W, Wang X, Song C (2017) Selective removal of H2S from biogas using solid amine-based “molecular basket” sorbent. Energy Fuels 31:9517–9528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • REN21 (2018) Renewables 2018: global status report. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, Paris, 324 p

    Google Scholar 

  • RJ (2012) State Law nº 6361/12. https://gov-rj.jusbrasil.com.br/legislacao/1033645/lei-6361-12

  • Sasaki K, Sasaki D, Morita M, Hirano S, Matsumoto N, Ohmura N, Igarashi Y (2010) Bioelectrochemical system stabilizes methane fermentation from garbage slurry. Bioresour Technol 101:3415–3422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasaki K, Sasaki D, Kamiya K, Nakanishi S, Kondo A, Kato S (2018a) Electrochemical biotechnologies minimizing the required electrode assemblies. Curr Opin Biotechnol 50:182–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasaki K, Sasaki D, Tsuge Y, Morita M, Kondo A (2018b) Changes in the microbial consortium during dark hydrogen fermentation in a bioelectrochemical system increases methane production during a two-stage process. Biotechnol Biofuels 11:173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schievano A, Pepé Sciarria T, Vanbroekhoven K, De Wever H, Puig S, Andersen SJ, Rabaey K, Pant D (2016) Electro-fermentation—merging electrochemistry with fermentation in industrial applications. Trends Biotechnol 34:866–878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiga TM, Xiao W, Yang H, Zhang X, Olek AT, Donohoe BS, Liu J, Makowski L, Hou T, McCann MC, Carpita NC, Mosier NS (2017) Enhanced rates of enzymatic saccharification and catalytic synthesis of biofuel substrates in gelatinized cellulose generated by trifluoroacetic acid. Biotechnol Biofuels 10:310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song Z, Zhang C, Yang G, Feng Y, Ren G, Han X (2014) Comparison of biogas development from households and medium and large-scale biogas plants in rural China. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 33:204–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SP (2013) Decreto nº 60.001/13. https://www.al.sp.gov.br/repositorio/legislacao/decreto/2013/decreto-60001-20.12.2013.html

  • Sun Q, Li H, Yan J, Liu L, Yu Z, Yu X (2015) Selection of appropriate biogas upgrading technology—a review of biogas cleaning, upgrading and utilization. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 51:521–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland AD, Varela JC (2014) Comparison of various microbial inocula for the efficient anaerobic digestion of Laminaria hyperborea. BMC Biotechnol 14:7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tambone F, Scaglia B, D’Imporzano G, Schievano A, Salati V, Adani F (2010) Assessing amendment and fertilizing properties of digestates from anaerobic digestion through a comparative study with digested sludge and compost. Chemosphere 81:577–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas HL, Seira J, Escudié R, Carrère H (2018) Lime pretreatment of miscanthus: impact on BMP and batch dry co-digestion with cattle manure. Molecules 23:E1608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UK (2012) The feed-in tariffs order (FTO) 2012. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2782/contents/made

  • UN Climate Change Conference (2017) COP23—governments meet to fast forward implementation of Paris agreement’s goals UN climate change news. Bonn, 5 Nov 2017

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2014) Biogas opportunities roadmap. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, 27 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Valenti F, Porto SMC, Selvaggi R, Pecorino B (2018) Evaluation of biomethane potential from by-products and agricultural residues co-digestion in southern Italy. J Environ Manage 223:834–840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venturin B, Frumi Camargo A, Scapini T, Mulinari J, Bonatto C, Bazoti S, Pereira Siqueira D, Maria Colla L, Alves SL Jr, Paulo Bender J, Luís Radis Steinmetz R, Kunz A, Fongaro G, Treichel H (2018) Effect of pretreatments on corn stalk chemical properties for biogas production purposes. Bioresour Technol 266:116–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vidhi R, Shrivastava P (2018) A review of electric vehicle lifecycle emissions and policy recommendations to increase EV penetration in India. Energies 11:483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wangliang L, Zhikai Z, Guangwen X (2016) Enhancement of biogas yield of poplar leaf by high-solid codigestion with swine manure. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 179:270–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wojnowska-Baryła I, Bernat K, Sartowska S (2018) Biological stability of multi-component agri-food digestates and post-digestates. Waste Manag 77:140–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wütenhagen R, Bilharz M (2006) Green energy market development in Germany: effective public policy and emerging customer demand. Energy Policy 34:1681–1696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Qu T, Mosier NS, Han L, Xiao W (2018) Cellulose modification by recyclable swelling solvents. Biotechnol Biofuels 11:191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao K, Li Y, Zhou Y, Guo W, Jiang H, Xu Q (2018) Characterization of hydrothermal carbonization products (hydrochars and spent liquor) and their biomethane production performance. Bioresour Technol 267:9–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gislaine Fongaro .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Treichel, H., Junior, S.L.A., Müller, C., Fongaro, G. (2019). An Overview About of Limitations and Avenues to Improve Biogas Production. In: Treichel, H., Fongaro, G. (eds) Improving Biogas Production. Biofuel and Biorefinery Technologies, vol 9. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10516-7_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10516-7_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10515-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-10516-7

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics