Anaerobic Digestion
The expert among renewables
Whether used to generate electricity, heat, or be upgraded and fed into the gas distribution system, biogas is a versatile energy source. Its production—unaffected by weather conditions—offers plant operators a reliable and attractive source of income. At the same time, biogas plants play an active role in environmental protection and contribute meaningfully to the sustainable energy mix of the future.
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Why biogas?
Biogas can be used in many ways and can be an alternative to fossil energies in many areas and can be stored!
Biogas can be used as a source of electricity, fed into the gas distribution system after being upgraded to RNG, or used to generate heat. This way, energy-intensive companies with a high heat demand can save on heating costs and other expenses.
Biogas can be upgraded to renewable natural gas (RNG) using our proven EnviThan gas upgrading technology, giving it the same properties as fossil natural gas. Once upgraded, RNG can be injected into the gas distribution system to replace conventional natural gas. It can be used as a clean energy source in industrial applications, combined heat and power (CHP) plants, and other cogeneration facilities.
RNG can be further processed into compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG), enabling its use across multiple transportation sectors. CNG is suitable for passenger vehicles and commercial fleets, while both CNG and LNG are ideal for heavy-duty vehicles. LNG also serves as a clean fuel alternative in the shipping industry. In this way, biogas—upgraded to biomethane—plays a vital role in decarbonizing the transport and mobility sectors.
Upgrading biogas to RNG also produces an enriched CO₂ stream. Through an additional processing step, this CO₂ can be converted into liquid CO₂ that meets the quality standards for use in food production. This renewable CO₂ can replace fossil-derived CO₂ in various applications, including the beverage industry, food packaging as a protective atmosphere, and as dry ice for cooling and transportation.
By using biogas or RNG as a substitute for fossil fuels, companies can significantly reduce their CO₂ emissions. This supports compliance with regulatory requirements for carbon reduction and demonstrates a commitment to low-carbon production that can enhance brand reputation and competitiveness.
While solar and wind technologies efficiencies are affected by weather conditions, biogas plants are nearly always in operation- unaffected by weather. Biogas plants are durable, and reliable, with typical uptimes above 92%.
How does a biogas plant work?
The basic principle of a biogas plant is relatively straightforward. Renewable raw materials such as agricultural crops, animal manure, and organic residues from the food and agro-industries serve as the primary feedstocks.
The fermentation process occurs in airtight digesters, where bacteria break down the organic material in an oxygen-free environment. The anaerobic microorganisms—similar to those found in the digestive systems of cows and other livestock—drives this process. Their activity is influenced by factors such as the type of feedstock, pH levels, temperature, and fermentation conditions.
The main products of anaerobic digestion are methane-rich biogas and renewable carbon dioxide. These gases naturally separate from the remaining substrate and form the primary components of biogas, which typically consists of 50–75% methane, 25–50% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of trace gases like hydrogen sulfide. The leftover digestate can be used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer in agriculture, supporting new crop growth and contributing to a closed-loop system.
Our animated film provides a detailed look at the entire biogas production process, along with the many components of our proven plant technology.
What can biogas be produced from?
Many different organic residues from different sectors such as agriculture, food production, and industry are suitable raw materials for biogas production. Possible raw material / input suppliers for biogas plants include:
- Agriculture with the cultivation of energy crops as well as animal excrements from livestock farming
- The animal feed industry with residual materials from their production
- Slaughterhouses with their slaughterhouse waste
- The food processing and producing industry
- Supermarkets (e.g. expired food)
- Breweries with spent grains and stillage
- Restaurants with food waste
- The ethanol industry (stillage)
- The biofuel industry (e.g. glycerine)
- Sewage treatment plants (sewage sludge)
These are just a few examples of the many possible input materials for biogas plants.
If you want biogas, make it EnviTec!
Each input material / residual material has its own characteristics and often requires special treatment. Hardly any biogas plant today has the exact same requirements in terms of feeding, fermentation, digestate storage and gas utilization.
Every country and region has unique raw materials and legal requirements, so maximum flexibility has always been essential in our business. Looking for a tailor-made solution for a farm or a large industrial project? We offer you a solution with references from 250 kw el. up to 20 MW el. or RNG production from 15 scfm up to 3,000 scfm.
Our aim is to always get the most out of your project, to offer the most advanced technology on the market, and to deliver the most intelligent marketing concepts for your energy. This is how we have always been able to achieve a leading position in the biogas industry internationally.
As one of the few suppliers on the market, we offer you all the steps from a single source – for a successful project without frictional losses:
Smart investments and innovative concepts – you can find successful industrial projects on the international market in our references section.
