Biogas typically refers to a mixture of gases composed of methane (40-75 %), carbon dioxide (25-55 %) and traces gases (0-10 %) produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.
Biogas can be produced from organic input materials such as foodstuff remnants, fats or sludge can be fed into the biogas plant as substrate; renewable resources such as corn, beets or grass serve as feed both for animals such as cows and pigs as well as for the microorganisms in the biogas plant and manure & dung are also fed into the biogas plant.
It is a renewable energy source and in many cases exerts a very small carbon footprint. This energy release allows biogas to be used as a fuel; it can be used for any heating purpose, such as cooking. It can also be used in a gas engine to convert the energy in the gas into electricity and heat. Biogas can be compressed, the same way natural gas is compressed to CNG, and used to power motor vehicles.
