Feasibility of Large-Scale Biogas Production

Global changes in the biosphere and the systematically increasing demand for energy are currently one of the most important challenges. Renewable energy sources that produce energy in a sustainable way are a solution that can help with both issues. Many countries around the world are seeing a steady increase in the number of installations and their capacity. Among all installations that can generate energy, biogas plants play a special role. This is due to the fact that these installations are the answer to many current problems, including energy production and waste management. For this reason, their role is growing in importance every year. In biogas plants, biogas is produced from biodegradable waste, which can be utilized in a number of ways. The main dominant direction are the production of electricity and heat in cogeneration, and the purification of biogas into biomethane and its further utilization. Biogas can be produced in microinstallations or even household installations, which is particularly popular in Asia and Africa. Biogas plants can also be large-scale installations of up to several tens of MW. Large-scale biogas production is becoming increasingly popular, so special attention should be paid to it. The aim of this study was to discuss the principles of operation of a large-scale biogas plant, taking into account its construction, substrate supply, and product utilization. A special role was also given to environmental, social, and economic aspects.