How Biogas Systems Work

Step 1

ORGANIC MATERIAL

Organic materials are the "input" or "feedstock" for a biogas system. Some organic materials will digest more readily than others.

Step 2a

LANDFILL

As material is deposited in the landfill and covered, anaerobic microbes consume organic material and burb out biogas, which is vacuumed out through buried, perforated pipes.

Step 2b

DIGESTER

Add organic material to these engineered tanks, which are usually stirred and heated to about 100º F, and the same anaerobic microbes produce biogas, which is captured in the digester's air-tight, flexible roof.

Step 3a

BIOGAS

Biogas consists mostly of methane and carbon dioxide, plus water vapor, and other trace compounds (e.g., siloxanes)

Step 3b

DIGESTED MATERIAL (DIGESTATE)

In addition to biogas, digesters produce solid and liquid digestate, containing valuable nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium) and organic carbon.