Words Gaurav Kedia
A World Bank report estimated that the cost of the health damage caused by air pollution amounts to $8.1 trillion a year, equivalent to 6.1% of global GDP. The extensive use of fossil fuels for energy and transportation significantly contributes to air pollution and ultimately to climate change. Air pollutants such as Methane and black carbon are strong short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) that play a major role in climate change and have adverse effects on health. Fine air pollution particles or aerosols, also known as fine particulate matter or PM2.5, are responsible for 6.4 million deaths every year, caused by diseases such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, type 2 diabetes, and neonatal disorders.
About 95% of these deaths occur in developing countries, where billions of people are exposed to outdoor and indoor concentrations of PM2.5 that are multiple times higher than guidelines established by the World Health Organization. Additionally, uncontrolled methane emissions from landfill sites worsen air quality and respective leachate leads to soil, and water pollution. To mitigate these issues, we must implement sustainable practices that reduce carbon emissions, encourage resource recycling, and protect the environment.
1. Biogas as a Sustainable Solution
Biogas is one suchtechnology that can play a crucial role in combating these problems.Biogas is produced from organic wastes such as organic fraction of the municipal waste, food waste, agricultural residues like paddy straw, and animal manure. These organic wastes are fed into biogas digesters, where they are converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion. It can be used for cooking, heating, cooling, and generating electricity, which can be fed into power grids. It can also be purified and used as fuel for transportation.
The biggest environmental advantage of biogas as a vehicle fuel is that it can substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector (typically between 60% and 80% compared to petrol) Although the combustion of biogas produces carbon dioxide, it is considered a carbon-neutral fuel on a life cycle basis. The use of digestate, a byproduct of biogas production, completes the carbon cycle by returning organic carbon to the soil.
2. Organic Waste Management through Biogas
In other words, biogas offers an effective solution to organic waste management. Biogas digesters convert harmful organic wastes, which would otherwise decompose in landfills or pollute water bodies, into renewable energy. Emissions from the decomposition of food waste and other organic wastes contribute to climate change by releasing gases into the atmosphere. Globally, 46% of solid waste is organic (World Bank: 2012) and there is great potential to capture emissions and use the gas as a renewable energy source. Biogas generated at landfill sites emit 799 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year or 11% of global emissions.
Green House Gas (GHG)emissions also are attributed to sewage waste. This too can be captured and used to generate renewable energy Humans generate over 105 billion tonnes of organic waste globally every year, releasing harmful methane and other greenhouse gas emissions as they decompose. By recycling all 105 billion tonnes, biogas can reduce global GHG emissions by 10% and deliver 50% of the Global Methane Pledge by 2030. The digestate remaining after biogas production, known as Fermented Organic Manure, can be used as an organic fertilizer rich in plant-friendly nutrients. This helps improve soil fertility, leading to better yields and higher-quality produce.
3. Broader Benefits of Biogas Production
Biogas production technology provides sustainable solutions to multiple global challenges along with waste management such as deforestation, air pollution, climate change, energy independence, employment generation, and food security. Biogas plants can be established on both small and large scales. Small-scale projects can be installed in homes, agricultural, and dairy farms, while large-scale commercial projects can be developed through various models including the government and private participation.
According to a World Bank case study, people with access to biogas were less affected by supply-chain disruptions caused by COVID-19, indicating that biogas can enhance energy security and resilience for the poorest households during global crises. In a way, home biogas plants have promoted gender equality by freeing up women’s time, enabling them to engage in productive work.
4. Biogas and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Developing the biogas industry can significantly impact achieving 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (eradicating poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 7 (clean and affordable energy), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 14 (life below water), and SDG 15 (life on land). The biogas industry can effectively address climate change, global warming, and pollution.
The development of biogas has been uneven across the world, as it depends not only on the availability of feedstocks but also on policies that encourage its production and use. Europe, China and the United States account for 90% of global production of Biogas. Countries like Sweden and Germany offer incentives such as feed-in tariffs, investment grants, tax exemptions etc. to promote biogas use. Increasing the share of biogas in the energy mix can help mitigate climate change, reduce particulate matter, generate employment, and improve incomes for poor households too.
About the Author
Gaurav Kedia, Chairman, Indian Biogas Association.
(India CSR)
