Renewable natural gas could be the solution to America's current waste problems. The United States still heavily depends on fossil fuels as its energy source, but renewable natural gas may become an alternative. This article describes some methods used to produce renewable natural gases.
Biogas
Biogas is an alternative energy source that can be made from organic matter. It is an excellent fuel for vehicles and can also serve as heating and power. It is also an excellent feedstock for bio-products, and can be used for decarbonization of the natural gas supply. Biogas has many potential uses, including as a substitute for coal in power stations. But how you make biogas affordable and readily available is the key to its future.
Biogas could replace the use of natural gas for power plants, ground transport, and commercial buildings. Biogas can eventually be converted to biomethane which can be used to make electricity and electric cars.
Synthetic gas
Synthetic gas is a substitute for natural gas. It can be made from coal, biofuels, or other renewable energy sources. It's also called bio-SNG or e-gas. This alternative fuel can be mixed to conventional natural gas to meet your energy requirements. It can also be compressed to be stored in the gas grid.
Synthetic gas can also be used to power turbines and generate electricity. It doesn't require cooling or cleaning. The hot syngas expands in the turbine, creating spinning blades. The gas is then converted into electricity by the spinning blades. Gas can also be used for heating dry feedstocks or water.
Catalytic Hydothermal Gasification
Catalytic hydrogen (CH) gasification refers to a process that uses heat to convert natural gases to fuels. It has many benefits, including high yields, fast operation and low capital cost. It is an attractive alternative to current valuation techniques and can be used close to farms.
This involves high temperatures and pressures in order to convert biomass into natural gas. The gas produced is methane rich and can be used to fuel the gas grid. This process is very eco-friendly and produces little waste. Additionally, the process can extract mineral salts from the biomass.
Algae methane
Anaerobic digestion (AD), of algae can produce algae methane. This process is very efficient and doesn't require any prior treatment. Algae can also serve as a renewable energy source without compromising their biological functions.
Algae methane can be a potential natural gas renewable source. It is important to develop the right technologies for producing biogas. This is crucial to minimize the methane loss during the process. Future LCAs also must consider unrecovered nitrogen, which results in N2O.
Biomethane
Biomethane (also known as biogas) is a natural, renewable gas. It is made from biomass. It contains typically between 45-75 percent methane. The rest is CO2. You can use biomethane for heat, electricity, and cooking. Upgrading accounts for around 90% of biomethane production. Upgrading involves the use of different properties to separate the gas components. A membrane separation process is used to produce about 60% of biomethane.
Biomethane has low carbon emissions and flexibility. It is therefore considered a natural gas that can be used to generate renewable energy. It is expected contribute significantly to the transition toward a carbon free energy system by 2050. It has also attracted the attention of a number of governments, including the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands.