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Win Ko

Professor Name

Course Code

15th, May 2019

Can biogas from human sewage play a significant role in getting us out of global warming?

The worldwide interest in renewable energy sources is getting to peak momentum due to the

drastic climate changes around the globe caused by fossil fuels’ usage. The term “climate

change” refers to a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns (Pollution Solutions).

Climate change is caused by naturally occurring factors as well as factors linked to human

activities such as massive usage of fossil fuel consumption. The globe, having faced rise in

temperature and unhealthy weather conditions, is dependent on environment friendly technology

for vehicular, industrial and domestic utilization.

There is an ascending demand for more efficient and environment friendly heat, power,

transport and food production but unfortunately all these processes are still dependent upon fossil

fuels or nuclear energy plants which are directly damaging the climate and habitats of humans

and animals. The excessive use of fossil fuels for transport, industrial, and domestic purposes has

disturbed climate around the world especially in the developing countries where there is less

awareness and technology about climate change damages.

The dire need to overcome adverse climatic conditions and need of fulfilling the human

activities is largely dependent on the usage of biogas. The production of biogas is in continuous
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growth due to its environment friendly nature and formation. Biogas is a combustible gaseous

fuel that is collected from the microbial degradation of organic matter in anaerobic

conditions. Biogas is principally a mixture of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) along

with other trace gases (Wilkie, 2018).

Being less expensive, renewable and clean source of energy, biogas is a practical substitute of

fossil fuels. Gas generated through bio-digestion is non-polluting and environment friendly and it

decreases greenhouse emissions, too. There takes place no combustion process while generating

biogas which verifies that there is no emission of greenhouse gasses to atmosphere and therefore

using biogas in replacement of fossil fuels is a great gateway to combat and minimize global

warming. More so, besides supplying energy, biogas technology is an excellent way to mitigate

greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce global warming through substituting firewood for

cooking, kerosene for lighting and cooking and chemical fertilizers (N, 2009). This paper

enumerates the role of biogas in reducing global warming, the drivers of renewable energy

investment and technological implications and limitations of waste water treatment plants.

Ascending energy preservation and descending global warming are first and foremost

drivers for the shift of energy system from fossil fuel to renewable sources. Biomass is a game

changer in the development of a low carbon economy. Among biomass sources, biogas is the

main item to offer thrilling possibilities to supply energy with a large potential to fight global

warming.

Global warming is the main driver to adapt renewable sources, especially biogas. Since the

time of industrial revolution, the world has seen rise in temperature and high carbon

concentration in the atmosphere. The world, due to global warming, is at stake to face warmer
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conditions, rise in oceans due to greenhouse effect and extreme pollution. Biogas generated on

sustainable basis can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Different animal waste

management systems produce thirty million tons of methane emissions every year worldwide

and about half of the emissions can be avoided by using anaerobic treatment. According to study

by World Biotechnology Association, it is estimated that through anaerobic treatment of animal

waste and energy use of the methane produced about 13, 24 million tons of CH4 emission can be

avoided worldwide per year (WBA, 2015).Avoiding millions of tons of free methane and

producing biogas as a substitute of fossils can mitigate global warming at high levels.

Cost effectiveness is one of the main drivers for renewable energy investment as the

expenditures of electricity, fueling and industrial processes are sky high and energy sources are

insufficient in developing countries. Climate change reduction has been the prime motive of

corporates and governments for many years to support renewable energy development. But now

it is observed that renewable energy technology has developed enough in some developed

countries to mitigate climate change and now focus of this technology shifts to cost effective

renewable energy production. In many countries, renewables are now cost-effective with low

investment in the production technologies, and even more if government subsidies are taken into

account (Hoeven, 2018). The production of biogas is not only cost-effective but also yields

useful by-products such as fertilizers from waste products. These by-products act as a significant

economic multiplier and gives benefit to corporate and government.

Pollution is a key driver to bring investment to biogas producing waste water treatment

plants. Since the beginning of civilizations humans have made communities near the clean and

drinkable water but unfortunately, humans have been polluting water in the same pace as they

use it. The entire globe is facing environmental pollution issues due to fast life and industrial
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revolution. Approximately everything that comes as a byproduct of human civilization is

contaminating the drinking water sources and polluting environment. All types of pollution are

playing a vital role in changing the climate of earth but water pollution is the only source to save

mankind from adversity of global warming.

Around the world, especially in Sweden, Denmark and Germany, waste water treatment

plants are practically working to produce biogas in order to mitigate global warming.

Wastewater systems without producing biogas contribute to a considerable negative impacts not

only on a regional body but also on climate change. In thinking holistically of water pollution

and wastewater management, recovering energy from polluted water through waste water

treatment plant becomes a reliable source of energy as well as to reduce global warming. The

usefulness of wastewater treatment plants is catchy at national and international levels. Not only

in developed countries, but also in developing countries, production of biogas in through

treatment plants in getting higher level of investment. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the need of energy

is in continuous growth which is mainly caused by increasing population, industrial, mining and

agricultural practices. As stated in a case study on Zimbabwe, “Government and private sectors

are constantly on the lookout for technologies that will allow for more efficient and cost-

effective waste treatment. One such technology is the ability to successfully treat municipal

sewage sludge through digestion in biogas plants (Zambia, 2016).”

The energy production from biogas in wastewater treatment plants has wide range of

benefits which push investment in producing biogas around the world. Combined heat and

electricity production which results in operational cost savings. This means low electricity billing

for wastewater treatment plants. Reduced methane and CO2 emissions and development of green

economy are foremost benefits to drive investment in the biogas production. More so,
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implementation of wastewater treatment plant biogas to energy project includes potential

feedstock and viability assessment, Project structure and development, electricity aspects and

licensing arrangements (Biogas, 2017). Wastewater treatment plants are one of the significant

ways to influence the development of energy and mitigation of global warming. To accomplish

reliable and sustainable recovery resource and reduce global warming, wastewater treatment

plants can play radical role by producing biogas.

Investment in any technology depends upon its durability, long life, better outcome and cost-

effective technology. Renewable energies are cheaper than fossil fuels depending on several

factors. The world is currently dependent on fossil fuel energies and the renewable energy

production technologies are getting mature with time. The cost of renewable energy varies from

country to country depending on the resources and subsidies provided by government. The

conventional energy production plants are dependent on the fossil fuel costs which make the

production quite expensive. On the other hand, key elements that determine cost of renewable

technologies are investment cost and natural resource availability such as solar radiation or

animal sludge. The cost of energy generation from renewable sources depends on the

technology’s present maturity, further development and incentives provided by government.

“The International Energy Agency estimates that USD 312 billion in support for conventional

energy technologies was provided worldwide in 2009, whereas renewable systems received a

mere USD 57 billion (Remler, 2011).” This shows that fossil fuel energy production

technologies are way too expensive compared to renewable energies. Moreover, the biogas

production technologies are less expensive due to easy installation at domestic levels. The fossil

fuel technologies are not expensive in accounting term but also in economic terms as well. The
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fossil fuel technology is not only expensive to install but also is expensive in terms of global

warming so renewable technologies are less expensive in all aspects.

Easy production of biogas from animal waste, wastewater and leftover food gives potential

to developing countries to meet the needs of energy and production of biogas. Wastewater

treatment plants work as a key driver for investment in renewable sources. In most of the

developing countries, most of the polluted water is left untreated which directly contaminates

marine and environment by evaporating methane to atmosphere resulting in global warming. All

the developing countries have wastewater treatment problems. The waste treated is way to less

compared to waste produced. Taking Zimbabwe under consideration, it is determined that

municipal sewage sludge is a big problem in the country. If the appropriate waste to energy

technologies are installed, sewage plants can produce energy independently. According to an

experimental study conducted on Chitungwiza, Firle and Crowborough sewage plants,

Zimbabwe possesses high potential to energy from wastewater treatment plants. The estimated

power generation potential was 0.57-1.20 MW, 4.2-8.1 MW and 1.53-4.56 MW for the

Chitungwiza, Firle and Crowborough, respectively (Oyekola 2016). The aforementioned stats

show that developing countries like Zimbabwe also have potential to produce biogas from

wastewater treatment plants.

Taking Nepal as a case study to possess potential to invest in wastewater treatment plants, it

is determined that population in Nepal is exerting high pressure on municipal services. Currently,

most of the waste generated in municipalities is not being treated and managed thereby forming

environmental hazards especially global warming. Systems like “anaerobic baffle reactor”

(ABR) “or up flow anaerobic sludge blanket” (UASB) can prove to be effective solutions for

wastewater treatment and biogas production in developing countries like Nepal. Estimated
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energy recovered from these plants is around 14.5 MW, which is equivalent to 11.4 million liter

of kerosene. This case study shows that wastewater treatment plants can not only reduce

contaminants but also save massive scale burning of fossil fuel which result in global warming.

More so, Moreover, reduce Methane emission of about 9300 ton/yr from wastewater as a result

of Methane recovery in the treatment system can be possible that will create positive impact in

fuel dependency and climate change (Adhikari, 2013).

Other developing countries like Pakistan and India also have high potential to invest in the

production of biogas through wastewater treatment plants in order to meet their energy needs.

In the developed countries waste water treatment plants are practically working but the

question arises is what difference these plants are making, how successful these plants are in

producing biogas and reducing global warming. Some developed countries are twenty to thirty

percent relying on biogas energy production and some countries like Sweden and Germany are

planning to rely hundred percent on renewable resources.

Henriksdal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Stockholm in Sweden is one of the

most successful plant that produce biogas on massive level. This plan serves almost one million

people in Stockholm is the biggest plant in the city. This treatment plant is run by Stockholm

Water Company and covers a total area of 300,000m³ with 18km of associated tunnels and a

wastewater treatment capacity of roughly 250,000m³ a day (water technology). Stockholm Water

Company has planned to extend this project in order to produce methane on a larger scale. To be

able to handle the increased volume of wastewater a new treatment process has been installed at

Henriksdal which is to be completed by 2024. The extension of the project ensures larger

volumes of biogas production and larger investment. As a part of the overall project, Stockholm

Vatten has invested around EUR 10 million in a new biogas upgrading facility. According to
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Stockholm Water Company, the production of biogas at Henriksdal has increased. The raw gas

from the digester has a methane content of 62-63 percent. The upgrading plant at Henriksdal is

with a capacity of 75 GWh per annum. The new upgrading plant has an annual capacity of 125

GWh, which means Henriksdal now has an annual upgrading capacity of approximately 200

GWh).

According to Stockholm Water Company the upgrading plant has extremely high quality

biogas production. The representative of the company claims that new technology has been

installed in upgrading treatment plant. A row of six white tubes each of which contains activated

carbon is used to separate carbon dioxide (CO2) from the raw biogas. However it is not a

continuous process but a sequential one. A tube is led with the raw biogas and put under

pressure. The CO2 is absorbed into the activated carbon. Certain pressure is reached, the biogas

is released and moved over to the next tube while the absorbed CO2 remains in the activated

carbon. A vacuum is then induced in the tube so the activated carbon releases the CO2 and it is

removed from the tube. This process is repeated along the row of tubes (Haaker, 2016).

The cost of production of this project might seem to be very high but the outcome from the

plant yields biogas and methane at massive scales. According to Stockholm Water Company

240 GWh of bio methane was produced in 2016. Scandinavian Biogas expects to produce 200-

210 GWh at Henriksdal. “The demand for bio methane exceeds production and several operators

are transporting compressed bio methane (CBG) to Stockholm from biogas plants outside

Stockholm (Haaker, 2016). This shows that demand is greater than the production verifies

investment in wastewater treatment plant is beneficial. In Stockholm, the proportion of bio

methane in vehicle fuel is around 75 percent, which is higher than the average in Sweden which

shows the environment friendly nature of biogas what most of the vehicles are running with fuel
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produced by waste water treatment plants. Compared to fossil fuel technologies, renewable

energy in terms of biogas, has guaranteed advantage in terms of being cost-effective,

environment friendly and climate change reducer.

Developing a biogas industry in all the developed and developing countries can boost up the

economies of countries and provide a trustable, distributed and cheap source of renewable

energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing generation of biogas not only

supports the aim to secure the world’s climate but also ascends energy security and independence

from fossil fuels. Biogas systems are currently working to full capacity in some of the countries

but in developing countries the plants can be improved for more profit through energy and by-

products selling.

The wastewater treatment plants are revenue streams which give different benefits of financial

revenue, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving wastewater quality and limiting

ailments. Although hundreds of plants are currently working to produce biogas through

wastewater but to reduce global warming there is dire need to employ more wastewater treatment

plants because Biogas can play a critical role in the sustainability and viability of communities

throughout the world.

Keeping in mind that biogas industry is a new beginning of a warming less world, the full

potential for biogas industry should be realized and the industry will require support from

governments, greater investments in wastewater and other plants, and trend of research and

development. The investment in wastewater treatment plants is highly recommended all big and

strong corporates because the advantages of biogas systems are clear. The task ahead is to reduce

barriers and promote financial opportunities to move forward in developing a robust biogas

industry.
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Work Cited:

1- Adhikari, J. “Sustainable Biogas Production Potential from Urban Wastewater in Nepal”

International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, Vol. 4, No. 5, October

2013.

2- “Does Biogas Contribute to Climate Change?” Pollution Solutions, International Lab

mate Limited, 24 Oct. 2014, www.pollutionsolutions-online.com/news/green-

energy/42/breaking-news/does-biogas-contribute-to-climate-change/32214. Accessed 13,

May 2019.

3- Haaker, Anders. “Sweden’s Largest Biomethane Produce.” Bioenergy International,

PDF, 20 Oct. 2016.

4- Hoeven, Died Erik van der. “Drivers for Renewable Energy Development.” Bio Base

Press, Permalink, 1 Feb. 2018, www.Drivers for renewable energy development Bio

Based Press.htm. Accessed. 13 May, 2019.

5- Haaker, Anders. “Sweden’s Largest Biomethane Produce.” Bioenergy International,

PDF, 20 Oct. 2016.

6- “Henriksdal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Stockholm.” Water Technology, Verdict Media

Limited., www.water-technology.net/projects/henriksdal-wastewater-treatment-plant-

stockholm/.

7- Livingstone, Zambia. “Sewage Plants’ Potential to Produce Biogas for Electricity

Generation-Case Study of the Three Zimbabwe Municipalities.” Academia, 2 Sept. 2016,

www.academia.edu/28063116/Sewage_Plants_Potential_to_Produce_Biogas_for_Electri

city_Generation-Case_Study_of_the_Three_Zimbabwe_Municipalities.com Accessed

14, May 2019.

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8- N, Gupta. “Global Warming Mitigation Potential of Biogas Plants in India.” PubMed, US

National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, Oct. 2009,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18843544. Accessed. 13 May, 2019.

9- Oyekola. “Sewage Plants' Potential to Produce Biogas for Electricity Generation-Case

Study of the Three Zimbabwe Municipalities.” Research Gate, Aug. 2016, www.

Sewage Plants' Potential to Produce Biogas for Electricity Generation-Case Study of the

Three Zimbabwe Municipalities.html. Accesses 14, May 2019.

10- “Technology Cooperation in the Energy Sector”.2011. PDF file.

www./Cost_Trends_of_Renewable_Energy_Technologies_for_the_Power_Generation.pd

f.com

11- Wilkie, Dr. Ann C. “Biogas a Renewable Biofuel.” University of Florida, Soil and Water

Sciences Department, 12 Apr. 2018, www.biogas.ifas.ufl.edu/FAQ.asp. Accessed. 13,

May 2019.

12- “Wastewater Biogas to Energy”. 2006. PDF file.

13- “World Biotechnology Association”. 2015. PDF file.

https://worldbioenergy.org/uploads/Factsheet%20-%20Biogas.pdf
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