Unlocking the potential of biogas systems for energy production and climate solutions in rural communities

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 5900 - 10
• Main Authors: Luo, Tao, Shen, Bo, Mei, Zili, Hove, Anders, Ju, Keyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 13-07-2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 09 BIOMASS FUELS; 704/844/682; 706/134; 706/4066/4080; Biogas; Climate change; Climate change mitigation; Decarbonization; Design improvements; developing world; Economic development; Energy demand; Energy distribution; energy supply and demand; Flow rates; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Organic wastes; Real time; Rural areas; Rural communities; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50091-9

On-site conversion of organic waste into biogas to satisfy consumer energy demand has the potential to realize energy equality and mitigate climate change reliably. However, existing methods ignore either real-time full supply or methane escape when supply and demand are mismatched. Here, we show an improved design of community biogas production and distribution system to overcome these and achieve full co-benefits in developing economies. We take five existing systems as empirical examples. Mechanisms of synergistic adjusting out-of-step biogas flow rates on both the plant-side and user-side are defined to obtain consumption-to-production ratios of close to 1, such that biogas demand of rural inhabitants can be met. Furthermore, carbon mitigation and its viability under universal prevailing climates are illustrated. Coupled with manure management optimization, Chinese national deployment of the proposed system would contribute a 3.77% reduction towards meeting its global 1.5 °C target. Additionally, fulfilling others’ energy demands has considerable decarbonization potential.
Shen and colleagues demonstrate an improved design for community biogas production and distribution system to overcome common obstacles and achieve full co-benefits in developing economies.