What does a biogas consultant or biogas expert do? Biogas is a naturally occurring mixture of gases consisting mostly of methane and carbon dioxide and is produced from the decay of organic matter. The production of biogas by commercial means is performed in landfills (landfill gas), anaerobic (without oxygen) and aerobic (with oxygen) digesters, covered and uncovered lagoons and in composting piles. In anaerobic, some aerobic and lagoon digesters the biogas is captured and used as a renewable energy or renewable fuels resource. It is important to capture the biogas from decaying organic waste as biogas is a significant contributor to greenhouse gasses containing carbon dioxide and methane which is 20 times more harmful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.
According to the United Nations we dump 2.12 billion tons of waste every year, with the U.S. alone producing more than 70 million tons of organic waste annually. Without proper management, these wastes pose a significant risk to the environment and public health as the pathogens, chemicals, and other things in them can contaminate surface and ground waters. As they decompose, these organic wastes generate large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere more efficiently than carbon dioxide. Given equal amounts of methane and carbon dioxide, methane will absorb 86 times more heat in 20 years than carbon dioxide. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the risk of pollution, organic waste needs to be removed and used to produce biogas, a renewable source of energy. Yet, despite the numerous potential benefits of organic waste utilization, the United States currently only has 2,200 operating biogas systems, representing less than 20 percent of the total potential.
A biogas consultant or expert is a consultant with significant experience and education in the production and utilization of biogas with a deep knowledge of aerobic and anaerobic digesters, organic feedstocks or biomasses that can be used to produce biogas, methods and technologies to produce and utilize the biogas as a renewable energy or renewable fuels. Typically, education includes a degree or background in civil or environmental engineering, biology, or related engineering and science fields.
A biogas consultant or expert can provide feedstock analysis and sourcing, assist in the design and selection of technology to produce or use the biogas as a renewable energy or fuel, perform due diligence studies of project sites, projects, and provide expertise in the design, construction, commissioning and operations of biogas production plants. A biogas consultant will also have expertise in various anaerobic digestion technologies and biogas treatment technologies. (See also Anaerobic Digestion Expert and Renewable Natural Gas Consultant or Expert.)
Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms certainly have biogas consultants and experts in the more common areas like of bio and renewable fuels, biomaterials, biomass and biomass power, biomaterials, biochemicals and biotechnologies. But, they also have an expertise in a wide variety of specialty services like expert witness testimony, ag biotech, agricultural waste, alcohol fuels, algae biofuel, alternative proteins, animal-free products, beverage fermentation, bio-based chemicals, biocatalysis, biodiesel conversion, biogas production, biomass power, carbon intensity, co2 utilization, combined heat & power, conversion technologies, enzyme technologies, ethanol gas, Fischer-Tropsch, food waste, fuel additives, green energy grants, hydrothermal carbonization, industrial enzymes, industrial fermentation, landfill management, microbial fermentation, organic synthesis, plastic pyrolysis, plastic recycling, plastic waste, pyrolysis oil, railroad ties, reactor design, recycled plastics, renewable identification number, rfs2, solid recovered fuels, solid state fermentation, sustainable foods, technical feasibility studies, torrefied biomass, waste to energy technology, and waste-to-hydrogen. Renewable energy experts in these firms should be able to also assist with things like renewable energy finance, renewable energy insurance, techno-economic analysis, due diligence, and feasibility studies.
Lee Enterprises Consulting is the world’s premier bioeconomy consulting group, with over 100 highly qualified experts serving in all these areas. Take a look at our experts and the services we provide. Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters. For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information. See Biogas Production, Treatment and Utilization.