Waste You’ll Want to Hold Onto: Biogas and Its Benefits

As more people turn to biogas, demand isn’t just growing - it’s thriving. Capital investment jumped 40% between 2023 and 2024, according to the American Biogas Council, and close to 2,500 U.S. facilities are now capturing and using biogas. Nearly half are at wastewater treatment plants and close to a quarter at landfills.

What should you keep in mind if you’re thinking about a biogas project on your site? To get answers, we sat down with an expert — Marty Hopkins of Cat^® dealer Peterson Cat. He’s spent 25+ years in the power generation business, with the last 15 focused almost exclusively on biogas. Here’s what he had to tell us:

Why are biogas projects getting more popular? What are the biggest advantages?

Marty: There are three benefits that really stand out:

1. Reliability. Solar panels require the sun, and wind turbines require the wind. But landfills and wastewater treatment plants produce biogas 24/7, regardless of weather or other external factors. It’s a continuous source of renewable energy you can put toward your operation’s baseload.
2. Cost Savings. By capturing and utilizing biogas, you can reduce your reliance on the grid, lower long-term energy costs, and even generate revenue - for example, selling surplus energy back to the market. You’re turning what was once wasted into a valuable resource.
3. Environmental impact. Using biogas as your energy source can help reduce a site’s total greenhouse gas emissions

For wastewater plants, I’d add a fourth: heat production. Heat is a natural byproduct of using an engine to convert biogas to electricity. You can pump that heat back into the digester to save even more on energy costs.

Sounds great, but what’s the catch? What’s the biggest challenge with biogas projects?

Marty: The condition of the gas itself. Biogas is full of contaminants like sulfur and siloxanes. Without treatment, they can eat away at the metals in an engine — which over time leads to performance issues, downtime and added costs. You either need to clean the gas upfront or plan for extra engine maintenance along the way.

Location plays a role in that decision. To comply with certain emissions regulations, you may need to consider aftertreatment, but for that system to work properly, you’ll need to clean the biogas.

For locations where emissions regulations are less stringent, you may not need as much treatment. But I still recommend doing some cleaning to remove moisture, sulfur and siloxanes — it’ll save you headaches down the road. It’s also smart to talk to your engine provider about what their products can tolerate. Cat gensets for biogas applications, for example, are designed to handle higher levels of contamination in fuel.

Any other hurdles to consider?

Marty: Complexity, for sure. You’re dealing with unique fuels, complicated systems and sophisticated controls. That’s especially true in wastewater applications, where we’re often adding in cogeneration capabilities — producing electricity and heat — or natural gas blending. 

That’s why I can’t overstate the importance of working with experienced people. You don’t want to be the guinea pig on someone’s first project. Choose suppliers and service providers who have a proven, documented track record with biogas. They know what can go wrong and can help you avoid mistakes that cost time and money.

What’s one thing people often overlook in biogas projects?

Marty: How critical it is to have local support. A biogas project requires significant upfront investment. To get the most return on that investment, your power plant must be up and running as much as possible. Without reliable access to parts and technicians, what happens when there’s a maintenance issue or failure? Problems that should take a day to fix could take a week or more. At that point, you're losing valuable resources and potential revenue.

Before choosing an equipment solution, be sure to ask any provider you’re considering these questions:

• How long have you been serving my area?
• Do you offer local service availability?
• How many service technicians do you have?
• Where are those technicians located?

You’ve been involved in dozens of biogas projects. What are your top tips for those looking to get started?

Marty: Every project is different, but you can’t go wrong with these four steps:

1. Know your gas. Bring in a professional to measure how much biogas you’re producing and test its quality. That’s your baseline. This information can tell you if your project is feasible and how much cleanup is required.
2. Understand your regulatory climate. What are the local air and safety requirements? What permits do you need? You can perform this due diligence in house or you can hire a consulting engineer to handle it — just don’t put it off. These issues can knock a project off track if you’re not prepared.
3. Run the numbers. Figure out how much electricity you can generate with biogas and how much money that could save you over time. Then you can weigh the long-term financial benefits against the upfront costs.
4. Choose your suppliers wisely. As I said before, experience is everything. From selecting equipment to installing the power plant to ongoing maintenance, work with people you can trust. That’s the best way to reduce risk and increase your likelihood of success.

Big thanks to Marty for sharing his expertise. Are you considering a biogas project on your site? Have more questions about the process and equipment involved? Ask our team of experts. We’re here to help.

Source: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/rng-industry-data-report-2024-american-biogas-council/740335/