Editing Biogas (section)

==Global developments==
=== United States ===
With the many benefits of biogas, it is starting to become a popular source of energy and is starting to be used in the United States more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inflation Reduction Act Gives a Boost to the Biogas Sector |url=https://www.natlawreview.com/article/inflation-reduction-act-gives-boost-to-biogas-sector |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=The National Law Review |language=en}}</ref> In 2003, the United States consumed {{convert|147|e12BTU|TWh|order=flip|abbr=unit}} of energy from "landfill gas", about 0.6% of the total U.S. natural gas consumption.<ref name="What is biogas">[http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/emerging_biogas_what_is.html What is biogas?], U.S. Department of Energy, 13 April 2010</ref> Methane biogas derived from cow manure is being tested in the U.S. According to a 2008 study, collected by the ''Science and Children'' magazine, methane biogas from cow manure would be sufficient to produce 100 billion [[kilowatt hour]]s enough to power millions of homes across America. Furthermore, methane biogas has been tested to prove that it can reduce 99 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions or about 4% of the greenhouse gases produced by the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Cuellar, Amanda D and Michael E Webber|title=Cow power: the energy and emissions benefits of converting manure to biogas|year=2008 |journal=Environ. Res. Lett. |volume=3 |page=034002 |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/3/3/034002|issue=3|bibcode=2008ERL.....3c4002C|doi-access=free|hdl=2152/20290|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

The number of farm-based digesters increased by 21% in 2021 according to the American Biogas Council.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moran |first=Barbara |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Massachusetts companies are turning to 'anaerobic digesters' to dispose of food waste |language=en |work=NPR News |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/09/1135619186/massachusetts-companies-are-turning-to-anaerobic-digesters-to-dispose-of-food-wa#storytext |access-date=2022-11-11}}</ref> In Vermont biogas generated on dairy farms was included in the CVPS Cow Power program. The program was originally offered by Central Vermont Public Service Corporation as a voluntary tariff and now with a recent merger with Green Mountain Power is now the GMP Cow Power Program. Customers can elect to pay a premium on their electric bill, and that premium is passed directly to the farms in the program. In [[Sheldon, Vermont]], Green Mountain Dairy has provided renewable energy as part of the Cow Power program. It started when the brothers who own the farm, Bill and Brian Rowell, wanted to address some of the manure management challenges faced by dairy farms, including manure odor, and nutrient availability for the crops they need to grow to feed the animals. They installed an anaerobic digester to process the cow and milking center waste from their 950 cows to produce renewable energy, a bedding to replace sawdust, and a plant-friendly fertilizer. The energy and environmental attributes are sold to the GMP Cow Power program. On average, the system run by the Rowells produces enough electricity to power 300 to 350 other homes. The generator capacity is about 300 kilowatts.<ref>Zezima, Katie. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/business/businessspecial2/24farmers.html Electricity From What Cows Leave Behind]." ''The New York Times'', 23 September 2008, natl. ed.: SPG9. Web. 1 October 2009.</ref>

In [[Hereford, Texas]], cow manure is being used to power an [[ethanol fuel|ethanol power]] plant. By switching to methane biogas, the ethanol power plant has saved 1000 barrels of oil a day. Over all, the power plant has reduced transportation costs and will be opening many more jobs for future power plants that will rely on biogas.<ref>State Energy Conservation Office (Texas). "[http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_biomass-manure.htm Biomass Energy: Manure for Fuel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023182115/http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_biomass-manure.htm |date=23 October 2012}}." State Energy Conservation Office (Texas). State of Texas, 23 April 2009. Web. 3 October 2009.</ref>

In [[Oakley, Kansas]], an ethanol plant considered to be one of the largest biogas facilities in North America is using [[integrated manure utilization system]] (IMUS) to produce heat for its boilers by utilizing feedlot manure, municipal organics and ethanol plant waste. At full capacity the plant is expected to replace 90% of the fossil fuel used in the manufacturing process of ethanol and methanol.<ref>Trash-to-energy trend boosts anaerobic digesters [http://finance-commerce.com/2013/10/trash-to-energy-trend-boosts-anaerobic-digesters/]."</ref><ref>Western Plains Energy finishing up North America's largest biogas digester [http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2013/03/13/western-plains-energy-finishing-up-north-americas-largest-biogas-digester/]."</ref>

In California, the [[Southern California Gas Company]] has advocated for mixing biogas into existing natural gas pipelines. However, California state officials have taken the position that biogas is "better used in hard-to-electrify sectors of the economy-- like aviation, heavy industry and long-haul trucking".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13112019/biogas-climate-change-renewable-gas-marketing-socalgas-reject-electrification-california|title=Fearing for Its Future, a Big Utility Pushes 'Renewable Gas,' Urges Cities to Reject Electrification|last=McKenna|first=Phil|date=2019-11-13|website=InsideClimate News|language=en-US|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116173612/https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13112019/biogas-climate-change-renewable-gas-marketing-socalgas-reject-electrification-california|archive-date=16 November 2019|access-date=2019-11-16}}</ref>

=== Europe ===
[[File:Biogas station.jpg|thumb|Biogas fueling station in [[Mikkeli]], Finland]]
The level of development varies greatly in Europe. While countries such as Germany, Austria, Sweden and Italy are fairly advanced in their use of biogas, there is a vast potential for this renewable energy source in the rest of the continent, especially in Eastern Europe. [[MT-Energie]] is a German biogas technology company operating in the field of [[renewable energy|renewable energies]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.renewables-made-in-germany.com/no_cache/en/start/bio-energy/companies/technologie/biogas-2/unternehmen/mt-energie-gmbh-co-kg-1.html |title=Renewables - Made in Germany |access-date=13 April 2011 |publisher=German Energy Agency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706082020/http://www.renewables-made-in-germany.com/no_cache/en/start/bio-energy/companies/technologie/biogas-2/unternehmen/mt-energie-gmbh-co-kg-1.html |archive-date=2011-07-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Different legal frameworks, education schemes and the availability of technology are among the prime reasons behind this untapped potential.<ref name="SEBE Website">{{cite web|url=http://www.sebe2013.eu |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20141128141840/http://www.sebe2013.eu/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 November 2014 |title=About SEBE |access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> Another challenge for the further progression of biogas has been negative public perception.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioenergie.fnr.de/fileadmin/bioenergie-beratung/hessen/dateien/archiv_veranstaltungen/konfliktmanagement_maciejczyk_12_2010.pdf |access-date=17 June 2016 |title=FNR: Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V.}} {{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In February 2009, the European Biogas Association (EBA) was founded in Brussels as a non-profit organisation to promote the deployment of sustainable biogas production and use in Europe. EBA's strategy defines three priorities: establish biogas as an important part of Europe's energy mix, promote source separation of household waste to increase the gas potential, and support the production of biomethane as vehicle fuel. In July 2013, it had 60 members from 24 countries across Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://european-biogas.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=4|title=European Biogas Association|access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref>

==== UK ====
{{As of|September 2013}}, there are about 130 non-sewage biogas plants in the UK. Most are on-farm, and some larger facilities exist off-farm, which are taking food and consumer wastes.<ref>The Official Information Portal on AD [http://www.biogas-info.co.uk/index.php/ad-map.html 'Biogas Plant Map']</ref>

On 5 October 2010, biogas was injected into the UK gas grid for the first time. Sewage from over 30,000 Oxfordshire homes is sent to Didcot [[sewage treatment]] works, where it is treated in an anaerobic digestor to produce biogas, which is then cleaned to provide gas for approximately 200 homes.<ref>Sewage project sends first ever renewable gas to grid [http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/corp/hs.xsl/10982.htm Thames Water] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209082747/http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/corp/hs.xsl/10982.htm |date=9 December 2010}}</ref>

In 2015 the Green-Energy company [[Ecotricity]] announced their plans to build three grid-injecting digesters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ecotricity announces third Green Gasmill |url=https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-news/2015/ecotricity-announces-third-green-gasmill |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=www.ecotricity.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==== Italy ====
In Italy the biogas industry first started in 2008, thanks to the introduction of advantageous feed tariffs. They were later replaced by feed-in premiums and the preference was given to by products and farming waste and leading to stagnation in biogas production and derived heat and electricity since 2012.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Eyl-Mazzega|first1=Mark Antione|last2=Mathieu|first2=Carole|date=27 October 2020|title=Biogas and Biomethane in Europe: Lessons from Denmark, Italy and Germany|url=https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/mathieu_eyl-mazzega_biomethane_2019.pdfhttps://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/mathieu_eyl-mazzega_biomethane_2019.pdf|journal=Études de l'Ifri}} {{dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>{{As of|September 2018}}, in Italy there are more than 200 biogas plants with a production of about 1.2&nbsp;GW<ref>ANSA Ambiente & Energia [https://www.ansa.it/canale_ambiente/notizie/energia/2017/02/24/biogas-italia-vale-24-mld-metri-cubi-anno-quarti-al-mondo_f6ebe8ad-b85d-40da-bb1f-a3bb35f073ec.html Installed biogas power in Italy]</ref><ref>AuCo Solutions biogas software [https://aucosolutions.com/en/Biogas.html Biogas software solution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925220104/https://aucosolutions.com/en/Biogas.html |date=25 September 2018}}</ref><ref>Snam IES Biogas [http://www.iesbiogas.it/en/biogas-plants-italy/369 Biogas Plant in Italy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925220034/http://www.iesbiogas.it/en/biogas-plants-italy/369 |date=25 September 2018}}</ref>

==== Germany ====
Germany is Europe's biggest biogas producer<ref name="Eurobserv'er 2010">{{cite web|title=European Biogas Barometer|url=http://www.european-biogas.eu/eba/images/stories/biogasbarometer.pdf|publisher=[[EurObserv'ER]]|access-date=7 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425155411/http://www.european-biogas.eu/eba/images/stories/biogasbarometer.pdf|archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref> and the market leader in biogas technology.<ref name="BMU 2011a">{{cite web|title=Biogas|url=http://www.renewables-made-in-germany.com/en/renewables-made-in-germany-start/bio-energy/biogas/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129183857/http://www.renewables-made-in-germany.com/en/renewables-made-in-germany-start/bio-energy/biogas/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 January 2015|publisher=BMU|access-date=7 November 2011}}</ref> In 2010 there were 5,905 biogas plants operating throughout the country: Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and the eastern federal states are the main regions.<ref name="Fachverband Biogas 2011">{{cite web|title=Biogas Segments Statistics 2010|url=http://www.biogas.org/edcom/webfvb.nsf/id/DE_Branchenzahlen/$file/11-06-27_Biogas%20Branchenzahlen%202010_eng.pdf|publisher=Fachverband Biogas e.V.|access-date=5 November 2011}} {{dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Most of these plants are employed as power plants. Usually the biogas plants are directly connected with a CHP which produces electric power by burning the bio methane. The electrical power is then fed into the public power grid.<ref name="IEA 2007">{{cite web|title=Biomass for Power Generation and CHP|url=http://www.iea.org/techno/essentials3.pdf|publisher=IEA|access-date=7 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103173849/http://iea.org/techno/essentials3.pdf|archive-date=3 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2010, the total installed electrical capacity of these power plants was 2,291&nbsp;MW.<ref name="Fachverband Biogas 2011" /> The electricity supply was approximately 12.8&nbsp;TWh, which is 12.6% of the total generated renewable electricity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Renewable Energy Sources |url=https://wastersblog.com/1653/examples-of-renewable-resources/ |access-date=6 June 2018 |date=2014-09-06}}</ref>

Biogas in Germany is primarily extracted by the co-fermentation of energy crops (called 'NawaRo', an abbreviation of ''nachwachsende Rohstoffe'', German for renewable resources) mixed with manure. The main crop used is corn. Organic waste and industrial and agricultural residues such as waste from the food industry are also used for biogas generation.<ref name="Wieland, P. 2003">{{cite journal|last=Wieland|first=P.|title=Production and Energetic Use of Biogas from Energy Crops and Wastes in Germany|journal=Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology|volume=109|issue=1–3|pages=263–274|doi=10.1385/abab:109:1-3:263|pmid=12794299|year=2003|s2cid=9468552}}</ref> In this respect, biogas production in Germany differs significantly from the UK, where biogas generated from landfill sites is most common.<ref name="Eurobserv'er 2010"/>

Biogas production in Germany has developed rapidly over the last 20 years. The main reason is the legally created frameworks. Government support of renewable energy started in 1991 with the Electricity Feed-in Act (''StrEG''). This law guaranteed the producers of energy from renewable sources the feed into the public power grid, thus the power companies were forced to take all produced energy from independent private producers of green energy.<ref name="IfnE et al. 2009">{{cite web |title=Erneuerbare Energien in Deutschland. Rückblick und Stand des Innovationsgeschehens |url=http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/ibee_gesamt_bf.pdf |publisher=IfnE et al. |access-date=5 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406095722/http://www.bmu.de/files/pdfs/allgemein/application/pdf/ibee_gesamt_bf.pdf |archive-date=6 April 2012}}</ref> In 2000 the Electricity Feed-in Act was replaced by the [[German Renewable Energy Sources Act|Renewable Energy Sources Act]] (''EEG''). This law even guaranteed a fixed compensation for the produced electric power over 20 years. The amount of around 8{{nbsp}}¢/kWh gave farmers the opportunity to become energy suppliers and gain a further source of income.<ref name="Wieland, P. 2003" />

The German agricultural biogas production was given a further push in 2004 by implementing the so-called NawaRo-Bonus. This is a special payment given for the use of renewable resources, that is, energy crops.<ref name="Wieland, P. 2006">{{cite journal|last=Wieland|first=P.|title=Biomass Digestion in Agriculture: A Successful Pathway for the Energy Production and Waste Treatment in Germany|journal=Engineering in Life Sciences|volume=6|issue=3|pages=302–309|publisher=Engineering in Life Science|doi=10.1002/elsc.200620128 |year=2006|bibcode=2006EngLS...6..302W |s2cid=54685767}}</ref> In 2007 the German government stressed its intention to invest further effort and support in improving the renewable energy supply to provide an answer on growing climate challenges and increasing oil prices by the 'Integrated Climate and Energy Programme'.

This continual trend of renewable energy promotion induces a number of challenges facing the management and organisation of renewable energy supply that has also several impacts on the biogas production.<ref name="Kanning et al. 2009">{{cite journal|last=Kanning|first=H.|title=Erneuerbare Energien – Räumliche Dimensionen, neue Akteurslandschaften und planerische (Mit)Gestaltungspotenziale am Beispiel des Biogaspfades|journal=Raumforschung und Raumordnung|volume=67|issue=2|pages=142–156|display-authors=etal|doi=10.1007/BF03185702|year=2009|url=https://www.repo.uni-hannover.de/handle/123456789/4766|doi-access=free}}</ref> The first challenge to be noticed is the high area-consuming of the biogas electric power supply. In 2011 energy crops for biogas production consumed an area of circa 800,000 ha in Germany.<ref name="FNR 2011">{{cite web |title=Cultivation of renewable Resources in Germany |url=http://www.nachwachsenderohstoffe.de/fileadmin/fnr/images/aktuelles/grafiken/FNR510_Grafik_Anbau_2011_engl__300_rgb.jpg |publisher=FNR |access-date=5 November 2011}} {{dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> This high demand of agricultural areas generates new competitions with the food industries that did not exist hitherto. Moreover, new industries and markets were created in predominately rural regions entailing different new players with an economic, political and civil background. Their influence and acting has to be governed to gain all advantages this new source of energy is offering. Finally biogas will furthermore play an important role in the German renewable energy supply if good governance is focused.<ref name="Kanning et al. 2009" />

===Developing countries===
Domestic biogas plants convert livestock manure and night soil into biogas and slurry, the fermented manure. This technology is feasible for small-holders with livestock producing 50&nbsp;kg manure per day, an equivalent of about 6 pigs or 3 cows. This manure has to be collectable to mix it with water and feed it into the plant. Toilets can be connected. Another precondition is the temperature that affects the fermentation process. With an optimum at 36&nbsp;°C the technology especially applies for those living in a (sub) tropical climate. This makes the technology for small holders in developing countries often suitable.<ref name="Roubík">{{Cite journal|last1=Roubík|first1=Hynek|last2=Mazancová|first2=Jana|last3=Banout|first3=Jan|last4=Verner|first4=Vladimír|date=2016-01-20|title=Addressing problems at small-scale biogas plants: a case study from central Vietnam|journal=Journal of Cleaner Production|volume=112|issue=Part 4|pages=2784–2792|doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.114|bibcode=2016JCPro.112.2784R }}</ref>
[[File:Biogas plant.svg|thumb|270px|Simple sketch of household biogas plant]]

Depending on size and location, a typical brick made fixed dome biogas plant can be installed at the yard of a rural household with the investment between US$300 to $500 in Asian countries and up to $1400 in the African context.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ghimire|first=Prakash C.|date=2013-01-01|title=SNV supported domestic biogas programmes in Asia and Africa|journal=Renewable Energy|series=Selected papers from World Renewable Energy Congress – XI|volume=49|pages=90–94|doi=10.1016/j.renene.2012.01.058|bibcode=2013REne...49...90G }}</ref> A high quality biogas plant needs minimum maintenance costs and can produce gas for at least 15–20 years without major problems and re-investments. For the user, biogas provides [[clean cooking]] energy, reduces [[indoor air quality|indoor air pollution]], and reduces the time needed for traditional biomass collection, especially for women and children. The slurry is a clean organic fertilizer that potentially increases agricultural productivity.<ref name="Roubík" /> In developing countries, it was also determined that the use of biogas leads to a 20% reduction in GHG emissions compared with GHG emissions due to firewood. Moreover, GHG emissions of 384.1&nbsp;kg CO2-eq·y−1 per animal could be prevented.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2020-10-10 |title=Emission reduction potential of household biogas plants in developing countries: The case of central Vietnam |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652620323040 |journal=Journal of Cleaner Production |language=en-US |volume=270 |pages=122257 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122257 |issn=0959-6526 |last1=Roubík |first1=Hynek |last2=Barrera |first2=Sergio |last3=Van Dung |first3=Dinh |last4=Phung |first4=Le Dinh |last5=Mazancová |first5=Jana |bibcode=2020JCPro.27022257R }}</ref>

Energy is an important part of modern society and can serve as one of the most important indicators of socio-economic development. As much as there have been advancements in technology, even so, some three billion people, primarily in the rural areas of developing countries, continue to access their energy needs for cooking through traditional means by burning biomass resources like firewood, crop residues and animal dung in crude traditional stoves.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Surendra|first1=K. C.|last2=Takara|first2=Devin|last3=Hashimoto|first3=Andrew G.|last4=Khanal|first4=Samir Kumar|date=2014-03-01|title=Biogas as a sustainable energy source for developing countries: Opportunities and challenges|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032113008290|journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews|language=en|volume=31|pages=846–859|doi=10.1016/j.rser.2013.12.015|bibcode=2014RSERv..31..846S |issn=1364-0321}}</ref>

Domestic biogas technology is a proven and established technology in many parts of the world, especially Asia.<ref>{{cite web|title=SNV World|url=http://www.snvworld.org/en/Documents/20060209%20Article%20on%20Biogas%20Asia%20in%20Renewable%20Energy.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005235840/http://www.snv.org/|archive-date=5 October 2018|access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> Several countries in this region have embarked on large-scale programmes on domestic biogas, such as China<ref name="China Biogas">{{cite web|title=China – Biogas|url=http://ecotippingpoints.org/our-stories/indepth/china-biogas.html|access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> and India.

The [[SNV Netherlands Development Organisation|Netherlands Development Organisation]], SNV,<ref>{{cite web|title=Renewable energy|url=http://www.snvworld.org/en/ourwork/Pages/Renewable%20Energy.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227092409/http://www.snvworld.org/en/ourwork/Pages/Renewable%20Energy.aspx|archive-date=27 February 2012|access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> supports national programmes on domestic biogas that aim to establish commercial-viable domestic biogas sectors in which local companies market, install and service biogas plants for households. In Asia, [[SNV Netherlands Development Organisation|SNV]] is working in Nepal,<ref>{{cite web|title=Biogas Sector Partnership-Nepal |url=http://www.bspnepal.org.np|access-date=21 February 2010|publisher=Bspnepal.org.np}}</ref> Vietnam,<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Roubík, H. |author2=Mazancová, J. |author3=Phung, L.D. |author4=Banout, J. |title=Current approach to manure management for small-scale Southeast Asian farmers - Using Vietnamese biogas and non-biogas farms as an example |journal=Renewable Energy |date=2018 |volume=115 |issue=115 |pages=362–370 |doi=10.1016/j.renene.2017.08.068 |bibcode=2018REne..115..362R |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.08.068 |access-date=20 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dự án chương trình khí sinh học cho ngành chăn nuôi Việt Nam|url=http://www.biogas.org.vn|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041025110758/http://www.biogas.org.vn/|archive-date=25 October 2004|access-date=21 February 2010|publisher=Biogas.org.vn}}</ref> Bangladesh,<ref name="idcol.org">http://www.idcol.org (click 'Projects')</ref> Bhutan, Cambodia,<ref name="idcol.org" /> Lao PDR,<ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.biogaslao.org|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110131942/http://www.biogaslao.org/|archive-date=10 November 2010|access-date=21 February 2010|publisher=Biogaslao.org}}</ref> Pakistan<ref>{{cite web|title=SNV World|url=http://www.snvworld.org/en/Documents/Biogas%20Pakistan%20Leaflet%202009.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000706/http://www.snv.org/|archive-date=6 October 2018|access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> and Indonesia,<ref>[http://www.snvworld.org/en/ourwork/Documents/Indonesia%20Domestic%20Biogas%20Programme%20Brochure.pdf Indonesia Domestic Biogas Programme] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728034356/http://www.snvworld.org/en/ourwork/Documents/Indonesia%20Domestic%20Biogas%20Programme%20Brochure.pdf|date=28 July 2011}}</ref> and in Africa; Rwanda,<ref>{{cite web|title=Renewable Energy|url=http://www.snvworld.org/en/countries/rwanda/our-work/sectors/renewable-energy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103234339/http://www.snvworld.org/en/countries/rwanda/our-work/sectors/renewable-energy|archive-date=3 January 2015|access-date=2015-01-03|publisher=Snvworld.org}}</ref> Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Renewable energy|url=http://www.snvworld.org/en/countries/ethiopia/our-work/renewable-energy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103235124/http://www.snvworld.org/en/countries/ethiopia/our-work/renewable-energy|archive-date=3 January 2015|access-date=2015-01-03|publisher=Snvworld.org}}</ref> Tanzania,<ref>[http://www.snvworld.org/en/Documents/SNV%20-%20Domestic%20Biogas%20Brochure%20Tanzania.pdf SNV Tanzania Domestic Biogas Programme] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728034805/http://www.snvworld.org/en/Documents/SNV%20-%20Domestic%20Biogas%20Brochure%20Tanzania.pdf|date=28 July 2011}}</ref> Uganda, Kenya,<ref>[http://www.clarke-energy.com/2013/biogas-first-in-kenya-for-clarke-energy-tropical-power/ Biogas First in Kenya for Clarke Energy and Tropical Power] Accessed 11 September 2013</ref> Benin and Cameroon.

In South Africa a prebuilt Biogas system is manufactured and sold. One key feature is that installation requires less skill and is quicker to install as the digester tank is premade plastic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Renewable Energy Solutions – Living Lightly|url=http://www.biogaspro.co.za/|access-date=15 May 2015|work=Renewable Energy Solutions|archive-date=2 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502230158/http://www.biogaspro.co.za/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== India ====
Biogas in India<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpowersystems.co.in/waste-management-and-biogas/|title=GPS Renewables – Waste management through biogas|work=GPS Renewables|access-date=15 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518075723/http://www.greenpowersystems.co.in/waste-management-and-biogas/|archive-date=18 May 2015}}</ref> has been traditionally based on dairy manure as feed stock and these "gobar" gas plants have been in operation for a long period of time, especially in rural India. In the last 2–3 decades, research organisations with a focus on rural energy security have enhanced the design of the systems resulting in newer efficient low cost designs such as the Deenabandhu model.

The Deenabandhu Model is a new biogas-production model popular in India. (''Deenabandhu'' means "friend of the helpless".) The unit usually has a capacity of 2 to 3 cubic metres. It is constructed using bricks or by a [[ferrocement]] mixture. In India, the brick model costs slightly more than the ferrocement model; however, India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy offers some subsidy per model constructed.

Biogas which is mainly methane/natural gas can also be used for generating protein rich cattle, poultry and fish feed in villages economically by cultivating ''[[Methylococcus capsulatus]]'' bacteria culture with tiny land and water foot print.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ntva.no/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/04-huslid.pdf |title=BioProtein Production |access-date=31 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510151825/http://www.ntva.no/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/04-huslid.pdf |archive-date=10 May 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2112298-food-made-from-natural-gas-will-soon-feed-farm-animals-and-us/ |title=Food made from natural gas will soon feed farm animals – and us |newspaper=New Scientist |access-date=31 January 2018|last1=Le Page |first1=Michael}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cargill.com/2016/new-venture-selects-cargill-tennessee-to-produce-feedkind |title=New venture selects Cargill's Tennessee site to produce Calysta FeedKind Protein |access-date=31 January 2018}}</ref> The carbon dioxide gas produced as by product from these plants can be put to use in cheaper production of [[algae oil]] or [[Spirulina (dietary supplement)|spirulina]] from [[algaculture]] particularly in tropical countries like India which can displace the prime position of crude oil in near future.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/01/20150121-algenol.html#more |title=Algenol and Reliance launch algae fuels demonstration project in India |access-date=29 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/ExxonMobil-Announces-Breakthrough-In-Renewable-Energy.html |title=ExxonMobil Announces Breakthrough in Renewable Energy |access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> Union government of India is implementing many schemes to utilise productively the agro waste or biomass in rural areas to uplift rural economy and job potential.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/indrapratha-gas-mahindra-mahindra-join-hands-to-stop-stubble-burning/62986917|title=Indrapratha Gas, Mahindra & Mahindra join hands to stop stubble burning|access-date=20 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas/modi-govt-plans-gobar-dhan-scheme-to-convert-cattle-dung-into-energy/63028408|title=Modi govt plans Gobar-Dhan scheme to convert cattle dung into energy|access-date=22 February 2018}}</ref> With these plants, the non-edible biomass or waste of edible biomass is converted in to high value products without any water pollution or [[green house gas]] (GHG) emissions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.carbontrust.com/media/672719/calysta-feedkind.pdf |title=Assessment of environmental impact of FeedKind protein |access-date=20 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802163726/https://www.carbontrust.com/media/672719/calysta-feedkind.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is a key source of cooking fuel in urban India and its prices have been increasing along with the global fuel prices. Also the heavy subsidies provided by the successive governments in promoting LPG as a domestic cooking fuel has become a financial burden renewing the focus on biogas as a cooking fuel alternative in urban establishments. This has led to the development of prefabricated digester for modular deployments as compared to RCC and cement structures which take a longer duration to construct. Renewed focus on process technology like the Biourja process model<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpowersystems.co.in/monitoring-methodology/|title=GPS Renewables – Monitoring Methodology|work=GPS Renewables|access-date=15 May 2015|archive-date=10 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510175205/http://www.greenpowersystems.co.in/monitoring-methodology/|url-status=dead}}</ref> has enhanced the stature of medium and large scale anaerobic digester in India as a potential alternative to LPG as primary cooking fuel.

In India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh biogas produced from the anaerobic digestion of [[manure]] in small-scale digestion facilities is called gobar gas; it is estimated that such facilities exist in over 2 million households in India, 50,000 in Bangladesh and thousands in Pakistan, particularly North Punjab, due to the thriving population of livestock. The digester is an airtight circular pit made of concrete with a pipe connection. The manure is directed to the pit, usually straight from the cattle shed. The pit is filled with a required quantity of [[wastewater]]. The gas pipe is connected to the kitchen fireplace through control valves. The combustion of this biogas has very little odour or smoke. Owing to simplicity in implementation and use of cheap raw materials in villages, it is one of the most environmentally sound energy sources for rural needs. One type of these system is the [[Sintex]] Digester. Some designs use [[vermiculture]] to further enhance the slurry produced by the biogas plant for use as compost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/skgsangha|title=Biogas plants provide cooking and fertiliser|work=Ashden Awards, sustainable and renewable energy in the UK and developing world|access-date=15 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927224851/http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/skgsangha|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Pakistan, the Rural Support Programmes Network is running the Pakistan Domestic Biogas Programme<ref name="pakenergysolution">{{cite web|url=http://www.pakenergysolution.com/|title=PAK-ENERGY SOLUTION|access-date=15 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524191752/http://www.pakenergysolution.com/|archive-date=24 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> which has installed 5,360 biogas plants<ref name="PakBioGasPlants">{{cite web|url=http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/industries-a-sectors/213512-5360-bio-gas-plants-installed-in-12-districts.html|title=5,360 bio-gas plants installed in 12 districts|work=Business Recorder|access-date=15 May 2015|date=2014-12-27|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402232443/http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/industries-a-sectors/213512-5360-bio-gas-plants-installed-in-12-districts.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and has trained in excess of 200 masons on the technology and aims to develop the Biogas Sector in Pakistan.

In Nepal, the government provides subsidies to build biogas plant at home.

====China====
As of at least 2023, China is both the world's largest producer and largest consumer of household biogas.<ref name=":532">{{Cite book |last=Santos |first=Gonçalo |title=Chinese Village Life Today: Building Families in an Age of Transition |date=2021 |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |isbn=978-0-295-74738-5 |location=Seattle |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=172}}

The Chinese have experimented with the applications of biogas since 1958. Around 1970, China had installed 6,000,000 digesters in an effort to make [[agriculture]] more efficient. During the last few years, technology has met high growth rates. This seems to be the earliest developments in generating biogas from agricultural waste.<ref>[http://ecotippingpoints.org/our-stories/indepth/china-biogas.html Biogas in China. Retrieved 27 October 2016]</ref>

The rural biogas construction in China has shown an increased development trend. The exponential growth of energy supply caused by rapid economic development and severe [[haze]] condition in China have led biogas to become the better eco-friendly energy for the rural areas. In [[Qing County|Qing county]], [[Hebei]] Province, the technology of using crop [[straw]] as a main material to generate biogas is currently developing.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hu|first=Die|title=Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference on Mechatronics, Electronic, Industrial and Control Engineering |chapter=Hebei Province Qing County Straw Partnerships Biogas Application and Promotion Research |date=2015|location=Paris, France|publisher=Atlantis Press|doi=10.2991/meic-15.2015.260|isbn=9789462520622|doi-access=free}}</ref>

China had 26.5 million biogas plants, with an output of 10.5 billion cubic meter biogas until 2007. The annual biogas output has increased to 248 billion cubic meter in 2010.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Deng|first1=Yanfei|last2=Xu|first2=Jiuping|last3=Liu|first3=Ying|last4=Mancl|first4=Karen|date=2014|title=Biogas as a sustainable energy source in China: Regional development strategy application and decision making|journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews|volume=35|pages=294–303|doi=10.1016/j.rser.2014.04.031|bibcode=2014RSERv..35..294D |issn=1364-0321}}</ref> The Chinese government had supported and funded rural biogas projects.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chen|first1=Yu|last2=Yang|first2=Gaihe|last3=Sweeney|first3=Sandra|last4=Feng|first4=Yongzhong|date=2010|title=Household biogas use in rural China: A study of opportunities and constraints|journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews|volume=14|issue=1|pages=545–549|doi=10.1016/j.rser.2009.07.019|bibcode=2010RSERv..14..545C |s2cid=154461345 |issn=1364-0321}}</ref> As of 2023, more than 30 million rural Chinese households use biogas digesters.<ref name=":532" />{{Rp|page=172}}

During the winter, the biogas production in northern regions of China is lower. This is caused by the lack of heat control technology for digesters thus the co-digestion of different feedstock failed to complete in the cold environment.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=He|first=Pin Jing|date=2010|title=Anaerobic digestion: An intriguing long history in China|journal=Waste Management|volume=30|issue=4|pages=549–550|doi=10.1016/j.wasman.2010.01.002|pmid=20089392|bibcode=2010WaMan..30..549H |issn=0956-053X}}</ref>

==== Zambia ====
Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, has two million inhabitants with over half of the population residing in peri-urban areas. The majority of this population use [[pit latrine]]s as toilets generating approximately 22,680 tons of fecal sludge per annum. This sludge is inadequately managed: Over 60% of the generated [[Fecal sludge management|faecal sludge]] remains within the residential environment thereby compromising both the environment and public health.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Tembo|first1=J.M.|last2=Nyirenda|first2=E.|last3=Nyambe|first3=I.|date=2017|title=Enhancing faecal sludge management in peri-urban areas of Lusaka through faecal sludge valorisation: challenges and opportunities|journal=IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science|volume=60|issue=1|page=012025|doi=10.1088/1755-1315/60/1/012025|bibcode=2017E&ES...60a2025T|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In the face of research work and implementation of biogas having started as early as in the 1980s, Zambia is lagging behind in the adoption and use of biogas in the sub-Saharan Africa. Animal manure and crop residues are required for the provision of energy for cooking and lighting. Inadequate funding, absence of policy, regulatory framework and strategies on biogas, unfavorable investor monetary policy, inadequate expertise, lack of awareness of the benefits of biogas technology among leaders, financial institutions and locals, resistance to change due cultural and traditions of the locals, high installation and maintenance costs of biogas digesters, inadequate research and development, improper management and lack of monitoring of installed digesters, complexity of the carbon market, lack of incentives and social equity are among the challenges that have impeded the acquiring and sustainable implementation of domestic biogas production in Zambia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Shane|first1=Agabu|last2=Gheewala|first2=Shabbir H|date=2020|title=Potential, Barriers and Prospects of Biogas Production in Zambia|url=http://www.jseejournal.com/media/171/attachment/Potential,%20Barriers%20and%20Prospects%20pp.21-27.pdf|journal=Journal of Sustainable Energy & Environment|volume=6 (2015) 21-27}}</ref>{{clear}}