When life gives you waste, don’t waste it. Biogas is a technology that mimics nature’s ability to give back. The best part is that you can make bio gas, which is a renewable energy source. Bio gas is a flammable gas that is naturally produced from decomposition of organic waste in absence of oxygen (anaerobic environment). When organic matter, such as food scraps and animal waste, break down in an anaerobic environment, they release a blend of methane and carbon dioxide gas. Traditionally, bio gas has been produced using concrete domes. Both India and China began developing small-scale biogas digesters for farmers around the 1960’s.
After being inspired by the traditional bio gas system, the founders of HomeBiogas created an easy to use compact system for a sustainable living that turns your organic waste into clean, renewable cooking gas and rich fertilizer for your backyard. The new HomeBiogas system comes years after launching HomeBiogas 2.0 in over 92 countries! Let’s check out the newly improved HomeBiogas system that is more efficient, compact and 100% recyclable.
How is Bio Gas produced?
To produce biogas, organic matter ferments with the help of bacterial communities. Four stages of fermentation move the organic material from their initial composition into their biogas state.
- The first stage of the digestion process is the hydrolysis stage. In the hydrolysis stage insoluble organic polymers (such as carbohydrates) are broken down, making it accessible to the next stage of bacteria called acidogenic bacteria.
- The acideogenic bacteria convert sugars and amino acids into carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ammonia, and organic acids.
- At the third stage the acetogenic bacteria convert the organic acids into acetic acid, hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon dioxide, allowing for the final stage- the methanogens.
- The methanogens convert these final components into methane and carbon dioxide- which can then be used as a flammable, green energy.
Because the organic material decomposes in a liquid environment, nutrients present in the waste dissolve into the water, and create a nutrient-rich sludge, typically used as fertilizer for plants. This fertilizer output is generated on a daily basis, and therefore is a highly productive by-product of anaerobic digestion.
What is HomeBioGas system and how does it work?
The new generation of HomeBiogas system turns your organic waste into renewable energy. The system takes any kind of organic waste materials including Vegetables, Fruit, Meat, and Dairy, unlike composters. The one good thing about HomeBiogas is that it can process food waste that most compost systems cannot – including meat, fish, oil and other fats. Note that you should feed HomeBiogas with an equal amount of water. The waste is added to the inlet and travels into the digester tank, where bacteria break it down into bio gas. The bacteria can be added to the system for the first time using cow or horse manure from your local farm. The HomeBiogas is an entirely close system and there is no smell produced by it. The process of anaerobic digestion occurs inside a water tank, therefore does not release much odor. Most likely the only time you will smell some odor is when you lift up the sink cover to throw in your daily waste. The generated biogas inside the system is filtered by a special-purpose active carbon filter to remove any unpleasant odors, so the biogas has minimal smell. The gas then flows through the gas pipe to your kitchen stove. The HomeBiogas system provides a stove as well. The system is able to create upto 2 hours worth of cooking gas with 2 Kg of organic waste.
In addition to the bio gas, the system also produces a liquid fertilizer for your plants or trees around the house. The fertilizer is packed full of various macro and micro nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Iron and Magnesium in the right form for rapid absorption by plants. When applied, the fertilizer can accelerate plant growth and resilience to diseases.
For optimal operation, you do need a sunny location, flat level surface, and easy access to inlet or outlet. The entire system is made of durable and recyclable material with life span of 15 years. The outer surface has black colour to absorb as much heat as possible to allow the bacteria to function optimally. This is also represents a potential issue for those who live in colder climates. The system performs best and is completely off-grid in areas with a temperature of above 20C / 65F. Winter time in Northern USA, Europe, Melbourne, Japan and other countries and continents requires some adjustments to your HomeBiogas system, in order to ensure 365 days a year of optimal operation.
In colder climates, the HomeBiogas system can be configured with the winter kit solution, which is comprised of 3 elements:
- The water heater: raising your system’s temp by 10°C by inserting the 500kw water heater into the digester tank.
- The greenhouse: Protects your system from rain and heavy winds. Absorbs heat and traps it in. Elevates system temperature by 5°C
- Insulation blanket: made from specially engineered materials, wraps the system, absorbs sunlight and locks in the heat.
While a water heater and greenhouse combination can be super effective in any winter above 0°C/32°F. The inventors claim that combination of all 3 can create effective solution even in areas where degrees fall below zero like Canada, UK and Scandinavia.
Pricing and Availability
HomeBiogas system is currently available on Kickstarter as a project with a goal of $50,000 and it has already raised $227,497 with 393 backers and 25 days to go. The pledge option for $399 USD provides you with the following:
What’s included in the box:
- HomeBiogas appliance
- Stainless steel biogas stove
- Biogas Filter
- Gas pipe
- Growth Boosting Beads
- Winter Water Heater ($35 value)
- HBG designed hat
As the application and efficiency grows, biogas can make a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gases. As a clean source of energy and a renewable means of treating organic waste, biogas is applicable both in under-developed and industrialized countries. The HomeBiogas system offers a family-size biogas unit that has the potential to be incredibly popular and relevant in today’s world.
Source: HomeBiogas
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