Biogas Collection Potential for Australian Farms.

Methane has up to 20x the greenhouse gas effects (per unit volume) as CO2. Though the total volume emmited is far less than CO2, due to the relatively short life of methane in the atmosphere, reducing Methane emissions presents one of the best pottentials for immediate reduction of climate change effects.

Energy yields can be high even on moderate sized pig and poultry farms - for example in Thailand 330kW electricity generator systems are common. Biogas collection and digester systems are in place at a small number of farms in Australia with the most successful long term example being in regional Victoria.

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Methane will become an increasingly valuable fuel for Agriculture in Australia as Oil prices continue to rise (with peaking of world oil production). Biogas can be purified and compressed for use in farm machinery or used in a less purified state in new biogas compatable turbines such as that pictured above (particularly for local electricity generation).

* Capstones' microturbine unit produces electricity 30 or 65 kW. In addition to biogases, other fuels like natural gas, diesel oil and biodiesel can be used.

The price of power produced with microturbines is very competitive comparing to existing systems and it is often considerably more profitable than wind power. The  overhaul interval in biogas use is 8.000 hrs and a major overhaul after 40.000 hrs of use.

The scalability of microturbine plant according to the gas flow or the methane content is superior. The resistance against sulphure compounds with microturbines is far better than that of gas engines. The minimum needed methane content in biogas is as low as 30 %.
Environment performance of microturbines is excellent: exhaust emissions are far below the values of traditional gas engines. The turbine runs vibration freely and the sound level is low.

The experience of over 6 million hours of use with different fuels proves that the technology works.

(from www.energy-enviro.fi)