Decarbonizing our environment via the promotion of biomass methanation in developing nations: a waste management tool

Abstract

For a long time, fossil fuel has been a part of our everyday lives and has constantly led to the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment. The release of methane (CH4) into our surroundings can be caused by the decomposition of organic wastes produced by our daily activities; CH4 produced by human activity is responsible for at least 25 % of global warming. CH4 is a known potent greenhouse gas that can trap about 35 times more heat than CO2. These greenhouse gases play a role in climate change and global warming. It, therefore, becomes important to explore measures for decarbonizing our environment. Biomethane production using our generated waste is a promising decarbonization approach with significant potential for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This paper overviews potential biomass methanation feedstocks and investigates several technologies, such as anaerobic digestion, combined pyrolysis and methanation, and combined gasification and methanation. SWOT analysis of waste conversion to biomethane was conducted, and important points related to the scaling-up of biomethane production processes were outlined. Also, insights into prospects for promoting biomass methanation deployment were provided. In conclusion, biomass methanation has great potential for producing sustainable energy. Hence, collaboration between industrialists, researchers, government agencies, and stakeholders including an understanding of the financial investments, return on investments, or potential subsidies and incentives could enhance the practicality of the proposed solution. Research and development should be continuously carried out as they are necessary to scale up and promote the technology. Also, there should be technical training for stakeholders as it is essential for the smooth development of the sector.