Biogas
A gas mixture (primarily methane and CO2) produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. Sources include landfills, wastewater treatment plants, livestock manure, and food waste digesters.
Why It Matters
Biogas can be used directly for heat or electricity, or cleaned to become renewable natural gas. Over 500 U.S. landfills and 300+ farms capture biogas for energy.
Related Topics
Related Terms
Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
Methane captured from organic waste sources (landfills, dairy farms, wastewater treatment) and cleaned to pipeline quality. Chemically equivalent to fossil natural gas, usable in any gas appliance or pipeline.
Methane
The primary component of natural gas (CH4). Methane is a potent greenhouse gas — about 80x more warming than CO2 over a 20-year period. Methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure is a significant climate concern.