As global leaders and experts in various fields prioritize the quest for sustainable energy solutions, biogas stands out as a promising option. Derived from organic waste, biogas not only helps manage waste but also contributes to renewable energy efforts, fitting into the broader strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Despite its potential, the conversion of biogas into usable energy faces hurdles, primarily due to the inefficiencies in gas engine technologies”, states Thomas Achrainer, co-founder of PowerUP GmbH. As an expert for gas engine services regarding biogas power plants, PowerUP GmbH is actively developing innovative approaches to upgrade the biogas sector, ensuring its viability and efficiency for the future.
Today’s Biogas Market
As the global energy landscape shifts, biogas is gaining traction as a sustainable alternative, challenging the dominance of traditional fossil fuels.
In 2022, despite fossil fuels like coal and natural gas still constituting the majority of energy sources, the installed capacity for biogas reached 21.5 gigawatts. The biogas market, valued at approximately USD 65.53 billion in 2023, is projected to grow with a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% from 2024 to 2030, highlighting its expanding role in energy production, including applications in cooking, heating, and predominantly electricity generation.
This growth signals a broader recognition of the benefits, such as its renewable nature and capacity to manage waste effectively, while also providing a stable energy supply, particularly beneficial to developing countries and rural areas. Despite these advancements, there remains considerable potential for technological improvements to maximize its efficiency and utility.
The Biggest Challenges for Biogas Engine Operators
“Biogas often requires specialized processing to become a viable energy source,” explains Thomas Achrainer, pointing out that the natural variability in its composition can pose significant challenges.
Even with sophisticated processing technologies, biogas engines must be versatile enough to handle fluctuations during combustion. Yet, the challenges extend beyond just the technical aspects of biogas utilization.
Inefficiency in facilities
The costs associated with establishing and maintaining biogas facilities play a critical role in the adoption of this renewable energy source. The energy sector must invest in advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of biogas plants.
Achrainer notes: “While modern gas engines are highly efficient, often achieving efficiency levels between 40 and 50%, there’s still considerable potential for improvement.” Enhancements could include better adaptation to gas quality variations and the integration of specially engineered gas engine parts like spark plugs and filters, which not only increase efficiency but also extend the durability of the engines.
Maintenance Intricacies
Maintaining complex biogas facilities, with their intricate and sensitive systems, can present significant challenges, particularly when it involves large-scale operations. Regular maintenance is crucial to extend the lifespan of expensive gas engines and prevent unscheduled downtimes, but it often results in significant operational pauses.
This issue is exacerbated when facilities are located far from gas engine manufacturers or skilled service partners. Consequently, operators are increasingly looking for ways to reduce maintenance costs and efforts, or to integrate maintenance with strategic upgrades to enhance system performance.
Dated Systems and Costly Replacements
Biogas engines typically have a lifespan of more than 25 to 30 years, yet technological advancements often render these systems outdated, leading to increased maintenance costs and a higher likelihood of malfunctions.
Although replacing these engines is expensive and may seem counterproductive to sustainable energy goals, there is an alternative. Rather than complete replacements, many facilities now opt to upgrade existing systems, enhancing their efficiency and future-proofing them against technological obsolescence.
This approach helps maintain continuity in energy production while integrating modern advancements.
Empowering Biogas Engines for Future Challenges with PowerUP
“Challenges fuel progress; without them, there would be stagnation instead of advancement,” states Thomas Achrainer. Recognizing the complexities in operating biogas engines has propelled the industry to enhance efficiency, reliability, and autonomy.
PowerUP supports this drive by offering maintenance services for MWM® and INNIO Jenbacher® engines across 52 countries, utilizing condition-based overhauls to replace only worn parts, thus optimizing cost and resource efficiency. Additionally, PowerUP-designed spare parts like blowby systems and cylinder heads extend engine life and performance.
Another noteworthy asset in the company’s portfolio is PUPGEN. Developed by PowerUP, this overhauled INNIO Jenbacher® Type 3 engine with tailored enhancements represents a cost-effective solution that adds further versatility to the product lineup.