The energy sector sees biogas versus natural gas as one of the most promising changes happening right now. Biogas production will likely jump 50% from current levels by 2040. This shows a fundamental change in our approach to energy sources. Biomethane and biogas could meet almost 20% of the world’s gas needs if we tap into their full eco-friendly potential.

Many people ask “is biogas the same as natural gas?” The answer reveals vital differences between them. Natural gas forms over millions of years and isn’t renewable. Biogas, on the other hand, comes from organic waste and keeps producing continuously. The environmental effects set them apart even more. Biogas stays almost carbon-neutral and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 51-70% compared to natural gas. The process creates a closed-loop system that recycles existing carbon. This piece will help you understand what makes biogas special. We’ll look at its uses, weigh its pros and cons, and compare how efficiently it works against natural gas to show why this renewable option matters so much.

Biogas vs Natural Gas: Origins and Key Differences

These energy sources have a key difference in how they come to be. Biogas comes from recent organic matter. We get it mainly by breaking down waste materials. This creates a renewable energy cycle that helps sustainability efforts.

Biogas from Organic Waste vs Natural Gas from Fossil Deposits

Biogas comes from organic matter breaking down. Food scraps, agricultural waste, manure, and sewage go through anaerobic digestion. This happens when microorganisms break down materials without oxygen. Special digesters capture the gasses from this process. Natural gas tells a different story. It forms deep underground and takes millions of years to create from ancient plant and animal remains. Getting natural gas needs drilling or fracking. This often hurts ecosystems.

Biogas Natural Gas Difference in Chemical Makeup

Both gasses have methane as their main part, but their makeup is quite different. Raw biogas has 45-75% methane and 25-50% carbon dioxide. You’ll also find small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and water vapor in it. After upgrading, biomethane reaches 96-98% methane. Natural gas packs more methane (85-95%). It also has various hydrocarbons that give it more heating power. These differences mean natural gas gives slightly more energy per cubic meter.

Renewability and Sustainability Comparison

The biggest difference between these gasses shows up in how sustainable they are. We call biogas renewable because organic waste never stops coming. Biogas creates a near carbon-neutral cycle. The CO2 it releases while burning matches what the organic matter took in while growing. This helps biogas reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 91% compared to gasoline. Natural gas works differently. It won’t last forever. When it burns, it releases fossil carbon and adds a lot to climate change.

Production and Processing Methods

Production methods vary dramatically between these energy sources. Each method reflects unique origins and affects the environment differently.

Biogas Production: Anaerobic Digesters and Feedstocks

Bacteria produce biogas in sealed vessels called anaerobic digesters by breaking down organic matter without oxygen. These digesters work at specific temperatures – mesophilic (86-100°F) or thermophilic (122-140°F). The biological process happens in four stages: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis. The final stage creates methane-rich biogas.

The process can use many different feedstocks:

• Agricultural waste and manure (90 million tons generated annually in the UK)
• Food processing residues and OFMSW (16 million tons in the UK)
• Wastewater sludge and sewage
• Energy crops like maize and grass silage

Natural Gas Extraction: Drilling and Fracking

Companies extract conventional natural gas by drilling deep wells into underground reservoirs. The US now gets about 80% of its natural gas through hydraulic fracturing or “fracking”. This method requires horizontal drilling into shale formations. Workers then inject high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals that crack the rock. Gas escapes through these cracks and flows to collection wells before moving through pipes for commercial use.

Upgrading Biogas to Biomethane: Key Technologies

Raw biogas needs upgrading to match natural gas quality standards. The purification removes CO₂, water vapor, hydrogen sulfide, and other contaminants. Several 10-year-old technologies can achieve this:

• Membrane separation: Polymeric materials separate methane from CO₂ through selective permeability
• Water scrubbing: Uses CO₂’s higher solubility in water (26 times more than methane)
• Chemical absorption: Amine solvents remove CO₂
• Pressure swing adsorption: Porous materials capture unwanted molecules

The final biomethane product contains 97%+ methane and works perfectly in natural gas pipelines or as vehicle fuel.

Environmental and Lifecycle Emissions

A thorough analysis of energy sources’ environmental effects requires understanding their complete lifecycle emissions. The carbon footprints of biogas and natural gas show dramatic differences throughout their production, distribution, and end-use stages.

Lifecycle Emissions: Upstream, Midstream, Downstream

Biogas and biomethane achieve 51–70% greenhouse gas savings compared to natural gas throughout their complete lifecycles. The total environmental effect comes from three stages: upstream emissions during extraction and processing, midstream emissions from transportation, and downstream emissions from end-use. The total LNG footprint includes about 38% from upstream and midstream methane emissions. Biogas creates an almost closed carbon loop because the CO2 released during combustion matches what organic matter absorbs during growth.

Methane Leakage and Climate Implications

The climate impact of methane deserves special attention since it’s 25-36 times more powerful than CO2 over a 100-year period. Natural gas can become as climate-damaging as coal with just 0.2% methane leakage. The environmental advantages of biogas production depend on minimizing fugitive emissions. The data shows that 62% of total methane emissions come from just the top 5% of biogas system emitters.

Digestate Use: Fertilizer Benefits and Emission Offsets

The biogas production process yields digestate, a nutrient-rich byproduct that brings significant environmental benefits as fertilizer. This residue contains valuable nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and serves as a budget-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers. The slow-release properties of digestate reduce the risk of nutrient runoff. Farmers who apply digestate to agricultural land complete a circular economy approach by returning nutrients to the soil.

Real-World Applications and Market Outlook

Biogas has expanded faster into real-life applications that showcase its potential as a renewable energy source beyond theory.

What is Biogas Used For: Heating, Electricity, Transport

Biogas serves energy needs of all types worldwide. About two-thirds of global biogas production powers electricity generation and heating applications. The split remains almost equal between electricity-only facilities and co-generation systems. Residential heating and cooking consume around 30%. Biogas provides reliable baseload power with 18 GW of installed power generation capacity globally, which replaces fossil fuels. These biogas plants operate flexibly and offer balancing services to electricity networks.

Bio-CNG and Bio-LNG in Transportation

Transportation has become a new frontier for biogas applications. Bio-CNG (compressed) suits municipal vehicles and cars best. Bio-LNG (liquefied at -162°C) works better for long-haul transportation. Bio-LNG trucks can travel up to 1,000 km on a single tank, making them a match for diesel performance. Europe now has over 600 LNG/bio-LNG stations. Industry forecasts suggest 280,000 LNG trucks will operate in Europe by 2030, which represents about 25% of the EU truck market.

Cost Trends and Price Volatility in 2025

The biogas market continues to grow. The American Biogas Council reports 40% industry growth from 2023-2024. Global biogas upgrading equipment markets should expand from $1.40 billion in 2022 to $3.80 billion by 2027—a 21.1% compound annual growth rate. Natural gas markets have stabilized after 2022’s extreme volatility. Historical volatility averaged 69% in 2023 compared to 91% in 2022.

Green Gas Inc. as a Biomethane Provider

Green Gas Inc., established in 2020, leads North American biomethane state-of-the-art solutions. Their projects achieve carbon intensity scores between -250 and -450 gCO2e/MJ. The company uses advanced technologies like anaerobic digestion and biogas upgrading. Green Gas Inc.’s development services cover biogas and renewable natural gas projects from feedstock assessment through production. This makes them leaders in eco-friendly energy solutions.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

Biogas stands out as a compelling alternative to natural gas in our quest for eco-friendly energy. The comparison shows how biogas creates renewable energy from organic waste, while natural gas remains a finite fossil fuel that needs disruptive extraction methods. Biogas reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 51-70% compared to natural gas, making it the better choice for our environment.

The benefits go beyond environmental effects. Biogas produces nutrient-rich digestate that farmers use as fertilizer, creating a complete circular economy. The practical advantages of biogas shine through its many uses – from generating electricity to powering vehicles and heating homes.

Recent market trends paint an encouraging picture. A 40% industry growth from 2023-2024 shows strong momentum, and future projections look even better. Green Gas Inc. leads this transformation as a game-changer that provides detailed development services. Their carbon intensity scores range from -250 to -450 gCO2e/MJ.

Natural gas might rule our energy infrastructure now, but biogas and biomethane could meet almost 20% of global gas needs when fully developed. This renewable source provides reliable baseload power and helps balance the grid, making it crucial for America’s energy future.

The choice between biogas and natural gas means more than comparing technical specs. We can stick with finite fossil resources or switch to renewable options that work with nature. Biogas technology keeps improving and scaling up. This clean energy source will become a more attractive and available option for businesses and consumers nationwide.

FAQs

Q1. How does biogas compare to natural gas in terms of environmental impact? 

Biogas is significantly more environmentally friendly than natural gas. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 51-70% compared to natural gas and is considered nearly carbon-neutral. Biogas creates a closed-loop system by recycling existing carbon, while natural gas releases fossil carbon when burned, contributing to climate change.

Q2. Can renewable natural gas (RNG) replace conventional natural gas? 

Renewable natural gas (RNG), also known as biomethane, is a lower-carbon alternative to conventional natural gas. It’s derived from organic sources and uses existing carbon within the ecosystem, meaning it doesn’t add net new carbon to the atmosphere. RNG can be used as a direct substitute for natural gas in existing infrastructure.

Q3. What are the main disadvantages of using biogas as a fuel? 

While biogas has many advantages, it does have some limitations. It can be less efficient on a large scale, making it economically challenging for widespread use. Biogas may contain impurities that are difficult to remove completely, even after purification. Additionally, raw biogas can be unstable and potentially hazardous if not handled properly.

Q4. How do the production methods of biogas and natural gas differ? 

Biogas is produced through anaerobic digestion of organic waste in controlled digesters, typically operating at temperatures between 86-140°F. Natural gas, on the other hand, is extracted through drilling and fracking, with about 80% of US production coming from hydraulic fracturing. These different production methods contribute to their distinct environmental impacts.

Q5. What are the primary applications of biogas in real-world scenarios? 

Biogas has diverse applications across multiple sectors. It’s commonly used for electricity generation and heating, with about two-thirds of global biogas production dedicated to these purposes. In the transportation sector, biogas is utilized as Bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) for municipal vehicles and cars, and as Bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas) for long-haul transportation. It’s also used for residential heating and cooking in some regions.

References

1. https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/explainers/what-is-shale-gas-how-is-it-extracted-through-fracking-and-what-are-frackings-impacts/
2. https://rmi.org/reality-check-natural-gas-true-climate-risk/
3. https://www.iea.org/reports/outlook-for-biogas-and-biomethane-prospects-for-organic-growth/an-introduction-to-biogas-and-biomethane
4. https://www.epa.gov/anaerobic-digestion/frequent-questions-about-anaerobic-digestion
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaerobic_digestion
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032120308728
7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332222002676
8. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=62203