By the beginning of the 21st century, it has become apparent that the harmonious existence of humanity is inextricably linked to the improvement of existing energy technologies. In everyday life, the individual tends to have a constant dependence on various kinds of artificial energy. This ranges from the daily charging of the telephone to the use of the city’s transportation and computer systems, optimizing communities’ lives. Such a strong dependence naturally leads to the problem of imbalanced energy production. At the slightest disruption or shortage, the risk of a new energy crisis increases substantially.
The standard definition of an energy crisis is a state of the economy in which the energy demand is significantly higher than the supply. Several potential causes should be outlined for such a state of scarcity. First of all, problems in the supply of oil, its overpricing or low supply lead to a reduction in energy production. Secondly, restrictive government policies and import bans with an underdeveloped domestic production system can become the causes of crises. Third, martial law essentially disrupts global supply chains and international agreements, resulting in local or even planetary energy shortages.
It then becomes apparent that heavy reliance on traditional methods of energy generation is more of a disadvantage. In this context, it is appropriate to invest in the development of innovative, safer, and more independent sources, among which biogas technology deserves special attention. In short, the decomposition of organic biomass — residues of agricultural sector activities — under the metabolic activity of methanogenic bacteria produces a large amount of biogas (Korbag et al., 2021). This gas — more precisely, a mixture of gases — can be burned to generate electricity. Such technology has already proven itself in Scandinavian countries and some regions of the United States, but it is rarely recognized at the national level. Strong competition from classic energy production facilities likely hinders the introduction of biogas as a new energy source in combination with waste recycling. In addition, such a system requires a reconsideration of the localization of IAs and landfills and the neutralization of the garbage business. Finally, the restructuring of all current energy production channels is becoming a significant challenge for governments, so biogas is not yet a relevant global agenda at this point.
Reference
Korbag, I., Omer, S. M. S., Boghazala, H., & Abusasiyah, M. A. A. (2021). Recent advances of biogas production and future perspective. Biogas: Recent Advances and Integrated Approaches, 3, 1-20.