The global annual usage of carbon dioxide (CO2) is estimated to exceed 230 million tonnes (Mt). Among various industries, the fertiliser sector is the largest consumer, utilising 130 Mt of CO2 in the production of urea. The oil and gas industry follows closely, consuming 70 to 80 Mt of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery.
Numerous industries heavily rely on CO2 for their day-to-day operations and manufacturing processes, including breweries, food and beverage, and agriculture.
Conventional CO2 Production and its Detrimental Effects
CO2 can be produced through various methods, such as extracting it from the air, but this approach is expensive and inefficient. It is generally more efficient to capture CO2 from other sources where it is considered a waste material. Currently, the majority of industrial CO2 comes from by-products of fossil fuel operations, particularly natural gas or coal-powered facilities involved in ammonia production. The combustion of these fuels releases substantial amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to alarming levels of greenhouse gases.
The increasing levels of CO2 result in an excess of greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and climate change. The consequences include the melting of polar ice caps, rising sea levels, disruption of natural habitats for animals, extreme weather events, and various other dangerous side effects. To address this issue, many are exploring new methods of CO2 production to mitigate the release of harmful levels into the atmosphere. One such approach is the production of CO2 from biogas.
Biogas and Environmentally Friendly CO2
In recent years, biogas has gained popularity as a more environmentally friendly fuel option. Biogas is produced through anaerobic digestion and primarily consists of 60% biomethane, a renewable fuel, and 34% CO2, a natural by-product. Instead of wasting and emitting this residual CO2, specialised units are designed to recover and recycle all the CO2, enhancing the facility’s sustainability and contributing to a circular economy. The green CO2 derived from biogas is believed to have higher supply reliability and be a more sustainable alternative to regular CO2 derived from fossil fuels.
Additionally, biogas helps reduce methane emissions from landfills and manure lagoons, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. By converting methane into CO2, which has up to 34 times less potency as a greenhouse gas, using biogas as a fuel significantly minimises its impact on the climate.
Since the carbon in biogas originates from plant matter that has absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere, biogas production is considered carbon-neutral and does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, replacing fossil fuel consumption with biogas further reduces CO2 emissions.
In summary, CO2 production through biogas is up to 34 times less potent compared to conventional processes. It offers greater environmental friendliness, and the green CO2 produced can be utilised in various industries and industrial processes. Furthermore, CO2 is being employed to drive innovative technologies, such as the development of new building materials capable of permanently removing carbon from the atmosphere. Embracing green CO2 represents the future, and we invite you to join us in this endeavour.
