A biochemical process in which particular kinds of bacteria digest biomass in an oxygen-free environment. Several different types of bacteria work together to break down complex organic wastes in stages, resulting in the production of biogas.

TECHNOLOGY
Many different technologies are available for anaerobic digestion:

Biomass is any organic material from plants or animals that can be converted to create biobased products, biogas, or biofuels through a heating process.

FEEDSTOCKS
Biomass feedstocks include: forest residues, mill residues, agricultural residues, urban wood wastes, and dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass and sugarcane. 1

A biodegradable diesel fuel substitute that can be used in most diesel engines without any modifications to the engine. Biodiesel is derived from natural oils like soybean oil. Biodiesel can be combined with any amount of petroleum based diesel fuel for use in non-modified diesel engines.

A biofuel produced through a fermentation and distillation process which converts feedstocks to grain alcohol.

TYPES

• Sugar & starch based ethanol: feedstocks include sugar cane, sugar beets, corn, wheat, and milo. Corn is the feedstock for more than 90% of U.S. produced ethanol.1

• Cellulosic ethanol: feedstocks include agricultural and forest reside, grasses, municipal waste, and trees. Conversion process is more difficult than sugar and starch based ethanol.

USAGE

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that combine hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen from ambient air to produce electricity and heat.

Utilizes the heat from the Earth to generate electricity and power buildings.

Geothermal heat pumps (GHP) or Geoexchange are able to heat, cool, and supply a building with hot water.

A nuclear power plant is basically a steam power plant that is fueled by a radioactive element, like uranium.

Photothermal systems, also known as Solar Thermal Systems, heat water using energy converted from sunlight.

TECHNOLOGY
Solar collectors are the heart of most photothermal systems. The collector absorbs the sun's light energy and converts it into heat energy. Solar collectors heat a fluid, either air or liquid. This fluid then is used to heat water - directly or indirectly - for residential use.1

TYPES

Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight directly into electricity.

TECHNOLOGY

A wind energy system transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy that can be harnessed for practical use.