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| Method/process | Device/technology | Application | Remarks |
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1 | Chemical-electrical | Fuel cell | Generation of electricity | Very efficient, reliable but expensive |
2 | Chemical-electrical | Hydrogen | Generation of electricity and process chemicals. Hydrogen can be produced by steam reforming, dry reforming, or hydrolysis | Renewable hydrogen process if its biogas or methane is from renewable resources. Hydrogen is difficult to handle and transport |
3 | Chemical | Biomethanenation | Biomethane can be fed to natural gas supply and fuel for vehicles and fuel natural gas powerplants | Renewable replacement of fossil natural gas |
4 | Thermal-electrical | Diesel engine | Can be used in dual fuel mode with diesel fuel for ignition. The engine needs modification to run on pure biogas/biomethane | Diesel engines are more efficient than petrol engines and have more fuel flexibility, hence can easily use biofuels |
5 | Thermal-electrical | Gas/petrol engine | A petrol or gasoline engine needs little or no modification to run on biogas or biomethane | Less efficient than diesel engines but are easier to convert to biogas fueled engines |
6 | Thermal-mechanical-electrical | Stirling engine | Stirling engines are also called hot air engines | Stirling engines have fuel flexibility and can run on a wider range of fuels |
7 | Thermal-mechanical-electrical | Gas turbine | Can be used as open-cycle or combined-cycle plants for electricity and heat applications. Micro, small, medium, and largescale turbines can be used based on fuel source and application | Turbines are versatile and can use raw biogas in uncleaned form. They are light and simple in construction, easy to operate but need skilled manpower |
8 | Thermal-mechanical-electrical | Cogeneration | Cogeneration is simultaneous generation and application of both heat and electricity from the same fuel source | Cogeneration can be applied on various conversion systems to increase overall efficiency. Stirling engines, diesel engines, gas turbines, hydrogen, and fuel cells can all be operated on cogeneration mode |
9 | Thermal-mechanical-electrical | Trigeneration | Trigeneration is simultaneous generation of electricity with both heating and cooling | Trigeneration is the most efficient conversion system but more complex and expensive |
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