In Europe, anaerobic digestion was "discovered" in 1776 by A Volta. During one of his walks, he noticed gas bubbles being formed in a bog. His subsequent experiments and studies showed that the gas was flammable. In 1787, A.L. Lavoisier named the gas "hydrogenium carbonatum", but in 1865, the name "methane" was introduced and an international congress for chemical terminology confirmed it in 1892.
In the meantime, the gas was detected in other environments, notably manure, and its origin was attributed to bacteriological processes that take place in anaerobic – i.e. oxygen free environments.
The gas in bogs, which has a high methane content, results from the breakdown of organic matter in the wetlands, a process also present in lakes and rivers. Wet soils in water rich areas such as tropical forests, tundra and peat bogs also contribute to the presence of methane in the atmosphere, as does animal digestion. Cattle and termites are a significant source of methane. The Same anaerobic processes in marine deposits account for part of the methane found dissolved in sea water.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the first methane plant was built in Exeter, GB, and the gas was used for street lighting. Since then, the technology has kept improving. Several ways to use methane productively have emerged: in the food industry, in agriculture, and in waste treatment.
In Germany alone there are currently (2011) over 7100 biogas plants running and this number is growing at a enormous rate.
From farmers to abattoirs, where ever there is bio-waste or by-products, energy can be produced for electricity and heat demands.
BioGas Uses :
◦After the biogas has been harvested, it can be productively used in several ways.◦It can be used as fuel in a burner to produce heat, just like the traditional natural gas.◦It can drive a turbine to produce electricity and/or heat.◦It can be used as fuel in motor engines.◦It can even be fed into a gas pipeline (This process is still very unusual and complex.)
"Iskhus Bio4Gas Express Reactor Technology (iBERT) was formed as a new company based on a joint venture in 2010 between Iskhus Green Energy Systems PTY LTD from South Africa and Bio4Gas Express GmbH from Germany."