Waste to Energy: Biogas Production

• 

  Conceptual illustration of the domestic anaerobic digestion system

• 

  Schematic of the household biogas production system

Inspiration

Global energy demand is increasing while the environmental impacts of fossil fuels become more severe. The transition to clean, renewable and decentralized energy systems is essential for building a more resilient and sustainable future. At the same time, large amounts of solid organic waste produced daily in urban households are sent to landfills, wasting valuable resources and generating emissions. This project is inspired by the idea of transforming this organic waste into a local source of renewable energy, turning a disposal problem into an opportunity for circular economy and energy autonomy.

What it does

The project develops a decentralized domestic waste-to-energy system that converts household solid organic waste into biogas for local use. An anaerobic digester processes food and garden waste, producing biogas that can be used domestically, while generating a digestate that can be reused as fertilizer or for further treatment. The system is supported by a digital platform that monitors operation in real time and optimizes performance. It also integrates the biogas unit with other household energy assets such as solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and EV chargers, enabling intelligent and coordinated energy management.

Challenges

Ensuring stable biological operation, consistent biogas quality and safe small-scale purification are key technical challenges. The system must also achieve a positive energy balance while remaining compact, safe and easy to use. On the digital side, building a reliable monitoring and optimization platform capable of integrating multiple energy devices and supporting real-time decision-making is essential for delivering a robust and user-friendly solution.

What's next for Waste to Energy: Biogas Production

Next steps focus on moving from concept to technical validation. This includes developing detailed 3D models of the system, simulating the anaerobic digestion process with established models, and performing an energy balance to confirm net energy performance. Based on these results, technical specifications for a small-scale prototype will be defined, along with the first version of the digital platform for monitoring, control and optimization.

Built With

• na