PBL PROJECT

THEME: Goal 12 Responsible Production And Consumption

TOPIC: Biogas And Biogas Vehicles

By: Grade VII (I) Students:

M.M.Rouhan Baig

S.M.Huzaifa

Sherouz Abid

S.Maisum Ali Rizvi

S.Shuja Ali Rizvi

Ali Hussain Jaffri

M. Unais Khan

S.Rayyan Ali

Rehan Khan
S. Ali Raza
Hassan Rizwan
M. Arshman Ahmer
Ali Abdul Rahman
M.Shayan Shaukat
 PBL (PROJECT BASED LEARNING)

THEME; GOAL 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

GRADE 7 (I)

Problem Identification:
WASTE POLLUTION A MAJOR WORLDLY PROBLEM:

Human waste contaminates the environment. Waste can be solid, liquid, or gaseous. Households,
industries, agriculture, and healthcare facilities all produce them. Improper disposal or management of
waste materials can harm human health and the environment. Solid waste, such as plastics, metals, and
glass, releases harmful chemicals into the soil and water. These chemicals can contaminate groundwater
and affect animals and humans. In the same way, untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and
agricultural runoff can pollute water bodies, making them unusable for human consumption, irrigation,
or recreation when discharged into them. Burning waste materials can also cause air pollution. It can
release toxic gases and particles into the air, causing respiratory problems. So that’s the reason why it’s
a worldly problem.

WHY DO WE FACE PROBLEMS LIKE WASTE POLLUTION?

Some key factors can be given to explain why we face such problems;

1) Unsustainable Consumption and Production: Human activities mainly cause insolvency in

Goal 12 but also affect the planet's natural resources and other problems like resource depletion,
pollution, and Earth's biodiversity loss.

2) Urbanization & Industrialization: This leads to the expansion of infrastructure, manufacturing,

and transportation but requires large amounts of energy and natural resources, which contributes
to climate change and other environmental problems.

3) Population Growth: Today's population is 8 billion, but this multiplies our needs for resources,
waste, space, etc.

4) Inequitable Distribution of Resources: These days, war & inflation between countries have
increased, and it has been difficult for them to share & trade resources. Environment degradation
and climate change are often disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.

5) Lack of Environmental Regulations & Enforcement: Many countries (states) lack strong
environmental regulations or/and fail to enforce existing customs, which contributes to pollution
& environmental degradation.
MANY COUNTRIES STILL FACE THESE PROBLEMS:

India: India is currently facing significant challenges related to waste management and pollution.
With a population of over 1.3 billion people, India generates a large amount of waste. It's
improperly disposed of, leading to extensive pollution of water, air, and land. It has resulted in
significant public health concerns, including respiratory epidemics and waterborne illnesses.

Brazil: Brazil faces challenges related to deforestation, leading to significant environmental

damage and biodiversity loss. Deforestation in Brazil is often driven by unsustainable
agricultural practices, including the expansion of soy and cattle farming. It destroys large areas

of the Amazon rainforest & threatens the livelihoods of indigenous communities that depend on
these forests.

United States; The United States is facing challenges related to unsustainable consumption
patterns, including overconsumption of natural resources and significant waste generation. The
US generates more waste per capita than any other country. Much of this waste is not recycled or
properly disposed of, leading to significant environmental damage and public health concerns.

Nigeria: Nigeria is facing challenges related to oil pollution, which causes significant impacts on
the environment and public health. Oil spills from pipelines and other sources are leading to
significant pollution of land and water resources, harming humans and wildlife.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh faces challenges related to water scarcity and pollution. The country's
rivers are heavily polluted due to industrialization, agricultural practices, and other factors,
leading to significant public health concerns and impacting Nigeria's agricultural productivity

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE FAIL TO ACHIEVE GOAL 12?

Goal 12 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims to ensure
sustainable consumption and production patterns. Failure to be responsible in this area can result
in several problems, including:

1. Environmental degradation: Irresponsible consumption and production patterns can lead to

environmental degradation, including pollution, deforestation, and soil erosion, which can have
negative impacts on biodiversity, climate change, and public health.

2. Resource depletion: Unsustainable consumption patterns can lead to the depletion of natural
resources, such as water, minerals, and fossil fuels, which can have long-term consequences for
future generations.

3. Social inequality: Irresponsible production and consumption practices can result in social
inequalities, including unsafe working conditions, child labor, and human rights abuses,
particularly in developing countries where labor laws and regulations may be weak or
unenforced.
4. Economic instability: Unsustainable production and consumption patterns can lead to
economic instability, as the depletion of natural resources and environmental damage can result
in increased costs for businesses and decreased demand for products.

5. Public health issues: Poorly managed waste and pollution can lead to public health issues,
including respiratory problems, waterborne illnesses, and exposure to harmful chemicals and
toxins.

6. Economic Costs: Unsustainable consumption and production patterns can lead to higher
economic costs for countries. For example, countries may need to spend more on environmental
cleanup efforts, health care costs associated with pollution-related illnesses, and other related
expenses.

7. Social Inequities: Failure to achieve Goal 12 can lead to social inequities within countries. For
example, marginalized communities in developing countries are often the most impacted by
unsustainable production and consumption patterns. This can lead to social unrest, conflicts, and
inequality.

8. Environmental Damage: Failure to achieve Goal 12 can lead to significant environmental

damage, including deforestation, desertification, land degradation, and water pollution. This can
have significant impacts on countries' ecosystems, water resources, and agricultural production.

9. Resource Scarcity: Unsustainable consumption patterns can lead to resource scarcity in

countries. For example, countries with limited water resources may experience water shortages,
which can negatively impact agriculture, human health, and other critical areas.

10. Climate Change: Failure to achieve Goal 12 can lead to climate change, which can have
significant impacts on countries' economies, societies, and environments. For example, countries
that rely on tourism may experience a decline in tourism revenues due to the impacts of climate
change on their ecosystems.

Failure to achieve Goal 12 can have significant and wide-ranging impacts on countries, including
economic, social, environmental, and climate-related impacts. Addressing these issues requires a
coordinated and global effort to shift towards more sustainable consumption and production
patterns.

Solution:
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM?

While addressing these problems we can state some potential solutions:

1) Transition to Renewable Energy: Governments can invest in renewable energy sources such
as Biogas to phase out fossil fuels and CO2 emissions. Businesses can also invest & trade in
renewable energies to gain profit & improve energy efficiency.

2) Develop eco-friendly consumption and production patterns: People can reduce consumption
and choose environmentally friendly products and services. Governments can encourage &
stimulate the production of sustainable practices and create impetus for businesses to adapt &
work with these sustainable practices.

3) Protect Natural Habitats and Biodiversity: Governments can establish such areas to promote
sustainable conservation of habitat & biodiversity. Businesses can also adopt sustainable land
use practices and reduce their impact on natural habitats.

4) Enhance Waste Management: Governments can improve waste management or authorities to

encourage recycling and composting. It is also possible for businesses to implement economic
practices that reduce waste and improve resource efficiency.

5) Identify and address inequity and resource distribution: Governments can develop policies that
address inequity and ensure the circulation of resources. Businesses can support community
development programs and ensure that their operations do not negatively impact marginalized
communities.

6) But to participate in these advancements, Governments, Businesses & civil society

organizations will need to work together in accommodation & unity to implement compelling
solutions to support sustainable development and protect the planet's resources for future use.

WHAT IS BIOGAS?

Biogas is a mixture of gases, primarily consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen
sulfide. It is produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste,
plant material, sewage, green waste, wastewater, and food waste. It is a renewable energy source.

Biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion with anaerobic organisms or methanogen inside an

anaerobic digester, biodigester, or a bioreactor. Biogas is primarily methane. And carbon
dioxide. And may have small amounts of hydrogen sulfide.

Moisture and siloxanes. The gases methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide (CO) can be
combusted or oxidized with oxygen. This energy release allows biogas to be used as fuel; it can
be utilized in fuel cells and for any heating purpose, such as cooking. It can also be used in a gas
engine to convert the energy in the gas into electricity and heat.
Biogas can be compressed after the removal of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, the same
way as natural gas is compressed into CNG, and used to power motor vehicles. In the United
Kingdom, for example, biogas is estimated to have the potential to replace around 17% of
vehicle fuel. This qualifies for renewable energy subsidies in some parts of the world. Biogas can
be cleaned and upgraded to natural gas standards when it becomes biomethane. Biogas is
considered to be a renewable resource because its production-and-use cycle is continuous, and it
generates no net carbon dioxide. As the organic material grows, it is converted and used. It then
regrows in a continually repeating cycle. From a carbon perspective, as much carbon dioxide is
absorbed from the atmosphere in the growth of the primary bio-resource as is released, when the
material is ultimately converted to energy.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF BIOGAS?

Biomass power generation in India is an industry that attracts investments of over INR 6 billion
every year, generating more than 5000 million units of electricity and creating more than 10
million man-days in rural areas. As of 2010, India burnt over 200 million tonnes of the coal-
replacement worth of traditional biomass fuel every year to meet its energy needs for cooking
and other domestic uses. This traditional biomass fuel – fuel from wood, crop waste, and animal
dung – is a potential raw material for the application of biomass technologies. This will enable
the recovery of cleaner fuel, fertilizers, and electricity with significantly lower pollution.

You should stop using LPG at all costs. Not only LPG is 20 times more expensive than gasoline,
but it is also 3 times more dangerous.

WHY PEOPLE ARE TURNING TOWARDS BIOGAS (AND WHY THEY SHOLUD)?

As a smoke-free fuel, it reduces the incidence of eye and lung diseases. Due to its lower density
than CNG, it is less lethal than CNG. LPG has liquid-like properties and when leakage occurs the
gas flows down in a liquid manner and stays down for a very long time. This is very dangerous
in residential properties. While biogas disperses into the air quickly as it is lighter than air and is
much safer in homes than CNG or LPG. This is why people should choose using biogas instead
of using traditional gases.

BUT THERE ARE SOME DISADVANTAGES OF BIOGAS WHICH SHOULD BE

NOTICED:

While biogas has several advantages, it also has some disadvantages that should be considered.

1. Limited availability: Bio-gas is not as widely available as traditional fuels like gasoline and
diesel, which means that it may be difficult to find a bio-gas refueling station.

2. Production and storage: The production and storage of biogas can be more challenging and
expensive than traditional fuels. The process of converting organic waste into bio-gas requires
specialized equipment, and the storage and transportation of biogas can require additional safety
measures.
3. Lower energy density: Bio-gas has a lower energy density than traditional fuels, which means
that vehicles may require larger fuel tanks or more frequent refueling.

4. Land use: The production of bio-gas requires a significant amount of land, which could
compete with other land uses such as food production.

5. Emissions: While bio-gas vehicles produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional
vehicles, they still have some emissions. Additionally, the production of biogas can result in
emissions of other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides.

Overall, while bio-gas has several advantages, it also has some drawbacks that should be
considered when evaluating it as a fuel source. Promote the use of biogas responsibly. So we can
help realize its potential as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel source.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADDRESS THE DISADVANTAGES OF BIOGAS?

Several things can be done to address the disadvantages of biogas:

1. Increase production efficiency: Improving the efficiency of the production process for bio-gas
can help to reduce the cost and environmental impact of the fuel.

2. Develop better storage and transportation methods: Developing better storage and
transportation methods for bio-gas can help to make it a more viable fuel source for vehicles.

3. Increase availability of refueling stations: Increasing the number of biogas refueling stations
can help to make the fuel more accessible to consumers.

4. Promote sustainable land use: Promoting sustainable land use practices can help to minimize
the impact of biogas production on food production and other land uses.

5. Develop cleaner production methods: Developing cleaner production methods for bio-gas can
help to minimize the emissions of pollutants that can be associated with its production.

Overall, addressing the disadvantages of biogas will require a combination of technological

innovation, policy changes, and consumer education and awareness. By working together to
promote the sustainable and responsible use of bio-gas, we can help to realize its potential as a
more sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel source.
THESE ARE SOME COUNTRIES WHICH IMPLEMENT IN THE BIOGAS
PROJECTS:

Many countries around the world have implemented biogas projects, including:

1. Germany: Germany is one of the world leaders in bio-gas production, with more than 10,000
bio-gas plants in operation.

2. Sweden: Sweden has implemented a national biogas program, which aims to increase the use
of biogas as a transportation fuel.

3. India: India has implemented a national program to promote the use of biogas for cooking and
lighting in rural areas.

4. United States: The United States has implemented several bio-gas projects, including the
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires a certain amount of renewable fuels, including
bio-gas, to be blended into transportation fuel.

5. China: China has implemented a national biogas program, which aims to increase the use of
biogas for rural household energy and transportation.

6. Brazil: Brazil has implemented several biogas projects, including the use of biogas to power
buses and trucks in major cities.

7. Kenya: Kenya has implemented a bio-gas program, which aims to promote the use of biogas
for cooking and lighting in rural areas.

These are just a few examples of countries that have implemented biogas projects. However,
many other countries around the world are also exploring the potential of biogas as a renewable
fuel source.

BIOGAS VEHICLES, A SOLUTION TOWARDS POLLUTION AND CLIMATE

CHANGE:

1. Biogas buses: Many cities and public transit agencies have started to operate biogas-powered
buses, which use compressed biogas (CBG) as fuel. Examples include the London Bio-Bus,
which runs on biomethane produced from food waste, and the Gothenburg Bus System in
Sweden, which runs on biogas produced from sewage.

2. Biogas trucks: Some commercial trucking companies have also started to adopt biogas-
powered vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks that run on liquefied biogas (LBG) made from
organic waste.
3. Biogas cars: While biogas cars are not yet widely available, many models have been
developed, including the Volkswagen Eco-Up, the Mercedes B-Class F-Cell, and the Audi A3
Sportback G-Tron.

4. Biogas tractors and farm equipment: Some farmers have also started to adopt biogas-powered
tractors and other farm equipment, using biogas produced from agricultural waste or manure.

It's worth noting that the adoption of biogas vehicles is still relatively limited compared to
conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles, but interest in alternative fuels is growing, and there is
potential for further expansion of biogas-powered vehicles in the future.

AND SEVERAL COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE PRODUCING/

EXPERIMENTING WITH BIOGAS VEHICLES:

1. Scania: Scania, a Swedish company, has been developing biogas trucks since the 1990s and
now offers a range of biogas-powered trucks and buses.

2. Volvo: Volvo, a Swedish automaker, has also been experimenting with biogas vehicles and
offers a biogas-powered version of its V90 station wagon in certain markets.

3. Volkswagen: Volkswagen has developed a biogas version of its Eco-Up model, which is
powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) or biogas.

4. Audi: Audi offers a biogas version of its A3 Sportback model, which is powered by CNG or
biogas.

5. Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-Benz offers a biogas version of its B-Class F-Cell model, which is
powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

6. MAN: MAN, a German commercial vehicle manufacturer, offers a range of biogas-powered

trucks and buses.

7. Iveco: Iveco, an Italian commercial vehicle manufacturer, has developed biogas-powered

trucks and buses for several markets.

It's worth noting that the availability of biogas vehicles varies widely by region and market.
Some of these models may only be available in certain areas or may be produced in limited
quantities.

BIOGAS AND HISTORY:

Jan Batista Van Helmont first determined in the 17th century that flammable gases could evolve
from decaying organic matter. Count Alessandro Volta concluded in 1776 that there was a direct
correlation between the amount of decaying organic matter and the amount of flammable gas
produced. In 1808, Sir Humphrey Davy determined that methane was present in the gases
produced during the AD from cattle manure.

The first digestion plant was built at a leper colony in Bombay, India in 1859.1 AD and reached
England in 1895 when biogas was recovered from a "carefully designed" sewage treatment
facility and used to fuel street lamps in Exeter.2 The development of microbiology as a science
led to research by Buswell3 and others in the 1930s to identify anaerobic bacteria and the
conditions that promote methane production.

During and after World War II, the process was extensively used when energy supplies were
reduced. Some AD facilities in Europe have been in operation for more than 20 years.

Denmark's commitment to AD increased with an energy initiative that will double biogas
production by the year 2000, and triple it by the year 2005. One of the key policy tools used to
encourage technology deployment is "green pricing," i.e., allowing manufacturers of biogas-
generated electricity to sell their product at a premium. Interestingly, the sales of co-generated
hot water to specially-built district heating systems are becoming a significant source of revenue
for project developers. Although the first digester to use MSW as a feedstock operated in the
United States from 1939-1974. While, Anecdotal evidence indicates that biogas was used for
heating bath water in Assyria during the 20th century BC and in Persia during the 16th century.

OUTLINE OF THE TOPIC:

THE TOPIC HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF BIOGAS AND BIOGAS

VEHICLES TOWARDS HUMANITY AND THIS WORLD AND PROMOTES THE BASIC
IDEA OF SUSTAINABILITY AND PROVIDES THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO
IMPLEMENT ON IT. AS THE TOPIC ALSO DEFINES THE ADVANTAGES AND THE
DISADVANTAGES OF BIOGAS AND PROVIDES SOLUTIONS TOWARDS THE
WORLDLY PROBLEMS. BY POINTING OUT SOME IMPACTS WE CAN AWARE THE
READER ABOUT IT.

A School Project Made By:

Iqra University Schooling System

Block-N Campus

Grade VII (I)

---------------------------------------------------------x---------------------------------------------------------

A model of a biogas bus made by our team

Our TEAM PERFORMING A PRESENTATION

 Pie chart
showing raw
biogas

An engine of
a biogas bus

A pie chart
showing
different
resource’s
energy usage
for fueling
 A 3d model of a biogas plant

The image above shows the types of biomass sources

The proportion of the usage of renewable energy sources

The image explaining the processes which go through the biogas plant
A bio-fueled airplane

A bio-fueled bus

A bio-fueled car