Biogas: A Game Changer for Construction Fleet and Urban Transport Emissions

Biogas is one of the most revolutionary options in transportation fuels. The construction and industrial sectors are so reliant on fossil fuel-powered fleets that they need a more environmentally conscious alternative. Biogas provides climate boons in addition to a long list of other advantages. If corporations implement it, how could it change the future of these sectors?

—

As the industry continues to educate itself about biogas and its advantages, it may consider transitioning to sourcing it from third parties or producing it internally. Corporations simply require access to organic waste to facilitate the breakdown process and capture the gases emitted. Feedstocks may include food scraps, plant matter, sewage or animal waste.

Biogas production occurs through anaerobic digestion in an oxygen-free enclosed environment. This process yields a mixture of gases, utilized as a sustainable alternative to natural gas, particularly in powering construction vehicles and urban transportation, offering an eco-friendly solution to fuel needs.

Biogas is also retrievable from one of the most destructive environments in existence: landfills. Anaerobic decomposition and other processes occur as the landfill ages, releasing biogas in the form of 50-70% methane and 30-50% carbon dioxide, among other gases.

Biogas, that for this reason is sometimes also called biomethane, is a plentiful and accessible resource needed to reduce the emissions of some of the world’s most polluting sectors, and both the construction industry and cities must adopt it. Ignoring all other forms of transit, construction fleets alone account for 2.4-5.5% of carbon emissions. Overall, the construction sector is estimated to use around 40% of the world’s energy, an amount only set to increase with further urbanization and population growth. In turn, transportation is responsible for 23% of global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion. 

Decarbonizing both construction and urban transportation systems with biogas is possible by observing land use patterns, advocating for low-carbon options, and making sustainable options desirable and viable.

Utilization

Construction fleets and cities have put biogas into practice en masse, showing what it could be like at scale if more organizations relied on it to power their operations. 

Advantages

Governments and organizations would benefit from investing in biogas capture. The most apparent benefit is reduced emissions. Biogas has a lower greenhouse gas impact than any fossil fuel. Using a combustion-free method allows for cleaner air on construction sites and city centers, which in turn would improve public health.

Moreover, the production of biogas is more cost-effective than burning fossil fuels. Studies conducted at a biogas plant in India have demonstrated that the plant can reduce energy expenses by 20-30%.

By utilizing 100 tons of compressed biogas daily to substitute compressed natural gas, the environmental impact is akin to removing 24,030 cars from the roads for a year. When resources are readily available, biogas emerges as an economical alternative, diminishing a nation’s reliance on external energy sources. This consistency in production costs leads to affordable and consistent energy pricing for businesses and consumers, extending beyond the realms of construction and public transportation.

For instance, in the US, several starch-producing cassava processing facilities employ anaerobic biodigesters coupled with reciprocating generator sets to harness biogas. These facilities utilize biogas to generate their own power, thereby cutting costs and reducing reliance on heavy fuel oil and grid electricity. Additionally, some farms and industries that operate heavy machinery utilize livestock feeder operations to capture and store substantial amounts of livestock manure. Instead of releasing methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, they convert biogas into fuel for specialized engines.

The bioavailability and renewability of biogas are also advantageous, given supply chain struggles and the continually diminishing supply of finite natural resources. Construction companies and cities could have autonomy over feedstock production. Energy independence improves societal stability, giving polluting industries like urban transportation and construction an improved public image in a climate-conscious world. Cities known for their robust public transport systems can further boost their reputation and potentially increase population by leveraging sustainable fuels.

Challenges

Biogas infrastructure is still limited around the world, a factor that is hindering widespread adoption. Corporations interested in becoming biogas stakeholders must advocate for legislation to promote buildout, much like how the US Inflation Reduction Act encouraged solar and geothermal technology expansion. This will also help ease initial investment costs in the needed technologies. 

Vehicle and machinery makers will also need to make cars compatible with biomethane. Focusing on making future cars biomethane-compatible is critical, but retrofitting existing models with biogas can begin the transition sooner. For example, the bioCNG retrofit methodology has already been successfully tested on a bus and tractor. Testing by other companies continues, opening the way for diesel-powered vehicles to be transformed into biomethane-fueled ones.

Case Studies

Several cities have already incorporated this type of energy. Swedish capital Stockholm has integrated it into some of its public transportation, including buses and trucks, as a promise to the region’s air quality and emission reduction efforts. Sweden’s successful implementation of biogas in some of their cars, buses and trucks inspired research in Morocco to see if it could make its own biogas to fuel 300 buses. Morocco imports 91% of its energy so the initiative would be a monumental win for energy independence and eliminating fossil fuel reliance. Simulations suggested a transition is possible.

Bristol in the UK has made  similar strides in exploring biogas in public transport. Its biomethane-powered buses can travel 300 kilometers (186 miles). Over those distances, they make up to 30% less carbon emissions and 80% less nitrogen oxides.

Construction companies have several options to help with biogas production. They can either help build biogas plants while transitioning to more sustainable practices or use biogas-powered construction vehicle fleets. Mortenson Construction has helped Maryland’s Montgomery County expand sustainable public transit through a new biogas-enabled facility. The project, which forms part of the County’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035, will reduce the lifetime emissions of local buses by an estimated 155,000 tons.

Integration in Urban Transport Systems and Construction

Infrastructure Buildout

The first step to integrating biogas in transport systems and construction is to address infrastructure requirements. Biogas fueling stations must be readily accessible for public transit and long-distance construction haulers. Research to determine the most frequent routes these industries use would permit strategic placement.

Adoption and expansion of biogas in transportation and other sectors will require convenience and accessibility to infrastructure. Effective infrastructure will require stations being connected to production facilities, and these facilities will need to be convenient for public transport, construction vehicles and other fleet owners interested in renewable energy to access. This accessibility and builtout infrastructure will need the involvement and funding of various stakeholders, including the private sector to promote biogas energy to the market and make this energy source commercially viable. Other stakeholders may include governments, financial institutions, the media, lobby groups and local communities. 

With various stakeholders onboard, fleet owners in various sectors will then consider investing in renewable vehicles and fleets.  

Organizations can work with existing landfills to start production. The US has 475 million cubic feet of biogas escaping daily from 450 neglected landfills. Connecting to these would be an immediate energy pipeline.

Regulatory Action

Laws provide much needed incentives for choosing biogas, and standardization will make it consistent and viable. Everyone from urban planners to construction engineers must contribute insights to regulatory agencies to inform early framework drafts. This will make biogas as sustainable as possible and enforce requirements for construction companies and urban development.

Public Awareness

Education is the pillar of expansion. If the public is aware of the benefits of biogas, it will advocate for its adoption on a city or company’s behalf, too. Using bioavailable materials also engages citizens in circular economic mindsets, expanding their perception of a greener society by finding cleaner transportation formats with renewable options.

Future Outlook and Recommendations

With infrastructure buildout, regulatory action and public awareness, the future of biogas could be lucrative and optimistic for planetary emissions. Increased interest means greater investments and expanded research on biogas refinement. This could heighten the purity to work better in technologies or prove certain concentrations have better fuel economy than others.

Biogas blending is also being researched. It could be the intermediary fuel option before complete adoption. Stations could mix natural gas with biogas as vehicles and equipment retrofits, allowing for a gradual adoption while still reducing emissions. 

Individuals may also assume responsibility for biogas production. Other biofuels, like biodiesel, can be made at home with a few ingredients. What is stopping households and smaller construction businesses from decentralizing biogas production? It could offset costs, alleviate accessibility burdens for rural operations, and engage local populations in renewable topics.

Biogas has as much potential to change urban regions and the construction industry as any other renewable energy. The only factor standing in its way is public interest informed by education. Sharing knowledge about the benefits of readily available, usable biogas could motivate corporations to take the initiative. Collaboration and advocacy are key to transforming fossil fuel-dependent machinery and vehicles, especially in high-polluting sectors.