HomeBiogas

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$1,090.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Distributed by HomeBiogas.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Sistema Biobolsa, Flexi Biogas BG5, and SimGas GesiShamba.

Regions

Worldwide

Manufacturing/Building Method

Mass produced.

Intellectural Property Type

Patent

User Provision Model

The system can be obtained through HomeBiogas.

Distributions to Date Status

120 systems have been installed in July 2015. Large scale production started in 2016.

Design Specifications

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 127H/165L/100W cm, (51”x65”x40”)
• Weight (empty): less than 35kg, (77lbs)
• Surface mounted system, allows for easy installation- no need for digging or heavy construction
• Controlled gas pressure, delivers consistent and reliable gas flow from a patented gas pressure system
• Delivered as a field assembled kit

HomeBiogas units perform anaerobic digestions. Anaerobic digestion is the breakdown of organic material by micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen. It produces biogas, a methane-rich gas that also contains carbon dioxide with trace amounts of other gases; and digestate, a source of nutrients that can be used as a fertilizer. The digestion process begins with bacterial hydrolysis of the input material in order to break organic polymers into smaller molecules that finally become methane and carbon dioxide after acidogenesis and methanogenesis.

Use:

• Installation: it takes two people about 2 hours to install HomeBiogas. Anyone can assemble the biogas unit. However, connecting HomeBiogas’s gas pipe to the stove should be done by a licensed gas technician. Detailed instructions are provided with the system.
• After installation: HomeBiogas may take between 2-4 weeks to produce gas. Then as long as you feed the system, it will continue to produce gas.
• Water added to the waste: Initially, fill the tank with water to its full capacity (about 650 liter). Once HomeBiogas is in operation, remember to add one liter of water for every liter of waste added.
• Nominal gas pressure: 15 millibar
• Temperature: Above 17 °C (66 °F) for consistent gas production
• Per day, up to 6 L of food waste or up to 15 L of animal manure can be digested.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Technical support is provided by HomeBiogas, however, HomeBiogas recommends hiring a licensed gas technician to connect the system’s gas pipe to the home kitchen stove.

Replacement Components

Provided by HomeBiogas.

Lifecycle

Expected lifetime of the unit is unknown, although the unit includes a 12 month limited parts and materials warranty.

Maintenance: HomeBiogas recommends maintaining the HomeBiogas unit once a year by: 1. Replacing its gas filter (takes a minute to do and filter cost about $20). 2. Removing the sludge that accumulates at the bottom of the digestion tank via the outlet pipe.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Targets specified on the manufacturer's website:

• One HomeBiogas reduces 6 tons of carbon emissions a year;
• Output Biogas: approx. 65% CH4 , 35% CO2;
• Per day, up to 6 L of food waste or up to 15 L of animal manure can be digested;
• Every liter of food waste produces about 200 liters of gas, the amount needed to cooking for one hour over a high flame. HomeBiogas produces 2-3 hours of cooking gas each day;
• A full HomeBiogas tank (400 liters of biogas) can fuel a three-blade barbecue grill for 45 minutes, and a typical stove burner for about two hours;
• HomeBiogas can provide between 5-10 liters of top quality natural fertilizer each day.

Vetted Performance Status

Unknown

Safety

Extreme caution is necessary when working with biogas. Adequate ventilation, appropriate precautions, good work practices, and adequate personal protective equipment will minimize the dangers associated with biogas.

Complementary Technical Systems

None.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

HomeBiogas has the ISO 9001 certification, ISO 14001 certification and the European Conformity.

Evaluation methods

Field testing of 30 units in 2014.

Other Information

HomeBiogas performs well when the day/night 24-hour average temperature is 17°C (63°F) and above. Once the temperature drops lower than that the unit’s gas output is significantly reduced. On the other hand the system will work very effectively in high temperatures, either humid or arid. Homebiogas is developing a cold weather solution.

What is the added benefit of biogas as compared to composters? Composters are mostly suitable to process lawn cuttings, leaves, grass wood shavings and vegetarian matter. For many reasons, composters are not truly suitable for kitchen leftovers like meat, fish, oil and fats. HomeBiogas is complementary to the composter since it digests the remains that the composter cannot process, and it also provides cooking gas and liquid fertilizer for immediate use.