This is fun cause I've got a side project going on that does this, but without decomposition, and with direct electrochemical conversion. It uses solid oxide fuel cells, which can not only consume hydrogen, but can also generate electricity from the CO->CO2 oxidation. My current work is on developing a gliding arc plasma reactor that can take solid waste and convert it to syngas, which is then desulferized and fed directly into the SOFC. I'm hoping to build a 5-10kw system partnering with an SOFC manufacturer.<p>I'm a sailor and I'm targeting the sailing cruiser community with it, although I recognize potential markets elsewhere. The idea is that when you are remote, in locations where supply chains and infrastructure are undeveloped, it is incredibly risky to rely on ICEs for auxiliary propulsion and electricity. You may not have access to gasoline or diesel in the quantities or narrow quality specification that ICEs require. And you certainly don't have access to fuel when you are at sea on a long passage. This system would allow you to use pretty much any conventional fuel, but it would also allow you to use biowaste, garbage paper and plastic (including ocean plastics), wood pellets, and even wet biomass like seaweed (the moisture content reduces efficiency, but is still net positive for energy generation). And it can produce energy on demand, instead of waiting around for it to decompose and produce methane.
This is a very common technique that has been in use for decades at farms all over the world. You can see these dome-shaped containers when you drive through the countryside in western Europe. The first Wikipedia entry (2002) mentions that it's a popular process in the Netherlands and Denmark. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biogas&oldid=206443" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biogas&oldid=2064...</a>.
Semi-related, one comparison I'd like to see is pre-sliced fruit in plastic containers versus the whole fruit.<p>These regularly get attacked as signs of how wasteful we are (which I generally agree with) and people defend them because people with various kinds of physical impairments might find it hard to peel a fruit.<p>But I think if you recycle the skins/seeds/waste properly in a factory, wrap it in lightweight plastic and account for the reduced shipping weight, then you might come out ahead even if you ignore the benefits of eating more fruit.<p>One of the many complex decisions that a carbon fee might simplify by guiding people towards doing the right thing at every step in the process.
Also in use since the 80's in various African countries... <a href="http://www.songhai.org/index.php/en/home-en/16-songhai/190-bioenergie-en" rel="nofollow">http://www.songhai.org/index.php/en/home-en/16-songhai/190-b...</a><p>The Songhai Center does a full carbon cycle re-use. An interesting place to visit too!
A previous comment on HN went something along the lines of "what is going to happen in the summer when we've built solar/wind/etc to fulfill this winter months needs?"<p>I started researching energy storage. Creating liquid fuels from electricity would be handy for storage. There are processes, but getting CO2 and H2 to create hydrocarbons is currently very energy intensive. On the CO2 side, I think biogas can help this out. biogas is 25-50% CO2. In biogas upgrading, CO2 is considered a waste product (with purer methane the desired output). CO2 from this source looks noticeably less energy intensive than direct air capture.<p>I know biogas can be done on the small scale (e.g. homebiogas.com). My research focused especially on liquid fuel creation that could work in someone's backyard. I haven't found it. "High‐Selectivity Electrochemical Conversion of CO2 to Ethanol using a Copper Nanoparticle/N‐Doped Graphene Electrode" [0] was an exciting find, dampened after reading how well ethanol stores.<p>I mostly became convinced that existing oil, gas, and chemical companies will maintain dominance producing many of the same outputs, from a different (renewable) set of inputs.<p>[0]: <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/slct.201601169" rel="nofollow">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/slct.201601...</a>
Biogas you can also use it to run vehicles it has cleaner exhaust emissions compared to other fuels Gasoline/Diesel.
Farmer could and probably will run their tractors off Biogas. Because farmers like to experiment, its available and decision paths to get it into action are short.
Unanswered question, where does the remaining waste from the plant go? Surely not all of the mass is converted into gas. And with 1000 tons per day, there should be a lot of waste to dispose off somewhere.