Reducing product carbon footprints has become a critical pathway for enhancing international competitiveness across industries. The National Atomic Research Institute has introduced an innovative "Fiber-Based Biogas Multiplication Technology," marking a revolutionary breakthrough in the bioenergy field. This cutting-edge technique significantly increases the biogas yield traditionally derived from livestock wastewater and expands the range of raw materials to include fiber-based sources, thereby improving the economic and sustainable viability of biogas production.

This innovation not only drastically shortens the biogas production cycle but also enhances production efficiency without requiring additional energy input, making it a low-carbon and highly cost-effective solution.

Core Technology: Advanced Pretreatment and Anaerobic Co-Digestion

The "Fiber-Based Biogas Multiplication" technology centers on two key innovations: an advanced pretreatment process and a high-density wet anaerobic co-digestion technique. These advancements dramatically increase biogas yields and improve economic efficiency.

First, the pretreatment process employs a multifunctional reactor designed specifically for breaking down the structure of fiber-based raw materials. This reactor, developed using advanced fluid dynamics simulations, optimizes blade configurations and reaction conditions, effectively isolating lignin from fiber materials. This enables higher fermentation efficiency for other organic substances, reducing the biogas production cycle for fiber-based raw materials from the traditional three months to just 14 days. Operating at 80°C, the system leverages waste heat from power generators to meet its thermal requirements, eliminating the need for additional energy inputs and achieving low-carbon operations.

Moreover, the pretreatment process utilizes a specially formulated alkaline solution, which not only efficiently degrades fiber structures but also offers excellent cost-effectiveness. The alkaline solution can be reused multiple times and generates lignin-rich byproducts. These lignin byproducts can serve as biomass materials or bio-based chemicals, replacing petrochemical products and further reducing biogas production costs while achieving higher resource utilization.

Following pretreatment, the fiber-based raw materials are mixed with livestock wastewater for anaerobic co-digestion—a significant departure from traditional single-material fermentation techniques. This approach employs specific mixing ratios (e.g., blending napier grass with livestock wastewater at a ratio of 0.25–1%), triggering synergistic effects between the two materials and further enhancing biogas yields. This process can increase biogas output by 1.5 to 2.8 times, significantly improving production efficiency.

Market Prospects and Industry Insights: Leading the Green Energy Trend

Kuo Chia-Lun, Deputy Director of the National Atomic Research Institute, stated that this technology addresses the bottlenecks of traditional livestock wastewater biogas production. It not only enhances biogas yields but also achieves breakthroughs in both environmental and economic performance. The team aims to promote widespread adoption of this technology in domestic and international biogas facilities, advancing bioenergy development and achieving sustainable green energy growth.

Deputy Director Kuo emphasized the immense potential of this technology in the global green energy landscape, particularly with government policy support. As demand for biogas continues to rise, the institute plans to collaborate with industry stakeholders to develop more demonstration sites. It estimates a domestic biogas power generation potential exceeding 100 MW, paving the way for a robust biogas technology industry chain in Taiwan.

Kuo also highlighted that this technology effectively addresses gaps in Taiwan's bioenergy capabilities, complementing existing livestock wastewater biogas technologies. Scaled application is expected within the next few years as the technology is transferred to industry players and validated in real-world settings. The market size and application prospects are anticipated to be substantial, with this technology poised to lead the growth of Taiwan's emerging biogas industry and contribute significantly to the nation’s energy transition.

Resource: 「廢」出綠能新潮流 纖維原料混合畜禽廢水速產沼氣