# Biogas from anaerobic digestion

This methodology covers projects that produce biogas from anaerobic digestion of agricultural products, residues and wastes. It includes both energy production from biogas and the production of digestate, a valuable organic amendment.

| **Methodology name** | Biogas from anaerobic digestion |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| **Version**          | 3.2                             |
| **Methodology ID**   | RBW-ENGY-01-ADGAS-V3.2          |
| **Release date**     | June 20th, 2025                 |
| **Status**           | In use                          |

#### Glossary

See the glossary for methodology-specific terminology :point\_down:

{% content-ref url="/pages/D1bECpowUAiJorSGzbQY" %}
[Glossary](/glossary.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="220"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Biogas</strong></td><td>A mixture of gasses produced by the anaerobic digestion of organic matter, primarily composed of biogenic methane and carbon dioxide. It can be used directly as a renewable energy source, or can be purified to biomethane.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Biogenic methane</strong></td><td>Methane produced from the decomposition of organic matter, as opposed to methane derived from fossil fuels. It has a slightly lower global warming potential than fossil-based methane.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Biomethane</strong></td><td>Methane that has been purified from biogas to meet quality standards for natural gas. It can be used for heating, electricity generation, or as vehicle fuel.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Dedicated crop</strong></td><td>Crops specifically grown for use as feedstock in energy production, such as maize or sorghum, as opposed to crops grown for food or other purposes. They are cultivated during the main growing season and harvested at maturity.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Digestate</strong></td><td>The nutrient-rich residue left after the anaerobic digestion of organic feedstock, which can be used as a fertilizer or soil conditioner.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Energy cover crop</strong></td><td>Crops like clover or rye that are grown during the off-season for use as biogas feedstock. They prevent soil erosion and are harvested for energy production, unlike traditional cover crops, which are mixed into the soil.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Feedstock</strong></td><td>Organic materials used as inputs in the production of biogas through anaerobic digestion, such as agricultural residues, food waste, or manure.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Methane</strong></td><td>A colorless, odorless flammable gas (CH₄) that is the main component of natural gas and biogas. It is a potent greenhouse gas when released into the atmosphere.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Nitrous oxide</strong></td><td>A potent greenhouse gas (N₂O) occasionally emitted during anaerobic digestion, especially with high-nitrogen feedstock. It has a much higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide.</td></tr></tbody></table>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/methodologies/biogas-from-anaerobic-digestion.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.