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Guidelines and manuals

2024 • BiogasWorld Biogas Plant Monitoring Guidelines

The Biogas Plant Monitoring Guidelines provide operators with essential practices to ensure optimal performance and stability of biogas plants. The guidelines address key operational aspects, such as maintaining organic loading rates (OLR), monitoring contaminants, ensuring proper feedstock quality, and tracking parameters like pH, temperature, and volatile organic acids/total inorganic carbon (FOS/TAC) ratios. These recommendations are critical for minimizing risks, improving biogas production efficiency, and maintaining the health of the anaerobic digestion process.

Recovered Materials & Products

Biogas

Waste Streams

Wastewater
Organic solid waste

Confirmed countries

Germany

What is this tool intended for?

The tool helps operators of biogas plants maintain process stability, optimize biogas production, and minimize risks related to overloading, contamination, or equipment failure. It emphasizes routine monitoring, data logging, and rapid response to potential issues.


How does this tool work?

Operators are guided through daily tasks, such as:

  • Inspecting digesters for scum, foam, or unusual odors.
  • Monitoring key parameters: temperature, pH (6.5–7.5), and FOS/TAC ratios.
  • Logging feedstock origin, quality, and tonnage.
  • Calculating organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT).
  • Responding to overloading or acidification using FOS/TAC metrics.
  • Practicing safety during plant operation.

Who might use this tool and with which types of stakeholders?

Biogas plant operators, technicians, maintenance teams.

What stages of a process can this tool support?

  • Operation
  • Planning
  • Process optimization
  • Risk management

What skills, capabilities and resources are required to use this tool?

  • Basic understanding of anaerobic digestion processes.
  • Ability to perform titration tests for FOS/TAC analysis.
  • Access to pH meters, temperature sensors, and operational logs.

Where can this tool be used?

At biogas plants globally, including agricultural, municipal, and industrial facilities.

 

Get the Tool

The guidelines are available online and freely accesible at the link below:
https://biogasworld.com/biogas-plant-monitoring/

Technologies

Anaerobic digestion

Themes

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Operation and maintenance
Safety