Shomin – Biogas on the Farmstead
In the book *Biogas on the Farmstead* by Shomin, the author notes that if you run a small farm and keep livestock, manure constantly accumulates in your yard; by using this to produce biogas (methane), you can obtain free fuel and reduce or eliminate your reliance on expensive purchased gas, firewood, or coal.
Major shocks such as the 1973 energy crisis and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster compelled most nations to re-evaluate their energy policies regarding the pace and future prospects of utilizing renewable energy sources.
It became evident that developing environmentally clean energy within one’s own country is insufficient if neighboring nations continue to build and operate nuclear facilities with safety profiles comparable to that of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s fourth reactor. Scientists from various countries must join forces to advance the development of alternative energy technologies.
The negative trends associated with traditional energy production stem primarily from two factors: the rapid depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution. According to UN data, coal reserves are projected to be exhausted between 2082 and 2500.
While advanced technologies in the traditional energy sector improve the efficiency of energy resource utilization, they do not alleviate environmental problems; thermal, chemical, and radioactive pollution can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Consequently, there is a need to identify ways to use traditional energy resources rationally while simultaneously advancing research and development into alternative and renewable energy sources.
Ultimately, all energy resources on Earth are products of solar activity. Virtually all alternative energy technologies rely on converting and utilizing solar energy through either direct or indirect methods. Direct methods of utilizing solar energy are based on converting solar radiation into electrical or thermal energy.
Indirect methods rely on utilizing kinetic and potential energy generated through the interaction of solar radiation with the geosphere. Wind energy, river energy, tidal and wave energy, and biomass energy possess the greatest energy potential.
A number of foreign countries have adopted national programs to harness energy from non-traditional sources; these initiatives are driven by government agencies and private firms, supported by the availability of low-interest loans.
Table 1 presents data on energy production from renewable sources in European Union countries in 1992.
The negative aspects of traditional energy sector development in Ukraine are particularly acute and are exacerbated by imbalances within the energy complex; consequently, the use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly important.
The necessity and feasibility of developing this sector of the energy industry are driven by the following factors:
- a shortage of fuel and energy resources traditionally used in Ukraine;
- imbalances in the development of Ukraine’s energy complex, which relies heavily on nuclear power plants for electricity generation (accounting for up to 25–30% of output) despite the virtual absence of domestic facilities for nuclear fuel production, waste disposal and reprocessing, or the modernization of existing NPP equipment (such as nuclear reactors and boiler systems);
- favorable climatic and meteorological conditions for utilizing the main types of renewable energy sources;
- the existence of an industrial base capable of manufacturing virtually all types of equipment required for non-traditional energy generation.
