ABSTRACT
The development of biogas production for use as vehicle fuel is hampered by several factors: In summary, although the exact circumstances might differ from country to country with regard to which biofuel is preferred, the trends towards an anticipated rapid increase in consumption are comparable. In this chapter, the potential benefits of increased use of biogas as a vehicle fuel are discussed by comparing biogas with other biomass-based vehicle fuels from the points of view of energy efficiency and environmental aspects. This provides incentives for further technological developments in biogas production systems with regard to cost reductions, which could increase its competitiveness as a vehicle fuel. Thus, the digesting of organic waste produces indirect environmental benefits, in the form of reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (methane and nitrous oxide) and pollutants contributing to eutrophication (ammonia), and these indirect effects might even exceed the direct environmental benefits of replacing fossil vehicle fuels with biogas.
