Methane based biogas produced by anaerobic digesters can often be used as a direct replacement for natural gas. It is typically necessary to make a simple modification to natural gas burners in order to accommodate the lower BTU content of biogas from digesters (BTU refers to the heat value or energy content of fuels).

The IBR has enhanced compatibility with natural gas supply given that the gas it produces has a higher BTU content and lower H2S content. When cycled back into the IBR system, the biogas provides considerable energy savings in heating the digestion process.

Biogas is also suitable for use in a combustion engine generator (right). The high BTU content and low H2S content make the gas from the IBR well suited for this application. The actual kilowatt production is directly related to solids destruction as reflected in the BTU's generated by the digester as methane gas, and the efficiency of the engine generation system.

When an engine generator is used, waste heat is also available from three sources; engine cooling water, engine exhaust and radiant heat. These heat sources are more than enough to heat the digester. On average, over 60% of the total of engine waste heat is available for other uses.

Methane, the main constituent of biogas, is a major harmful greenhouse gas. When this gas is released directly into the environment through traditional waste treatment systems like lagoons it is 20 times more harmful than CO₂ as measured by the amount of heat it traps in the atmosphere.

The benefits to Agriculture are twofold; reduced environmental impact through the capture of Methane gases and access to a cheap and renewable Natural Gas fuel source that reduces demand on fossil fuels.