Background of biogas technology and its recent developments in Iran

Biogas activities have been initialised since the mid 1970s in Iran. Only a few of about 70 rural projects are still active. Other activities include four municipal landfill gas extraction projects through which, two projects are being ready for power generation and some anaerobic treatment plants in industrial food processing factories. A modern research plant for practical investigation on anaerobic process as well as two rural biogas units has recently been completed in Iran. The reasons why there is less development of biogas have been discussed in this paper. The considerable difference between the cost of biogas and fossil energies in Iran is a main barrier for development of biogas.

Keywords: Iran, biogas, digester, landfill gas, LFG extraction, energy costs, rural participation, anaerobic treatment, food processing