If the CO2 is also eliminated from the biogas, the remaining gas, often called biomethane, has the properties of purified natural gas and can be utilized in every applications to replace fossil natural gas as transportation fuel, raw material for the chemical industry, or in fuel cells, which convert it to electricity with high efficiency [ 1].
The second largest group includes mineral fuels, raw materials, semi-manufactured goods (such as synthetic and natural textiles, chemicals, and electronic components), and foodstuffs.
Figure 1 Gasification process (fuels, raw-materials, by-products, gasifier agents, and syngas applications), adapted from DOE/USA – Department of Energy.
Strong growth in Asia has pushed up demand for the fuel and raw materials needed for industrialisation and three of the Mints – Mexico, Indonesia and Nigeria – are leading commodity producers.
Meanwhile, the cost of industry's fuel and raw materials rose by 7.6% in the year to August, up from 4.1% in July.
Industry was grinding to a halt, reduced to less than half its production capacity by lack of fuel and raw materials.
Manufacturers are already benefiting from the combined impact of a stronger pound and weaker commodity prices: the cost of their fuel and raw materials fell 0.9% in July.
The stronger pound helped cut manufacturers' bills for fuel and raw materials, already under downward pressure because of falling commodity prices.
The latter was out yesterday and showed that industry was paying more for its fuel and raw materials and charging more for goods leaving factory gates.
