<p>Mr. Carlyle Benjamin, who has been serving at UG for over 20 years as a technologist within the Faculty of Engineering and Technology’s Electrical Department, will be spearheading the work of utilising biogas to produce electricity.</p>

<p>Professionally he is an engineer with several years of experience having worked at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Guyana Bauxite Company among other entities. Additionally, as a technologist, Mr. Benjamin conducts laboratory exercises and lectures on electrical and electronic principles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Mr. Benjamin, to produce electricity from biogas, a biogas plant must first be constructed. He explained: “Biogas or methane is a by-product of natural materials that decay, such as grass, cooking waste, plant and animal waste (manure).”&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that cow manure harbours a rich microbial diversity containing different species of bacteria, methane gas, carbon dioxide and trace amounts of nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In explaining how the bio plant works, Mr. Benjamin noted: “The raw materials (can) decompose in a&nbsp;pit or in a container in the absence of oxygen and too much water. After a period of a few weeks, it is transformed to waste material… and the natural gas released has to be harvested, collected and slightly processed.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>It should be noted that methane gas is highly flammable and must be handled with care. Biogas plants significantly reduces the greenhouse effect, lowers methane emissions by capturing this harmful gas and uses it as fuel thereby reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.</p>

<p><strong>This commodity can be used for</strong>:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Cooking – a Polyethene bio digester can provide gas for cooking for two households. Biogas would be a cheaper source of fuel than cooking gas.</li>
	<li>Heating in chicken pens (brooding).</li>
	<li>Generating Electricity – biogas can be turned into electricity by using a gas turbine or fuel cell providing a source of power to buildings.</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mr. Benjamin is confident that there is huge potential for the development of the project and is working with the relevant persons to ensure it becomes a reality.&nbsp;</p>
