Methane is captured from a waste lagoon by covering the surface with a flexible, airtight cover that traps the gas as it rises from decomposing organic matter. As bacteria break down manure in the oxygen-free environment of the lagoon, methane and other gases are produced and collect under the cover.
Next, a system of pipes draws the gas out and directs it to a processing unit where impurities like water vapor and hydrogen sulfide are removed. The cleaned methane, often called biogas, can be stored and used as a renewable energy source for electricity, heat, or fuel.
