In the modern world, when green technologies and the conception of waste-free production are becoming increasingly valuable, bioenergy comes to the fore. Bioenergy is a method of obtaining energy from organic waste. It is not only a way to provide people with electricity and heat, but also an effective solution to environmental problems, turning what was previously considered garbage into a valuable resource for the prosperous future of Turkmenistan. 

Bioenergy has long been successfully used in various countries, demonstrating its effectiveness and versatility. World experience shows that Turkmenistan can confidently follow this path. For example, Germany is considered the European leader in biogas production. Imagine thousands of farms across Germany that not only grow crops and breed livestock, but also generate their own energy. There, manure and crop residues from the fields are converted into electricity and heat, demonstrating that agriculture can play an active role in the energy transition. Every kilogram of waste is converted into useful green energy. 

In Denmark, factories actively burn household and industrial waste, converting it into electricity and heat that provides cities with warmth. This not only generates energy, but also reduces the number of landfills and cleans up the urban environment.

In China, millions of households use biogas, produced from waste, for cooking and lighting. In Sweden, biogas is widely used as a fuel for public transport such as buses and trains. Imagine a bus running on energy produced from food waste or manure. This not only reduces dependence on fossil fuels, but also significantly improves air quality in cities. 

These examples show that bioenergy is not only an environmentally friendly but also an economically viable way to convert organic waste into valuable energy sources and an effective solution to the problem of waste recycling.

Turkmenistan has an enormous bioenergy potential thanks to its developed agriculture and extensive livestock farming, rich in organic waste. 

Turkmenistan is also one of the largest producers of cotton and wheat in the region. After harvesting, thousands of tons of cotton fiber and straw residues remain. These residues, which are often burned or rot in the fields, can become valuable fuel for biogas production.

The livestock complex is also actively developing in our country. Thousands of tons of fertilizers are produced daily on livestock farms. These fertilizers, rich in organic matter, are suitable raw materials for biogas production. The use of biogas technologies in large livestock complexes in regions such as Ahal and Mary can solve the problem of waste disposal and provide these complexes with the energy they generate.

Fruit and vegetable, cotton and vegetable oil processing plants produce a significant amount of organic waste – pod, husk and shells. These wastes can be effectively used to obtain bioenergy, creating waste-free production.

In addition, with the growth of cities such as Ashgabat, Turkmenbashi and Dashoguz, the amount of urban waste increases. A significant part of them is organic food and plant waste, which can also be used to produce biogas. All of these are accessible and renewable raw materials for energy production. The development of these resources allows not only obtaining valuable energy, but also comprehensively solving waste disposal problems, significantly reducing the negative impact on the environment and improving the sanitary condition of populated areas.

Modern bioenergy technologies make it possible to efficiently convert organic waste into various types of energy.

Biogas production technology (anaerobic fermentation) is organic waste (manure, food waste, sewage sludge) placed in special sealed containers, biogas plants.

There, in the absence of oxygen, special bacteria decompose organic matter and begin to produce biogas. The resulting biogas is a mixture of methane (up to 70 percent) and carbon dioxide. Biogas can be burned to produce heat and electricity, and after purification, its composition becomes close to natural gas. The use of biogas will be convenient for large livestock and poultry farms, agro-industrial complexes and municipal treatment facilities. Biogas plants can provide enterprises with their own electricity and heat. The most important thing is that biowaste, fermentation residues, is a high-quality and environmentally friendly fertilizer that returns nutrients to the soil. 

Biofuel production technology is that some types of biomass (sunflower, sesame, sugar cane, or sugar beet) can be used to produce liquid biofuel (biodiesel or bioethanol), which can be used in vehicles. This is a more complex technology that requires specialized production. However, this can become a strategic direction for diversifying fuel production and reducing the dependence of the transport sector on imported or traditional fuel. The development of these technologies turns the issue of waste recycling into a source of new opportunities. 

The active development of bioenergy will bring Turkmenistan a number of strategic and economic advantages. Bioenergy solves two problems at once: it produces clean energy and effectively uses organic waste, reducing its negative impact on the environment. Converting waste into biogas or heat significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, especially the most harmful – methane. This is an important contribution to the fight against climate change. Biogas production not only provides energy, but also ensures the production of a high-quality biofertilizer. This increases soil fertility, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and develops the agricultural sector. Small biogas plants can be located in remote farms, providing autonomous energy supply and reducing the load on centralized power grids. The development of bioenergy will attract investment, create new jobs in rural areas and stimulate the development of biotechnology. Replacing part of the natural gas consumption with biogas or biofuel will increase the energy security of our country. 

Bioenergy is not only a source of energy, but also a part of a comprehensive strategy for the sustainable development of Turkmenistan. It allows transforming organic waste into a valuable resource for the production of electricity, heat and high-quality fertilizers. Using this potential can strengthen the energy security of our country, diversify its economy, combat climate change and improve the environment, especially in rural areas. Turkmenistan has every opportunity to become an example of how waste can become an engine of growth and build a bright future.

Chynar GELDIYEVA,
a senior research worker at the Natural Gas Research Institute of the Türkmengaz State Concern