With the current situation in Venezuela, the people there may have to start looking for ways to get the fuel they need. Maybe it's time they consider other alternatives, like Biogas. With a decent amount of knowledge and a few supplies to build a basic setup some of them could have biogas quicker than they could get fuel from the stations!

Previously in my other articles, I mentioned the advantages of diesel and Biogas. More precisely, Methane CH4, as Biogas varies in its composition depending on some other gas compounds. In this article, we will look closely at the biogas option.

Resource diversification: the many uses of Biogas

Disclaimer: I have no first-hand experience using Biogas in my engines.

Diesel was an excellent choice until I found out the refinery producing it seems to be in trouble. Once I find a suitable fuel for the challenging years ahead in Venezuela, I will cover that in an article. I may even make a poll in my small town to overview how many people are aware of alternative fuels. I'm seriously considering a mixture because diesel still can be found in Venezuela, even though it is scarce. Using Biogas for an engine is not the same as merely burning it in your stove while cooking stew.

Biogas can be used in small diesel engines but needs special treatment to remove all of the water and other compounds. You can read about running a diesel engine on biogas documented here. In this article, "Running a Diesel Engine on Biogas," the author shares the real lessons he learned running trials with limited resources.

As a prepper, I am a diesel fan. It does not matter that diesel fuel may be scarce. Biogas could make the diesel reserves last five times longer if produced. Gas consumption in diesel engines is sure to be relatively high. I have worked with larger engines before, and I know this to be a reality.

I've driven V8 engines with GNV systems. The engine performance is not the same as gasoline simply because of the different energy levels. But, I found it quite interesting because the system in our fleet trucks was sophisticated and simple at the same time. With one gasoline tank and one GNV tank, we could operate our truck 140 km per day, give or take, for five days straight.

Preppers and survivalists living in places with long winters may find it useful to have a small diesel engine that runs on Biogas. When the solar panels are not receiving enough sunlight, Biogas can also be used in generators to pump water, run a heater, load the battery rack, and more.