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5/20/24, 3:58 PM Biogas in the UAE: Turning the "Ugly Duckling" into green gold - Oil & Gas Middle East
Biogas in the UAE: Turning the “Ugly

Duckling” into green gold

The "ugly duckling" of renewables can evolve into a swan, contributing significantly to national and global
sustainability objectives

by Dean Mikkelsen May 16, 2024 09:35 AM GST SHARE

Biogas and biomethane technologies, often overlooked and regarded as the “ugly duckling”
of the renewable energy sector, hold significant potential despite facing cultural and societal

resistance.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is spearheading initiatives in renewable energy, with a focus
on biogas technology, which despite being perceived as the “ugly duckling” of renewables,

offers substantial environmental and economic benefits. This term, “ugly duckling,” often
used to describe biogas, refers to its less appealing perception compared to other cleaner
technologies, yet it holds significant untapped potential .

Annually, over 105 billion tonnes of organic waste are produced worldwide, with the majority
emitting damaging greenhouse gases during decomposition. Presently, a mere fraction of

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