Biogas does not have a consistent composition. Its calorific value can vary considerably, sometimes even within the same installation. This affects flame stability, combustion behaviour and emissions. That is why Vitotherm starts every biogas project by analysing the fuel and the complete process, rather than selecting a standard burner. Gas composition, operating conditions, emission requirements and boiler characteristics determine the final burner design.
The number of biogas projects continues to grow. Across the industrial sector, more companies are looking at biogas as part of their energy strategy. That development creates new opportunities, but it also introduces technical challenges that cannot be solved with standard combustion equipment.
Biogas is not a uniform fuel.
Its composition depends on the source, the production process and the way it is treated before combustion. As a result, calorific values can vary considerably, even within the same installation. That variability directly influences flame stability, combustion behaviour and emission performance.
For that reason, every biogas project starts with understanding the characteristics of the fuel rather than selecting a burner.
Natural gas provides relatively stable combustion conditions. Biogas does not.
Some applications operate on high-quality biogas with only minor fluctuations. Others require burners capable of handling fuels with much lower calorific values or significant variations over time. Those differences affect combustion air, burner capacity, ignition systems, flame monitoring and the complete control philosophy.
Engineering a burner for biogas therefore means designing around the fuel instead of expecting the fuel to match the burner.
That is why every project begins with analysing the complete process. Fuel composition, operating conditions, emission targets and boiler characteristics all influence the final burner configuration.
Industrial installations cannot afford instability. Whether steam is used for food production, manufacturing or drying processes, combustion must remain reliable under changing conditions.
By understanding the process before engineering begins, we can develop burner solutions that maintain stable combustion despite variations in fuel quality. That results in predictable emissions, reliable operation and installations that continue to perform over the long term.
The number of biogas projects will continue to increase.
For us, that does not change the way we work.
Every fuel deserves its own engineering approach.
Because reliable combustion starts with understanding the process, not with selecting a standard burner.
Within horticulture, CO₂ plays a direct and measurable role in crop yield. It is not merely a by-product of combustion, but a functional input to the cultivation process.
Horticulture has been a solid foundation for us for many years. That remains unchanged. It is a market where installations operate continuously and where daily practice leaves little room for error. You quickly see what works and what doesn’t. That reality keeps you sharp.
In industrial projects there is always a moment where you realize that a standard burner is simply not going to solve the problem. On paper it might look sufficient. The capacity fits, the fuel type is listed, the emission class is acceptable. But once you start looking at the actual process conditions, you see that the reality is different.
