The production of methane in the anaerobic digestion process is a proven technology, but it is characterized by low cost-effectiveness. The pretreatment of substrates seems to be a promising technology, which may increase the cost-effectiveness of biogas installations. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of the comminution and extrusion of maize silage and maize straw silage on the course and yield of anaerobic digestion. The use of a pretreatment (comminution, extrusion) is justified when its energy balance is positive. The greatest increase in the methane yield per dry matter (12.4%) was observed after the extrusion of maize straw silage at 175 °C. The change in the methane yield resulting from the extrusion of maize silage and maize straw silage at 150 °C was small and amounted to 6.4% and 9%, respectively. The comminution caused an increase in the methane yield and accelerated the fermentation of substrates. The methane yield from maize silage was 38.4%, whereas the yield from maize straw silage was only 8.3%.

The aim of the study was to determine the possibilities of using cup plants (Silphium perfoliatum L.) to generate energy. The energy balances of the combustion and anaerobic digestion were compared. The research showed that cup plants could be used as a raw material for solid fuel and for anaerobic digestion. An energy balance simulation showed that electricity could be generated through the anaerobic digestion of cup plants. The following amounts could be generated in the anaerobic digestion process: 1069 kWhe from 1 Mg of the raw material fragmented with an impact mill, 738.8 kWhe from 1 Mg of the raw material extruded at a temperature of 150 °C, and as much as 850.1 kWhe from 1 Mg of the raw material extruded at 175 °C. The energy balance of the combustion of biofuel in the form of cup plant pellets showed that 858.28 kWht could be generated from 1 Mg of the raw material. The combustion of solid biofuel generated a relatively low amount of heat in comparison with the expected amount of heat from a biogas-powered cogeneration system due to the high energy consumption of the processes of drying and agglomeration of the raw material for the production of pellets.

Biohydrogen production is a promising alternative to replace fossil fuels in an environmentally friendly way. In addition to the many available renewable energy sources, the production of “colored” hydrogen and biohydrogen occupies an irreplaceable position due to the undeniable availability of biomass and the need to manage food waste (FW). This article presents the current state of biohydrogen production technology—examples on continents (America, Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania) and in Europe in terms of the efficiency of dark methane fermentation (CH₄). Biophotolysis processes leading to the production of biohydrogen are indicated: directly and indirectly. The mechanism of the fermentation process of obtaining hydrogen and two-stage hydrogen fermentation are presented. The novelty of this article is the development of innovative trends in the development of the biohydrogen industry in Europe. Various models of the biohydrogen process are presented for different raw materials and proportions of substrates used in co-fermenters. Researchers from China are the undisputed pioneers in the use of renewable energy sources. However, improved energy self-sufficiency and environmental impacts are reflected in the growing number of pilot installations operating in European countries. This also gives hope for rapid progress towards full animal and FW management also in Poland.

An important factor along with the availability of food is its quality. It depends, among other things, on the type of plant protection products used and the method of their application. This manuscript presents research on the possibility of using a shielded band sprayer in field onion cultivation. The shielded band spraying technology presented in this article is the subject of a patent application (application number P.428494-The prototype of the machine was produced in Poland in cooperation with the University of Life Sciences in Poznań). The research consisted in comparing the quantity and quality of the obtained crop, based on various methods of reducing the weed population. The research results indicate that the proposed shielded band spraying technology may affect the food quality (the active substance is not sprayed on onion plants) and profitability of farms (less use of plant protection products).

This article discusses the technology for doping hydrogen into the fermenter to increase methane production and the amount of energy in the mixture. Hydrogen doping is anticipated to enable more carbon to be applied to produce methane. Hydrogen is proposed to be produced by using excess electricity from, for example, off-peak electricity hours at night. The possibilities of using a mixture of hydrogen and biogas for combustion in boilers and internal combustion engines have been determined. It has been proven that the volumetric addition of hydrogen reduces the heat of combustion of the mixture. Problems arising from hydrogen doping during the methane fermentation process have been identified.