Available online www.jocpr.com Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2016, 8(4):112-118 Review Article ISSN : 0975-7384 CODEN(USA) : JCPRC5 112 The role of biogas to sustainable development (aspects environmental, security and economic) Reza Alayi 1* , Ali Shamel 2 , Alibakhsh Kasaeian 3 , Hossein Harasii 4 and Majid Amani Topchlar 5 1 Departement of Energy Engineering, Energy Institute of Higher Education, Saveh, Iran 2 Department of Chemistry, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil branch, Ardabil, Iran 3 Department of Renewable Energy, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 4 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran 5 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Achieving “Sustainable Development” is a formidable challenge in the present world. It concerns technologies that can help manage growth while considering economic, social, and environmental sustenance of the society. There is an urgent need to solve the present problems faced by the society without creating any long term negative impact, which could become a critical issue to resolve for the future generations. Energy need is an important ingredient in the modern economy, and must be evaluated in the context of the other aspects of development. In fact, modern energy services must be evolved and deployed in all aspects of the development process – e.g., energy and communications, energy and industry, energy and the environment, energy and agriculture, energy and education, and energy and public health and safety. Biomass can be used to provide sustainable supply of the required energy through biogas, vegetable oil, biodiesel, producer gas, and by directly burning the biomass. Key words: Energy, biogas, renewable energy, Sustainable Development, Environment _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Worldwide energy consumption and demand are growing up since past 50 years [1]. Renewable energy resources and significant opportunities for energy efficiency exist over wide geographical areas, in contrast to other energy sources, which are concentrated in a limited number of countries. Rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and technological diversification of energy sources, would result in significant energy security and economic benefits. [2] It would also reduce environmental pollution such as air pollution caused by burning of fossil fuels and improve public health, reduce premature mortality due to pollution and save associated health costs that amount to several 100 billion dollars annually only in the United States.[3] Biomass can be converted to other usable forms of energy like methane gas or transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Rotting garbage, and agricultural and human waste, all release methane gas – also called landfill gas or biogas. Sustainable development is an approach to development that takes the finite resources of the Earth into consideration. This can mean a lot of different things to different people, but it most commonly refers to the use of