TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The method further involves heating the organic waste to sterilize the organic waste, where the heating occurs subsequent to the fermenting; heating the organic waste to inactivate methane-producing microorganisms, where the heating occurs prior to the fermenting; and heating an inoculum to inactivate methane-producing microorganisms, but ineffective to inactivate hydrogen-producing microorganisms, and adding the inoculum to the organic waste, where the heating occurs prior to the adding, and the adding occurs prior to the fermenting. The fermenting occurs in a bioreactor in proximity to one of a fuel cell or a heat engine. The carbon dioxide is produced from the fermenting. The method further involves separating the hydrogen from the carbon dioxide prior to the directing. The fermenting occurs at a pH of 4.5-6.5. The organic waste is heated at a temperature of at least 90 degrees C; and the inoculum is heated at a temperature of 90-100 degrees C. The inoculum includes microorganisms competent to produce hydrogen from fermentation of organic waste. Preferred System: The modular renewable energy system further comprises a housing having an interior and an exterior, where the bioreactor is located in the interior of the housing, the one of a fuel cell or a heat engine is located in the interior of the housing, and the solar collector system is located on the exterior of the housing. Heat energy to inactivate methane-producing microorganisms is applied to the organic waste prior to fermentation, where the heat energy is generated by the solar collector system. Heat energy for sterilization is applied to the organic waste subsequent to fermentation, where the heat energy is generated by the solar collector system. The system further comprises an apparatus for distilling water using heat energy generated by the solar collector system; and a controller for controlling the temperature and pH within the bioreactor chamber. The heat engine combusts hydrogen in a cylinder to drive piston, or it combusts hydrogen in a combustor of a gas turbine. One of a fuel cell or a heat engine is located proximate to the bioreactor. The solar collector system is located proximate to the bioreactor. The modular renewable energy system further comprises a gas conditioner for separating hydrogen from other gases, where hydrogen is directed to the gas conditioner prior to being directed to a fuel cell or a heat engine. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.