Status and prospects for household biogas plants in Ghana - lessons, barriers, potential, and way forward

Type Journal Article - International Journal of Energy and Environment
Title Status and prospects for household biogas plants in Ghana - lessons, barriers, potential, and way forward
Author(s)
Volume 2
Issue 5
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2011
Page numbers 887-898
URL http://www.ijee.ieefoundation.org/vol2/issue5/IJEE_11_v2n5.pdf
Abstract
Ghana is a country faced with pressing developmental challenges on energy, sanitation, environment and
agriculture. The development of a large scale, enterprise-based biogas programme in Ghana will improve
sanitation, produce clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote nutrient recovery, and create
jobs. While aforementioned benefits of biogas are known, the biogas industry is still not growing at rates
that would enable its impact on sanitation, agriculture and energy usage to be felt, owing to challenges
such as low awareness creation and poor biogas supply chain, lack of well-trained personnel, poor
follow-up services, and high cost of biogas digesters – USD 235- 446 per cubic meter. This paper looks
at the chronology of biogas developmental in Ghana, technical and market potential of household biogas
plants, strengths and weaknesses of main biogas service providers, human resource development, quality
issues, and risks involved in developing a large scale household biogas programme. From the paper, the
technical and market potential of dung-based, household biogas digesters in Ghana are estimated at
162,066 and 16,207 units respectively. In order to take full advantage of biogas technology, the paper
recommends the development of standardized digesters, increase in awareness programmes on the lifelong
benefits of biogas systems, introduction of flexible payment schemes, and stepping-up of follow-up
services. Finally, there is an urgent need for a ‘promoter’ who will engage all stakeholders to ensure that
a national action plan on biogas technology is initiated and implemented.

Related studies

»