Evaluation of the acceptability, impact and feasibility of biogas digesters in rural Maphephetheni, KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2003
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Abstract
Biogas has the potential to provide energy to communities, especially those where grid
electrification will not be installed for a long time and who experience problems in
accessing energy resources. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether
biogas technology could provide households and a school with an acceptable,
affordable, efficient, and sustainable alternative energy resource, thereby providing
opportunities for cost savings, reduction of the labour burden and income generation.
Three case studies were selected, two households and Myeka High School in rural
Maphephetheni. Maphephetheni is situated approximately 80 km west of Durban and is
characterised by the lack of grid electrification. The two households selected as case
studies were both using firewood and paraffin for thermal energy. Collection of
firewood was a tiresome burden to women and paraffin was expensive to purchase. The
third case study, Myeka High School was using solar energy and LP gas to support its
energy needs. Biogas digesters were donated to the two households and the school.
Data before and after installation of biogas was collected through questionnaires,
informal interviews and observations. Monitoring and evaluation of the case studies
was carried out.
Results collected revealed that biogas was an acceptable source of energy because the
household and school equipped with the floating dome biogas digesters accepted
cooking on biogas while the household used the fertiliser from biogas on their crops.
However it was not affordable both to the household and the school because in the
household income did not allow for its purchase while savings on energy expenditure
from both the school and household could not offset the cost in the six years estimated
by the engineer but it would take 11 years.
Biogas was found to be efficient and sustainable provided proper management was
available. Although income generation opportunities were not fully utilised, there was
an opportunity for income generation through the biogas provided there was
encouragement, support and markets available.
Recommendations are that government policy should provide for training of
stakeholders on proper management techniques. Government or organisations involved
with biogas energy could do this, as well as provide an extension service for the
dissemination of biogas and other renewable energy information. However,
government policy should as in other countries provide for subsidies, risk underwritten
bank loans or tax incentives to manufacturers.
Description
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.
Keywords
Biogas--KwaZulu-Natal., Biomass energy--KwaZulu-Natal., Waste products as fuel--KwaZulu-Natal., Renewable energy sources--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Community resources.