Kenya National Domestic Biogas Program

1. What is Biogas?

Biogas refers to a gas produced from anaerobic digestion of organic (crop and animal waste) in the absence of oxygen. If you’ve ever seen bubbles rising from a swampy marshy area, that’s naturally produced methane. The gas is a mixture of 60% methane (CH ₂) and 40% Carbon dioxide (CO₂).

2. What is a Biodigester?

The biogas digester is a sealed container or chamber that is specially built to provide the suitable conditions for anaerobic bacteria for the production of biogas.

3. Who can install a biogas digester?

Small scale farmers that keep dairy cows 2 or more cows are good candidates for installing household biogas units. However, a biogas unit will only yield good results if it is properly planned, constructed, operated and maintained. Regular supply of water is essential for operation of biogas plants.

4. Is Biogas Dangerous?

Biogas is quite safe, unlike the other gases; it does not burst since it’s not stored under pressurized gas cylinders.

5. What Information is required to design and built a biogas digester?

• Size of family and daily cooking (and lighting) requirements.
• Availability and amount of feedstock (water, number and type of cows)
• Materials available on site (bricks, etc) for construction of digester.
  

6. What is Biogas used for?

Biogas for cooking and lighting

Biogas is used for direct combustion turning it to renewable energy in form of heat for cooking or lighting applications and electric power used to power internal combustion engines for power generation.

Biogas also produces a digested biomass which is an environmentally-improved and more efficient fertilizer compared to raw manure. By using biogas for combined

7. What is the cost of construction?

Biogas plants are constructed using the same materials for building construction. The cost of construction depends on the market price for building materials and varies from one place to another. The initial cost might look high but after two or three years this cost is compensated by not using any other source of energy eg.electricity, commercial gas, firewood etc.

8. Is the cost of construction subsidized?

Yes, the each new project District will qualify for 5 Demonstration plants with double subsidy while all constructed plants will have a subsidy of 25,000/= across all sizes of biodigesters constructed.

9. Is there any credit arrangement?

Yes, the program is in the process of identifying some micro-financial institution which can provide some credit to the beneficiaries at an affordable interest. This is still being worked out.

10. Who can are the constructors?

This project is under the Kenya National Domestic biogas program (KENDBIP) which is training Masons for installing these plants. Quality control is being carried out by KNDBIP) technicians.

Benefits of Biogas:

Biogas technology offers multiple benefits ranging from global to local ones. The following are some of the key benefits emanating from biogas technology:

· Fuel wood Substitution:

The use of biogas displaces/replaces the use of fuel wood fully or partially depending on the cooking pattern of a household,

· Reduced drudgery on women:

In Kenya society, kitchen chores and especially cooking is the preserve of women. Biogas technology means that women and children who are involved in collection of firewood will no longer need to spend the many productive hours in search for firewood

· Reduced indoor air pollution:

Women and children bear this brunt due to their many hours in the kitchen. The rural Kenyan commonly uses open three stone fire place or poorly functioning stoves for cooking and space heating.

· Increased food productivity from bio-slurry:

The use of animal waste as feedstock does not deny the farmer from having his manure nor does it diminish the nutrient value of the slurry.

· A clean fuel:

Biogas is an energy rich fuel and can be used to produce heat and power and can also be used as vehicle fuel

· Enhanced income generation as a result of saving from fuel wood:

Population explosion has resulted to diminished forest cover and scarcity of fuel wood.

· Employment creation:

Mass dissemination of biogas technologies will result to creation of employments at different levels from biogas installers, appliance manufacturers and technicians who will be undertaking maintenance.