Biogas Production Potential from Agricultural and Agro-Processing Waste in South Africa

Mugodo, Khuthadzo; Magama, Primrose; Dhavu, K.

doi:10.1007/s12649-017-9923-z

Cited by 27 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Several national and regional studies have been conducted on the potential of biogas in Africa, ranging from technical issues to economic and policy analysis. Studies conducted in South Africa, the country with the largest installed electricity generation capacity in Africa, noted that although about 700 biogas plants had been installed in the country, only 300 may have been in operation as of 2107 [26,36]. Of the number under operation, about 90% are household systems.…”

Section: Overview Of Large Biogas Systems In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rest are commercial plants with capacities of between 30 kW and 19 MW (see Table 1), all private initiatives and generating power for internal consumption. Commercial biogas production potential in South Africa is estimated at approximately 118 million cubic meters, based on estimates of feedstock sources from the wineries industry, pig farms, poultry slaughterhouses, and from agricultural and agro-processing waste, with electricity generation potential of 148 GWh [26].…”

Section: Overview Of Large Biogas Systems In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 1 shows other smaller commercial biogas plants installed in Kenya. Estimates of electricity generation potential from agro-industrial waste and wastewater in Kenya using biogas technology is estimated at 624 GWh [26]. Bio-waste from maize, cotton, barley, sugarcane and tea residues have biogas potential of about 3284 million m 3 of CH 4 , with the gross annual electrical energy potential of 3.92 TWh [41].…”

Section: Overview Of Large Biogas Systems In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the major obstacles to the uptake of commercial biogas plants in Africa is a lack of cognisance on the viability of biogas as a source of electrical energy and/or heat production as well as sustainable waste management method [26]. Many crop and livestock farmers, as well as processing companies, are not informed about the opportunities offered by biogas technology as a dual "fuel production and waste management technology" [79].…”

Section: Market and Awareness Barriersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, releasing untreated municipal and industrial wastewater into the environment leads to pollution of rivers and other water bodies [22][23][24][25]. Dumping solid waste and manure in landfills is not only expensive but also leads to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere [26]. Biogas technologies can assist in improving the environmental management of solid and liquid waste from municipal and agro-processing facilities [27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Review of Commercial Biogas Systems and Lessons for Africa

2018

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Many African countries have vast biomass resources that could serve as feedstock for methane production through the adoption of commercial biogas plants. However, due to many inhibiting factors, these resources are under-utilised. This article reviews commercial biogas systems that treat organic waste from municipalities, large livestock farms, large plantations/crop farms, food/beverage production facilities, and other industries, to identify essential lessons which African countries could use to develop/disseminate such biogas systems. The review identified the critical barriers to commercial biogas development to be high initial capital costs, weak environmental policies, poor institutional framework, poor infrastructure and a general lack of willpower to implement renewable energy policies and set challenging targets. In African countries where feed-in-tariffs, quota obligations and competitive bidding programmes have been instituted, implementation has been poor, and most state-owned utilities have been unsupportive. Using knowledge from more experienced countries such as Germany and China, some key lessons have were identified. Among the key lessons is the need to institute and enforce environmental management policies to ensure that waste from medium and large livestock farms and industries are not disposed of indiscriminately, a tool China has recently used to promote commercial biogas plants to a high degree of success.

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Section: Overview Of Large Biogas Systems In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Overview Of Large Biogas Systems In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%