Publications

This document presents basic information about biogas technology in the form of Biogas Digest Volume 4. The document contains 19 sections on different countries and regions. They are respectively:
• Biogas technology in Bangladesh
• Biogas technology in Belize
• Biogas technology in Bolivia (region Chochabamba)
• Biogas technology in Burundi
• Biogas technology in China (Sichuan)
• Biogas technology in Columbia
• Biogas technology in India
• Biogas technology in Orissa (India)
• Biogas technology in Sangli (India)
• Biogas technology in the Ivory Coast (region of Korhogo)
• Biogas technology in Jamaica
• Biogas technology on Java (province of Central Java)
• Biogas technology in Kenya
• Biogas technology in Morocco (region of Souss-Massa)
• Biogas technology in Nepal
• Biogas technology in Tanzania
• Biogas technology in Thailand
• Biogas technology in Tunisia (Sejenane, El Kef)
• Biogas technology in Vietnam

This report presents profiles and stories of the BSP-Nepal phase IV (July 2003-July 2010) that has been implemented after successful completion of the first 3 phases. AEPC is the executing agency and Biogas Sector Partnership– Nepal (BSP-Nepal) is the implementing agency. The programme had originally aimed to install 200,000 biogas plants during the Phase–IV period. This is also a target envisaged in the Tenth Plan (mid July 2002 to mid-June 2009) of the GoN.

The first part of the report elaborates on the profile of the fourth phase of BSP. This part presents information on: the overall objectives and outputs; targets and expected results; an introduction of BSP-Nepa with an organogram, vision, mission, objectives, strategy, a scheme with the institutional set-up; An introduction of biogas technology with a plant design; the potential of biogas in Nepal; Plant costs and subsidy rates; BSP and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); a scheme of the district wise potential and construction of biogas plants.

The second part of the report is called stories. This narrative part consist of stories with the titles: Biogas in Jumla; Growing attraction towards organic tea; Making Economic Sense; Going Higher; Exemplary Village; The Change in Jyangbo; Loan for biogas, Energy for the Poor; Organic Farming with Slurry; The Change in Village Life brought by Biogas; The Newfound Happiness, Less Hardship for Women; So What if one does not have Cattles!; Change in the lifestyle of Solukhumbu people.

This factsheet contains information on SNV's improved cookstoves around the globe, as well as its partnership in the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a public private initiative led by the UN Foundation.

The Indonesian Domestic Biogas Programme (IDBP), in Indonesia better known as the BIRU Programme, started in May 2009, and has gradually built up its staff which currently counts around 28 persons. When fully developed the BIRU programme will employ around 56 team members, will have up to 30 construction partners with ca. 240 masons and supervisors, aiming at developing the biogas sector able to build at least 8,000 biogas plants before the end of 2012. This report gives the progress to date on the different subjects; Construction progress; Partner engagement; Promotion; Quality Control; Training; Bio-slurry extension; Research and development; Cooperation with the government; Monitoring and evaluation; Market studies in potential target areas (Lombok, Bali, South Sulawesi).

The Government of Lao PDR has been investigating in recent years to develop the production and use of biofuels based on the premise of positive environmental and social impacts, notably the mitigation of climate change through greenhouse gas abatement, fossil fuel dependence reduction, security of energy supply and maintaining employment in the agricultural sector. To address these issues, The Lao Government has drafted a policy for biofuel development, committed to several researches and engaged in discussions with the private sector for investment in the biofuel sector.

SNV acknowledges that developing sustainable production and use of biofuels can have positive impacts on local level and thereby strengthening meso-level organisations. The leaflet provides a brief overview of SNV's possible position in facilitating the Lao government's energy policies and institutional frameworks. SNV's mission in sustainable biofuel development, goals, guidelines and approach, target clients, feedstock choices and focus area are all discussed. Contact information details are provided.

This leaflet introduces SNV involvement in domestic in Pakistan. Biogas technology in this country has been tried with some success but has yet to be widely adopted. Current dissemination programmes largely have a piloting character and commercial promotion is not yet taking place, despite a large potential of about 5 million digesters for the country.

Based on successful SNV biogas experience in other Asian countries, in early 2007, SNV, UNDP Pakistan and Winrock International carried out a feasibility study for establishing a large-scale household biogas programme. Furthering on these findings, a Programme Implementation Plan was written, which details on technological, organisational and institutional aspects for a national biogas programme, including activity schedule and budget.

Initially, the programme activities will take place in four provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Baluchistan). The objective of the national domestic biogas programme is to establish a commercially viable biogas sector. To that extent, the main actors at the supply side of the sector are private Biogas Construction Enterprises providing biogas construction and after sales services to households. At the demand side of the sector, Rural Support Programmes organized under the Rural Support Programme Network will be the main implementing partners, but will also include NGOs, farmers’ organisations and dairy organisations. To stimulate the demand for domestic biogas plants, households will receive a flat rate investment subsidy. SNV and Winrock International will make experts available to provide technical assistance to the programme

Contact information details are provided.

This leaflet introduces SNV's work and results on developing domestic biogas in Vietnam. It starts with key achievements (and aims) from the start of the programme to 2008. In 2006, this programme was presented with the Energy Globe Award for its significant contribution to the reduction of "World warming".

There are sanitary and pollution problems surrounding the 27 million pigs in Vietnam, most of which live in individual household farms with 5 to 20 head of livestock. While the majority of pig manure is re-used, mainly for fish feed and fertilizer, the un-used portion is usually deposited in waterways, seriously polluting the environment. High volumes of methane are releases, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and wasting a potential energy source. The manure can be stored in household digester to produce clean biogas.

The overall objective of the Vietnamese biogas programme is "to further develop the commercial and structural deployment of biogas, at the same time avoiding the use of fossil fuels and biomass resource depletion." The main role for SNV here is the provision of advisory services for programme management, biogas strategy, institutionalisation and sector building. As a result, entrepreneurs, institutions and local governments are capacitated, creating a sustainable infrastructure for a biogas sector.

Programme goals for 2011 are described, related to income & employment (number of plants constructed, reduced workload for women, savings on commercial fuels), health & sanitation (e.g. toilet attachments) and environment (e.g. reduction of GHG).

Contact information details are provided.

The lead institution for the National Biogas Program (NBP) in Cambodia is the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries (MAFF). During the first 15 months of the program 6,400 digesters were installed. For the consumers there multiple potential benefits of participating in the program. At a wider level, the use of biogas can contribute to reduced deforestation and climate change mitigation as an average household in the program now consumes 2,200 Kg less of firewood at an annual basis.

One prominent obstacle to the dissemination of biogas digesters in Cambodia is the lack of cash among farmers, combined with absence of affordable credit products. The NBP has therefore
partnered with financial institutions (such as FMO, PRASAC-MFI and Amret MFI) to design a special credit scheme that provides funding for the biogas investment to household that otherwise could not afford to participate in the program which this report describes. First the report presents the context of the programme with the terms and conditions for the biodigester credit scheme. Secondly, the method/intervention in which is focused on what the programme needs to do at provincial level in
order to help farmers receive a loan. Thirdly is elaborated on stakeholders, their roles, and relationships. Fourthly the report presents the outcomes and impacts. The report ends with key
lessons that were identified during the programme implementation and future challenges of the programme.

This comprehensive article introduces the SNV-supported domestic biogas programme in Vietnam. Large-scale programmes on domestic biogas are a promising approach to fight poverty and address the urgent energy needs of rural households. With financial support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS), SNV works with local partners to set up and implement the programme. Private companies are supported as well as credit facilities via trainings, financials incentives to meet the increasing demand for domestic biogas in Vietnam

The article discusses several programme features, starting with the technology and achieved multiple benefits for biogas farmers (e.g. saving of time, rural job creation and improved sanitation). On a World scale the Vietnamese biogas programme has contributed to a reduction of GHG. After three years, in 2006, the amount of CO2 emission reduced (by 25,000 constructed plants) equals half a million people flying from Amsterdam to Bangkok.

The goal of the programme is to further develop the commercial and structural deployment of biogas, at the same time avoiding the use of fossil fuels and biomass resource depletion. The success of this programme depends on the interaction of a chain of actors from management to household level, and involves many factors. One weak link can frustrate the balance between supply and demand, either within the programme's group or outside its scope. In Vietnam, support of the public sector (Ministry of Agriculture), lobbying and proper communication, are paramount, as well as international donor support. In 2007, the programme won the Energy Globe Award.