Publications

The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) is the key agency involved in channelling credit fund to household level through different local institutions since 2001. With almost 10 years of AEPC’s involvement it was realised by different stakeholders that now the time has come for review of the credit component for way forward to make the credit operation more systematic and sustainable. This assignment was therefore undertaken with that principal objective. 

By institution type, majority (89%) belonged to cooperative sector while the remaining were from banking and NGO (licensed NGO MFIs) sectors. Microfinance banks and NGO MFIs contributed to 31 per cent of the total number of plants financed, while 67 per cent were financed by cooperatives.

The key recommendations from the study are to disburse already approved loans by AEPC to its partner institutions; focus on delinquency management and channel loans through licensed institutions like microfinance banks and financial intermediary NGOs to reach more number of poor households and also to cover hilly areas. Mobilising key players in the microfinance arena, like microfinance development banks and financial intermediary NGOs would certainly contribute to enhance accessibility of poor community to renewable energy technologies. In addition, provision of capacity building support to partner institutions as complementary input to credit facility is also needed. Mobilisation of some potential biogas companies for financing through vendor financing or agent model would help provide credit facility to more number of low penetrating districts.

-

This report evaluates the progress made by the Biogas Programme phase I (BP) in Vietnam by using a combination of desk-reviews, interviews and group discussions.

Overall, the programme has achieved tremendous success in meeting its objectives in phase I by exceeding the original plants target by 50% and completing the construction 7 months ahead of schedule. All marketing tools of the project have proven to be effective, with the most successful tool-investigation of potential users and the promotion talks by district technicians.

For further improvement of the promotion and marketing tools, specific recommendations are presented (e.g. the introduction of visual tools and the official involvement of local authorities). The training activities given to BP staff, technicians, masons, and the operation and maintenance of biogas plants for users were among the other positively evaluated elements with few suggestions for improvement (e.g. time for training should be arranged out of farmers’ production time). Furthermore, although subsidy was highly appreciated, stakeholders were not satisfied with the equal subsidy scheme as it did not reflect the discrepancy in economic conditions. The quality control system of the BP was another aspect which was evaluated in a positive way. The application and use of biogas shown that it was used for a wide range of activities, such as cooking, lighting, drying teas, etc. and that farmers used bio-slurry as fertilisers for their crops or as feed for livestock. The specific strengths and weaknesses of the BP in Vietnam, together with recommendations are available in the report.

The National Biodigester Programme of Cambodia has undertaken a Biodigester User Survey (BUS) with two main objectives:

• To evaluate the effect of domestic biodigester installations, as perceived by the user, by conducting a representative quantitative random survey of 120 households in 8 provinces as well as how the users have experienced the programme activities such as promotion, construction, quality assurance, training and after-sales service;
• To evaluate the impact of the program on sustainable development and on a number of GHG emission causing activities, such as fossil and fuel wood consumption and manure management practices.

The biodigester user profile details on the socio-economic condition of the households; numbers of animals owned; and cooking practices. Awareness of biogas technology and decision making in the households is surveyed, as well as the construction costs for biodigesters and loans provided. Mason skills and trainings, like bio-slurry or operation trainings, are assessed.

The study elaborates on the performance of biodigesters and the owner’s satisfaction levels. Savings in terms of time and finances provide insight in the effects of switching to biogas use. The few negative elements found in the survey are far outweighed by the enormous benefits of the biodigesters to the rural farmers’ lives. The biodigesters result in a sustainable development, especially through the incredible improvement in the cooking environment, with no more smoke, soot or ashes; the quality of the biogas light is evaluated brighter than fluorescent lights; and the organic bio-slurry fertiliser increasing rice and vegetable yields and improving the soil quality.

The National Biodigester Programme of Cambodia has undertaken a Biodigester User Survey (BUS) with three main objectives:

• To evaluate the effect of domestic biodigester installations, as perceived by the user, by conducting a representative quantitative random survey of 150 households using biodigesters constructed under the NBP in 8 provinces in Cambodia;
• To evaluate how the users have experienced the programme activities such as promotion, construction, quality assurance, training and after-sales service;
• To evaluate the impact of the programme and how it contributes to sustainable development and how it reduces GHG emissions from fossil and non-renewable fuel wood consumption and manure management practices. 

A sample of 150 households was chosen out of the total households in the 12 chosen districts. The biodigester user profile details on the socio-economic condition of the households; numbers of animals owned; and cooking practices.

Awareness of biogas technology and decision making in the households is surveyed, as well as the construction costs for biodigesters and loans provided. Mason skills and trainings, like bio-slurry or operation trainings, are assessed.

The study elaborates on the performance of biodigesters and the owner’s satisfaction levels. Savings in terms of time and finances provide more insight in the effects of switching to biogas use. The survey provides detailed conclusions and recommendation to the programme.

This study assesses the impact of the Indonesia Domestic Biogas Programme on health, sanitation and socio-economic conditions, the physical status, functionality, operation and maintenance of the plants, user satisfaction, impact on agriculture, environment, energy use and emission reduction and measure the level of gender sensitivity. The biogas user survey was conducted towards 169 of biogas user households.

The survey concluded that:

• Biogas program brings tremendous benefits for the farmers. Farmers’ investment to construct biogas plant is actually a very good value for money;
• The economic benefits based on the energy saving only, so investment in biogas plant is actually coverable within 42 months of use;
• The use of bio-slurry as fertiliser is already quite high. However, due to the oversupply of bio-slurry and dung; so the existence of biogas plant is not yet able to improve condition of the surrounding sanitation. On the other hand, the economical use of the oversupplied bio-slurry and dung, namely by selling it to other parties, is still very minim;
• Biogas plant is not only positive for female, but also for male;
• Construction quality of biogas plant is good/very good. The main weaknesses are on quality of the mixer, pipe, manometer and the stove;
• There is strong indication that number of biogas stoves owned affects to the intensification of biogas usage. It also leads to a positive reduction of usage of other energy sources, particularly firewood.

The Lao Biogas Pilot Project (BPP) was established in November 2006 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SNV and the Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF) inside the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The aim of the BPP is to establish a sustainable commercial market for the deployment of household biogas digester technology, resulting in the reduction of biomass resource depletion and a significant improvement in the quality of life of the families concerned.

An important part of the BPP’s monitoring plan is to conduct a survey of biogas users (BPP customers) once a year. This provides data on the level of impact that the program is having, and can also indicate trends and issues for management attention. Similar surveys are conducted by the SNV biogas programs in other countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia. This allows some benchmarking and learning opportunities. The first Biogas User Survey (BUS) in Laos was conducted in December 2007, the second survey was conducted in January 2009 and the third survey was conducted in June 2010.

This report presents the results of the Biogas User Survey conducted in 2004 and 2005 in Nepal. Under the framework of SNV/BSP-N and AEPC several studies have been conducted by different reputed institutions to assess the impact of biogas on users. In keeping with previous year's survey (EastConsult, 2002/2003 and 2003/2004), the present study is initiated by AEPC in view of monitoring the effects/impacts of biogas program on the users and acquire hard and comparable data (between users and non-users) on specific topics that provide an input for an improved IEIA reporting.

The Survey Team was mobilized in 15 districts comprising of the Hill and Terai, covering five development regions of the country. As stipulated in TOR, 337 households (229 with Biogas and 108 without Biogas) were sampled for this study covering low penetration - high penetration districts of Hill and Terai with due consideration of socio-cultural settings.

The principal objective of the Biogas Users' Survey 2004/2005 is to evaluate impacts of biogas installed under Biogas Support Programme with a focus on energy, health & sanitation and agricultural system, socio-economic conditions, environmental and gender concern. The report also elaborates on the construction, operation and maintenance of the biodigester, the institutional aspects of biogas, as well as the company’s viewpoint about biogas users. In addition to local impacts the survey does also provide information to evaluate the World environmental impacts of biogas plants, particularly those relating to World climate change.

The Biogas Users’ Survey 2007/08 is intended to provide an overview on the Biogas Support Programme's implementation and measure its success in terms of both qualitative and quantitative achievements.

The general objective of Biogas Users’ Survey 2007/08 is to make a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of the installed biogas plants on energy, health & sanitation, agricultural systems, socio-economic condition, environment and gender. Besides, the local impact of biogas, this survey is also expected to provide information to evaluate the global environmental impacts of biogas plants in the context of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Furthermore, aspects of the construction, operation and maintenance of biodigesters are assessed.

The biogas plant, as per the present finding, shows a strong positive impact on socio-economic status of the user households. Biogas plants have helped in saving time on various activities like collecting fuel wood, preparing dung cake, taking care of livestock, cooking and cleaning utensils. People with adequate cash in hand or those who have collateral to take loan have been observed installing biogas plant thereby making it inaccessible to the poor and marginal people. Further conclusions and recommendations are provided.

The Biogas Users’ Survey 2009/10 is conducted in order to find out the operational status of the biogas plants registered under CDM Project Activity I and provides a qualitative as well as quantitative documentation on status of demography, socio-economic state, health and hygiene and environmental conditions of the biogas user households.

The objective of the Biogas Users’ Survey 2009/10 is to make a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of the CDM Registered Project biogas plants on energy, health and sanitation, agricultural production, socio-economic condition, and environment. Besides, the local impact of biogas, the survey is also expected to provide information to evaluate the global environmental impacts of biogas plants in the context of CDM.

135 samples of the total registered biogas plants registered under Biogas CDM Project Activity 1 were taken for the annual survey. From the findings, it can be concluded that the shortage of firewood seems to be the main reason for installing biogas. Users of biogas plants are satisfied with the plant operation. The reasons for the satisfaction are smokeless kitchen, efficiency in cooking and washing utensils, saving fuel wood and tasty food. Appliances failure in the kitchen seems to be major technical problem faced by the users and needs to be paid attention to.

The Biogas Users’ Survey 2009/10 is conducted in order to find out the operational status of the biogas plants registered under CDM Project Activity II and provides a qualitative as well as quantitative documentation on status of demography, socio-economic state, health and hygiene and environmental conditions of the biogas user households.

The objective of the Biogas Users’ Survey 2009/10 is to make a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of the CDM Registered Project biogas plants on energy, health and sanitation, agricultural production, socio-economic condition, and environment. Besides, the local impact of biogas, the survey is also expected to provide information to evaluate the global environmental impacts of biogas plants in the context of CDM.

135 samples of the total registered biogas plants registered under Biogas CDM Project Activity 2 were taken for the annual survey. From the findings, it can be concluded that the shortage of firewood seems to be the main reason for installing biogas. Users of biogas plants are satisfied with the plant operation. The reasons for the satisfaction are smokeless kitchen, efficiency in cooking and washing utensils, saving fuel wood and tasty food. Appliances failure in the kitchen seems to be major technical problem faced by the users and needs to be paid attention to.

The objectives of this Biogas Users’ Survey are to:
- Determine the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the biogas user households;
- Assess the level of satisfaction in terms of the benefits and functioning of the biogas plants;
- Determine the outcome of installing biogas plants on households with regards to energy, health and sanitation, agricultural productivity, socio-economic conditions, environment and gender aspects.

A qualitative and quantitative approach has been used for collecting data from the selected users. A structured questionnaire was mainly administered focusing on user satisfaction aspects, economic effectiveness of the biogas plant, and other related socio-economic impacts after the installation of the plant on the lives of the family members. A total of 130 households were surveyed in seven districts of Punjab.

The findings of this survey indicate that biogas is an effective source of fuel quite feasible for the rural areas of Pakistan. The users’ feedback reflects a high level of satisfaction in terms of functionality, operations and manageability of the plant. However, the cost of the plant does hamper scaling up of the programme as most households don’t have the required cash for its installation.

Recommendations emerging from the study are mainly:
- There is a need to strengthen the marketing mechanisms and promote the biogas use at the rural level through more hands-on mobilization and motivation;
- The programme and biogas companies need to strengthen their monitoring, supervision and follow-up mechanisms as these are important components for the sustainability and scaling of the programme.

The principal objective of this survey is to evaluate the effect of domestic biogas installations. To this extent, the survey shall assess relevant and unrelated aspects like energy, agriculture, health and sanitation, environment, economics and users convenience.  The BUS aims to get a better understanding of the user’s opinion and satisfaction, besides its difficulties and constraints for operation and maintenance. Additionally, BUS seeks to deliver trends on the biogas program development and its impact. The methodology of the survey consisted of defining the content of the structured questionnaire forms, in depth interviews and observations. The survey sample was of 407 households (382 users, 25 non-users). 

The main conclusions are: using biogas helps families to save time in cooking, cleaning, fuel collection/buying. Families have more time for business activities. However, the biogas plant does not affect livestock/plants breeding. The surveyed households mentioned that the subsidy (VND 1 million/per biogas plant) is quite low and the process of obtaining is slow. The knowledge of mason and quality of construction is quite good; almost biogas plants still operate well. Extensive recommendations are provided on the basis on the conclusions.

The biogas user survey 2009 evaluates the the use of biogas and biogas plants of 211 households.

The biodigester user profile details on the socio-economic condition of the households; numbers of animals owned; and cooking practices. Awareness of biogas technology and decision making in the households is surveyed, as well as the construction costs for biodigesters and loans provided. Mason skills and trainings, like bio-slurry or operation trainings, are assessed.

The study elaborates on the performance of biodigesters and the owner’s satisfaction levels. Savings in terms of time and finances provide insight in the effects of switching to biogas use.

Detailed conclusions and recommendations are provided.

The overall objective of the Biogas User Survey (BUS) is to assess the impact of the biogas program on smallholder farms.  The BUS aims to get a better understanding of the user’s opinion and satisfaction, besides its difficulties and constraints for operation and maintenance. Additionally, BUS seeks to deliver trends on the biogas program development and its impact. The methodology of the survey consisted of defining the content of the structured questionnaire forms, in depth interviews and observations. The survey sample was of 383 households (303 users, 80 non-users). 

The main conclusions are: users are very satisfied with their investment in biogas plants since it provides them great and multiple benefits, in overall they are satisfied with the services provided by the biogas program staff. Important to mention is that more than half of households (65.3%) attached the toilet to their biogas plants in order to solve the human waste disposal problem. There is a trend to enlarge the pig herd once users accustomed to the use of biogas plants, among the 72% of biogas users that did increase it in average acquired 2.9 heads of pig showing that biogas goes behind the pure production of energy and it offers a broad range of advantages for people in rural areas. However the survey raised a few issues within training, operation, maintenance, warranty and biogas appliances that are in need of a revision.