Publications

During a national workshop in Bolivia, on the 16thof February 2012 respectively, preliminary results were presented of a feasibility study conducted for a national biodigester programme in this country. Significant lessons were learned evaluating former projects, for example, the absence of a market-based approach and the lack of follow-up in general (e.g. capacity building, technical assistance, monitoring, evaluation and R&D), confirming the importance of a comprehensive approach in formulating and rolling out a national biodigester programme. 

Participants of the workshop include representatives from government bodies, private sector companies, financial institutions, universities, research institutes, NGOs and international cooperation. They extensively discussed the findings of the feasibility studies, agreeing on the main conclusions and demonstrating that sufficient institutional capacity is present to develop a national biodigester programme in Bolivia. 

To adopt a sustainable market-based approach, it was concluded that crucial support functions need to be developed. Capacity building, technical assistance, quality control and research and development were all identified, among others, as necessary programme functions, while the importance of standardised, validated technologies was stressed. At the same time, the overall low investment capacity and/or access to credit facilities for rural households in Bolivia is limited, particularly in the Andean region. This calls for area specific intervention strategies with differentiated subsidy levels in order to reduce investment barriers and promote the application of renewable energy.

During a national workshop in Peru, on the 15thof February 2012 respectively, preliminary results were presented of a feasibility study conducted for a national biodigester programme in this country. Significant lessons were learned evaluating former projects, for example, the absence of a market-based approach and the lack of follow-up in general (e.g. capacity building, technical assistance, monitoring, evaluation and R&D), confirming the importance of a comprehensive approach in formulating and rolling out a national biodigester programme. 

Participants of the workshop include representatives from government bodies, private sector companies, financial institutions, universities, research institutes, NGOs and international cooperation. They extensively discussed the findings of the feasibility studies, agreeing on the main conclusions and demonstrating that sufficient institutional capacity is present to develop a national biodigester programme in Peru. 

To adopt a sustainable market-based approach, it was concluded that crucial support functions need to be developed. Capacity building, technical assistance, quality control and research and development were all identified, among others, as necessary programme functions, while the importance of standardised, validated technologies was stressed. At the same time, the overall low investment capacity and/or access to credit facilities for rural households in Peru is limited, particularly in the Andean region. This calls for area specific intervention strategies with differentiated subsidy levels in order to reduce investment barriers and promote the application of renewable energy.

During a national workshop in Peru, on the 15th of February 2012 respectively, preliminary results were presented of a feasibility study conducted for a national biodigester programme in this country. Significant lessons were learned evaluating former projects, for example, the absence of a market-based approach and the lack of follow-up in general (e.g. capacity building, technical assistance, monitoring, evaluation and R&D), confirming the importance of a comprehensive approach in formulating and rolling out a national biodigester programme.

Participants of the workshop include representatives from government bodies, private sector companies, financial institutions, universities, research institutes, NGOs and international cooperation. They extensively discussed the findings of the feasibility studies, agreeing on the main conclusions and demonstrating that sufficient institutional capacity is present to develop a national biodigester programme in Peru.

To adopt a sustainable market-based approach, it was concluded that crucial support functions need to be developed. Capacity building, technical assistance, quality control and research and development were all identified, among others, as necessary programme functions, while the importance of standardised, validated technologies was stressed. At the same time, the overall low investment capacity and/or access to credit facilities for rural households in Peru is limited, particularly in the Andean region. This calls for area specific intervention strategies with differentiated subsidy levels in order to reduce investment barriers and promote the application of renewable energy.

In the opening session of the International Workshop on Domestic Biogas in Nepal, Mr. Felix ter Heegde gave a presentation on the financial and economic performance of domestic biogas plants in 12 Asian and African countries entitled “Irresistible attractions”. The investment costs of an average-sized unit varies between EUR 300 and 800, with the most expensive units produced in the African countries and Indonesia. There are large variations in the cost of the plants in relation to GDP: in Vietnam they cost less than 20% of GDP, while those in Tanzania almost cost 120% of the GDP. The total biogas costs (TBC) have been compared with the financial as well as economic benefits expressed in biogas substitution values (BSV). The following benefit areas have been taken into account: energy, agriculture, environment, employment generation and health and sanitation. For all countries, the economic benefits have proved higher than the financial benefits, justifying the provision of investment subsidies to farmers.

Presentation at the Zimbabwe International Energy and Power Conference Exhibition 2012