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Technical assessment of installed domestic biogas plants in Kavre, Nepal

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  • Lohani, Sunil Prasad
  • Pokhrel, Dhiraj
  • Bhattarai, Sankalpa
  • Pokhrel, Amod K.

Abstract

Domestic biogas technology is a promising source of renewable energy for cooking in developing countries. It is popular in Nepal's rural and peri-urban areas and can be scaled-up to replace solid fuel cookstoves. This study focused on the technical assessment of installed biogas plants such as structural components, pipelines and valves, stove and burner, biogas production and utilization, and effluent disposal system in 303 homes in Kavre district, Nepal. Furthermore, it evaluated the feedstock material's physical and chemical parameters to ascertain their implications on biogas production. The plants' problems were mainly due to faulty components and lack of proper operation and maintenance. About 18% of plants were nonfunctional, out of which 9% of the plants were damaged due to the 2015 mega-earthquake. The highest number of damages was found in the mixture of the inlet structure. About 55% of mixtures were nonfunctional. Almost 77% of users used cow dung and toilet waste either individually or in combination with animal urine as feedstock materials in the digester. The Carbon: Nitrogen (C: N) ratio of feedstock materials ranged from 5:1–24:1, with only 4% of samples measuring C: N greater than 20:1. Similarly, pH (7.7) levels were on the higher side.

Suggested Citation

  • Lohani, Sunil Prasad & Pokhrel, Dhiraj & Bhattarai, Sankalpa & Pokhrel, Amod K., 2022. "Technical assessment of installed domestic biogas plants in Kavre, Nepal," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1250-1257.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:181:y:2022:i:c:p:1250-1257
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.09.092
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jabeen, Gul & Yan, Qingyou & Ahmad, Munir & Fatima, Nousheen & Jabeen, Maria & Li, Heng & Qamar, Shoaib, 2020. "Household-based critical influence factors of biogas generation technology utilization: A case of Punjab province of Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 650-660.
    2. Gautam, Rajeeb & Baral, Sumit & Herat, Sunil, 2009. "Biogas as a sustainable energy source in Nepal: Present status and future challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 248-252, January.
    3. Cheng, Shikun & Li, Zifu & Mang, Heinz-Peter & Neupane, Kalidas & Wauthelet, Marc & Huba, Elisabeth-Maria, 2014. "Application of fault tree approach for technical assessment of small-sized biogas systems in Nepal," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1372-1381.
    4. Pérez, Irene & Garfí, Marianna & Cadena, Erasmo & Ferrer, Ivet, 2014. "Technical, economic and environmental assessment of household biogas digesters for rural communities," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 313-318.
    5. Katuwal, Hari & Bohara, Alok K., 2009. "Biogas: A promising renewable technology and its impact on rural households in Nepal," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(9), pages 2668-2674, December.
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    1. Ni, Ji-Qin, 2024. "A review of household and industrial anaerobic digestion in Asia: Biogas development and safety incidents," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).

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