Water for small‐scale biogas digesters in sub‐Saharan Africa

• Published in: Global change biology. Bioenergy Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 339 - 357
• Main Authors: Bansal, Vamini, Tumwesige, Vianney, Smith, Jo U.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2017
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Aquaculture; Biogas; Biomass; Carbon; Catchment areas; Cooking; Crop residues; Deforestation; Digesters; Domestic water; Efficiency; Energy sources; Evaporation; Feeds; Fish stocking; Hogs; Households; Indoor air quality; Iron; Livestock; Manures; Plankton; Ponds; Rain; Rain water; Rainfall; rainwater harvesting; Rainy season; Raw materials; Recycling; Residential energy; Roofing; Roofs; Rural areas; sub‐Saharan Africa; Sustainable energy; Tilapia; Water availability; Water harvesting; Water levels; water recycling; Water reuse; Wood; Sub-Saharan Africa; Africa

Biogas could provide a more sustainable energy source than wood fuels for rural households in sub‐Saharan African. However, functioning of biogas digesters can be limited in areas of low water availability. The water required is approximately 50 dm3 day−1 for each cow and 10 dm3 day−1 for each pig p...