From waste to power: How biogas plants are transforming villages

BY MOSES WEKESA

The government is promoting the adoption of various clean sources of energy among Kenyans to encourage transition from fossil fuels.

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Biogas, which is one of the clean renewable energy sources, is among the alternatives that the government is promoting. Biogas project are being implemented through the State Department for Energy for the supply of clean cooking energy.

Clean cooking is one of the co-pillars for Kenya’s climate ambition of Net Zero emissions by 2050 through the Kenya Energy Transition & Investment Plan (ETIP), which was developed on the backdrop of Kenya’s commitment to champion the fight against climate change.

To-date, it is estimated that the country has 20,000 biogas systems, according to the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. ETIP identifies clean cooking, renewable energy, green hydrogen, e-mobility and energy storage as decarbonisation technologies.

Under the biogas project, the government is installing Biogas Plants for selected farmers across the country to be used as demos for transfer of the technology to community members.

KNA visited two farmers who are among those who have benefited from the project in Kakamega county. One of them, Patrick Shitekha from Shinyalu in the Kakamega County, thanked the government for the biogas project, which has enabled him to stop using firewood, charcoal and even cut down on costs of electricity and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

“When they did their research, they found me as one of the best farmers around here, they gave me the biogas plant as a present so that I am motivated and to be used as a demonstration of the Biogas technology to the community. I was the first one to be given, other farmers will also benefit as a motivation for engaging in farming,” he noted.

Once someone gets a biogas plant, Shitekha noted, the only cost one incurs is ensuring they have cow dung. He said the Biogas is able to provide light in the house and also produces enough heat for cooking all types of foods. “The gas from the biogas is very efficient, natural and also cost saving.

I used to purchase and refill LPG gas most of the time but the biogas plant has saved me from that. We cook everything using the Biogas,” he explained. He says that he uses the biogas slurry, waste resulting from the biogas plant, to apply on his crops reducing dependency on artificial fertiliser.

“I use the waste from the biogas on my ‘Sukuma Wiki’ (green vegetables), napier grass and other crops. The biogas slurry is very efficient; crops grow very fast, they do very well, so there is no wastage in the farm,” he explained.

Another farmer, Winstone Etemere from Ikolomani, says that since a biogas plant was installed in his homestead, his family has stopped using firewood and charcoal, which were their main sources of fuel.

He says they also purchased a cooking burner which is designed to use Biogas and produces enough heat which they also use to brood chicken. “I am proud that my passion in farming and commitment has enabled us to benefit from the government which has supplied us with Biogas plants for free as a token.

We are now enjoying the fruits of the government whereby we now don’t use LPG gas, Charcoal and firewood,” he explained.

Etemere however urged the government to support dairy farmers by providing them with latest technologies to improve their farming practices including provision of high quality breeds to increase milk production and provision of machinery for transportation.

“The support that we may need more is for our dairy to be equipped to help and sustain the farmers. We want to go high-tech in farming. We need to improve more on our breeds so that we have high quality products. So if we are really supported financially, there is a lot we can do in farming,” he pointed out.

Apart from the Biogas plants installed in the selected farms, farmers are encouraged to visit energy centres close to them to learn more about the technology among other technologies including solar energy, bioenergy, improved cooking solutions, wind energy, waste to energy and agroforestry.

The energy centres are technical outreach centres of Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) used in the promotion of renewable energy and technologies through training, sensitization, demonstration and extension to raise awareness and support in adoption of sustainable energy solutions. In Kakamega the available energy centre is the Bukura Energy Centre located next to the Bukura Agricultural Training Centre(ATC).

The Centre serves Kakamega, Kisumu, Vihiga and parts of Bungoma Counties. Other energy centres across the country include, Busia, Garissa, Jamhuri, Kericho, Kisii, Kitui, Lodwar, Marsabit, Migori, Mirangine, Mitunguu, Mtwapa, Uasin Gishu, Wajir and Wambugu Energy centres.