Analysing household biogas utilization and impact in rural Ethiopia: Lessons and policy implications for sub-Saharan Africa

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This paper analyses the current utilization level, performance and impact of domestic biogas plants in rural Ethiopia from a case study in four districts. Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 605 randomly selected households and direct field examination of 32 digesters. The study finds that, despite growing efforts, the dissemination and use of biogas plants in rural Ethiopia is still low. Of the total 32 biogas plants investigated, only 21 were found functional. Most of the digesters constructed are of 6m3 capacity and the main feedstock used is cow-dung. The average quantity of biogas produced from a 6m3 functional plant was calculated at 0.61 m3/day; of which 0.50 m3/day is consumed for cooking and 0.11 m3/day is consumed for lighting. This implies that the current level of biogas use could replace the consumption of 631.7 kg of fuelwood and 25 L of kerosene per user household per year. However, comparative analysis of the total energy consumptions of biogas user and non-user households revealed that the effect of biogas use in reducing household fuelwood and kerosene consumption was insignificant. Given the high capital cost of biogas installation, the findings suggest that a thorough revisiting of existing biogas dissemination and utilization approaches is critical if the technology is to induce significant impact on the rural energy supply. In view of this, important lessons and policy implications drawn from this case study and international experiences are analysed and discussed.