Abstract

Despite the enormous advantages associated with biogas technology, the level of awareness and perceptions still remain very dismay. The level of adoption is relatively low compared to the potential of the technology. This chapter therefore aimed at unravelling the awareness and perceptions of the technology at household level in Limpopo Province of South Africa. In this study, 200 households were sampled; 72 households with biogas digesters and 128 without digesters. Primary data collection was elicited with the use of open- and closed-ended questionnaires. A non-parametric test of Spearman rank correlation coefficient and chi-square were employed to show the association between the variables. Empirically, the results revealed that income earned, cost of digester, lack of awareness programmes, water and feedstock availability, technical availability and assistance, and private sector participation are among the factors limiting the dissemination, awareness and perception of the technology in the province. The study recommends interventions through more elaborate awareness and promotion programmes in disseminating the technology as well as provision of technical assistance, loans, credits and subsidies to households willing to adopt the technology.

Highlights

  • One critical issue confronting developing nations such as South Africa is the provision of sustainable energy, to a proportion of its population that do not have access to modern and reliable energy supply

  • Despite the potential of biogas technology in forming part of the energy mix in households and providing environmental benefits, the level of awareness and perception of the technology remain low in the province

  • Households’ awareness and perceptions of biogas technology were investigated in order to get a deeper insight into the barriers to its adoption and utilisation in the province despite the prevailing conditions such as the abundance of dung to support the uptake of the technology

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Summary

Introduction

One critical issue confronting developing nations such as South Africa is the provision of sustainable energy, to a proportion of its population that do not have access to modern and reliable energy supply. Access to energy is viewed as a vital condition that enhances the development of a country’s economic activities, in order for the people to have an improved quality of life [1]. This explains the notion why providing adequate, affordable, sustainable, clean and efficient energy remains the core interest of many countries. In South Africa, fossil fuel dominates the energy sector, with coal accounting for 89% and crude oil accounting for 22%, providing much of the energy consumed in the country [4]. Despite the long history of biogas technology in the country, the technology has witnessed poor growth of installed domestic biogas digesters, the initiation of this study

Household energy sources and utilisation in Limpopo Province
Description of the study area
Data collection and sampling methods
Data analysis
Adoption challenges faced by biogas technology
Dissemination of biogas technology
Biogas technology awareness
Biogas technology perceptions
Availability of water and feedstock
Dearth of private sector participation
Lack of technical assistance and availability
Cost associated with installing biogas digester
Findings
Conclusion
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