GIS bio-waste assessment and suitability analysis for biogas power plant: A case study of Anambra state of Nigeria

Abstract

Environmental concerns have increased over environmental hazards associated with fossil energy source, transition to renewable energy sources have been emphasized, this however requires relevant data for informed decision making. Critical analytical methods in situating bioenergy plants for bioenergy production are advantageous from environmental, economic and sustainable perspectives. A study therefore was undertaken to provide relevant data on biogas renewable energy source using Anambra State of Nigeria as a case study. The study was carried out using the power of Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. Several GIS thematic layers were obtained considering important factors in bioenergy plant location analysis. GIS-based thematic maps used for the production of the suitability map include political boundary map layer, road network layer, Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) layer, Digital Elevation Map (DEM) layer, river layer, slope layer, electric transmission line network layer, biomass potential density layer etc. Considering the fact that bioenergy plant is dependent on heat energy source which is also abundant in the tropics, hill-shade layer was integrated into the GIS location suitability analysis. Various economic and socio-environmental factors were considered and utilized in the development of economic, land suitability and bio-resource spatial density maps. These thematic maps were overlaid to obtain the final suitability map index. The most suitable sites identified were located in Njikoka, Onitsha North and Dunukofia Local Government Areas (L.G.As) of the Study area. The annual cumulative bio-wastes generated from the three LGA are 9,133,220 kg, 3,992,735 kg, and 6,909,450 kg respectively. It is recommended that government and stake-holders should take this study as a veritable tool in green energy technology implementation plan.