Abstract
Toilet-linked anaerobic digesters (TLADs) can provide users with a clean gaseous fuel and a fertiliser product as well as offer waste management services. Socio-cultural resistance towards domestic TLADs, due to the use of human excreta as a feedstock, is often articulated as a finite barrier to adoption. However, no research has specifically investigated the issues associated with TLADs separately from those associated with domestic digesters without toilet connections, consequently, there has been little attempt to discover what motivates users to use TLADs. Drawing on qualitative data from Nepal this paper explores how socio-cultural resistance impacts TLAD adoption and subsequent use of the biogas, and how adoption and transition pathways evolve. We argue that socio-cultural resistance is not a finite barrier to adoption and the opportunity to observe or trial a TLAD can positively influence adoption, especially amongst the older generations. Technical issues affected how TLADs were utilised more than socio-cultural norms and we discuss how socio-technical factors might co-evolve to influence sustainable adoption and use of TLADs. Caste and gender were not found to influence adoption pathways as much as the leadership or ‘risk-taking’ characteristics of specific adopters. Adoption of TLADs can occur within a year of a user first observing or trialling a TLAD; however, most users still do not use biogas for ritual cooking, despite having had a TLAD for many years. Grassroots initiatives that understand the diversity of localised socio-cultural norms will likely be imperative for successful TLAD dissemination.
Highlights
It is estimated that three billion people, predominantly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), cook using kerosene and solid fuels such as wood, crop wastes and dung in open fires and inef ficient stoves [1]
Respondents liked the improved health, cleanliness and reduced wood collection offered by the biogas compared to wood fuel and the reduced cost compared to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
Attempting to scale up transitions to sustainable livelihood practices and energy sources in LMICs is important for addressing the ‘energy trilemma’ [100], a term used to encompass the three challenges of en ergy security, climate change mitigation and energy access and equity
Summary
It is estimated that three billion people, predominantly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), cook using kerosene and solid fuels such as wood, crop wastes and dung in open fires and inef ficient stoves [1]. These fuels and practices can lead to high levels of indoor air pollution, which is estimated to cause up to four million premature deaths from associated illnesses [1].
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