With its promising alternative to fossil fuels and firewood, biogas – produced by converting organic waste into energy – offers a solution that is particularly well-suited to developing countries. In addition to its environmental benefits, this technology can generate considerable economic and social benefits.
Access to clean, affordable energy is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but it has yet to be democratized. The use of wood for cooking and heating is still widespread in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries, including those in Africa. Reducing dependence on wood energy, which is harmful to both health and the environment, is an essential challenge in terms of climate and health. It requires us to redirect our energy needs towards renewable resources such as solar, hydroelectric and bioenergy.
Among these, biogas offers many advantages for the energy transition. Through the process of methanization (anaerobic digestion), natural organic matter or organic waste products are transformed into gas. This gas can be used to produce electricity, heat or fuel, thereby contributing to local energy autonomy and reducing the energy mix‘s dependence on fossil fuels.
An ecological alternative to fossil fuels
Most renewable energies produce electricity, whereas methanization produces renewable gas, identical in composition to fossil fuel gas. This process converts sorted organic household waste, agricultural effluent (animal manure) and effluent from the food and paper industries. It offers a waste management solution for both urban and rural areas. Biogas digesters are also easy to install, as they can be adapted to suit production needs, from domestic to large-scale operations.
In sub-Saharan Africa, wood, whether or not transformed into charcoal, provides 80% of domestic energy. The resulting domestic air pollution is one of the risk factors for premature death in low-income countries. In 2019, the African Region recorded around 639,000 deaths due to indoor air pollution (123 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants), of which 47% were women and 25% children under five. According to the third annual report on global air quality by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME, 2022), these solid fuels – coal, wood, charcoal, manure and other biomass materials – are responsible for 24% of deaths in this area.
In many African countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Niger, a large number of people do not have access to clean cooking methods. Domestic biogas installations thus offer three types of benefits: sanitary, for the health of households and particularly women; economic, to reduce the cost of fuel purchases; and environmental, to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. In this way, clean cooking contributes to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals.
Efficient waste management in urban and rural areas
On farms and livestock farms, biogas production brings energy and environmental benefits. It provides low-carbon energy from organic waste. It also allows better management of animal excrement and other agricultural residues closer to their production site. What’s more, the methanization process produces a solid residue, the digestate, which can be used as an organic fertilizer, enriching the soil. It’s an alternative to chemical fertilizers that contributes to the sustainability and efficiency of the farm. Biogas thus contributes to the agro-ecological transition by reducing the use of synthetic inputs responsible for soil and water pollution. In addition, these agricultural installations offer an opportunity to diversify income through the sale of energy.
Urban environments, too, are faced with the problem of waste management. According to the World Bank, 2.01 billion tons of urban solid waste are generated worldwide every year, a third of which (33%) is not properly treated. Alongside recycling, biogas production contributes to a better environmental and urban management policy. To be successful, it requires an ambitious awareness-raising strategy and the adoption of more sustainable, environmentally-friendly behaviors.
Circular economy and biogas
While the environmental benefits of biogas are undeniable, its economic potential is just as significant, particularly in terms of its contribution to the circular economy. Biogas production creates jobs in animal husbandry, waste management, energy production and distribution. It thus contributes to the economic and social development of local communities. For example, the biogas sector could create up to 53,000 jobs in France by 2030. In Burkina Faso, the construction of 14,443 biodigesters has created around 700 jobs in 19 private companies operating in the sector. By freeing up the time usually allocated to supplying and handling firewood, the switch to biogas also makes it possible to diversify income-generating activities for households, such as food processing and seeking new knowledge.
Developing projects and financing mechanisms
One of the obstacles to the democratization of renewable energies is financial. For biogas, the investment costis between €3,000 and €5,000 per kW installed. This represents half a million euros for a small plant of around 100 kW, with a payback period of around 7 to 10 years. According to the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, biogas production costs based on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) vary between 6 and 14 USc/kWh, depending on the input costs chosen. Expanding the use of biogas requires a joint strategy involving public authorities, the private sector, consumers and investors. It should focus on tax exemptions, reducing the cost of digesters and fuels, and raising consumer awareness.
Projects such as WABEF (Western Africa Biowastes for Energy end Fertilizer) or ABPP (African Biogas Partnership Program) are also being developed to democratize the use of biogas. They provide subsidies and training for operators and technicians to run and maintain facilities, while educating communities about waste sorting. By way of example, UNIDO has just launched the Sustainable Energy Incubator (SEI) project in Madagascar. It offers strategic financial and operational support to entrepreneurs innovating in the fields of sustainable energy, clean cooking and energy efficiency.
As such, biogas is an energy resilience tool for households and farmers. It is an energy, agronomic and economic resource, particularly in rural areas with high agricultural activity. It promotes a circular economy, combining agriculture and energy, while addressing the challenges of waste management and transition. In other words, biogas makes it possible to build “small resilient systems” on a local scale, to cope with the risks of energy shocks.