Human Poop and Urine Provide Cheap Biogas Source in Uganda
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 01. 5.08
Image courtesy of ctsnow
In developing countries - where food is scarce and reliable energy supplies are even scarcer - necessity often becomes the mother of invention; so it is in Uganda, where farmers have resorted to using human urine and excreta - mixed in with banana peels, algae, water hyacinth and poultry droppings - as an inexpensive source of biogas. This cheap alternative is being pushed by Heifer International Uganda (HIU), an NGO working to reduce hunger and poverty around the world by sharing livestock and knowledge.
In an effort to stave off the growing threat of deforestation in Uganda, HIU is working with several partners to build biogas plants; the inflammable gas is typically produced by bacteria in an air tight container called a digester. Biogas made from excreta contains 60 - 90% methane - enough for it to burn without further purification. There are currently three available plant models: floating, polythene tubular system and Chinese fixed dome - the latter of which is most commonly used by HIU's beneficiaries.
"It keeps the environment free of organic wastes, is convenient, time-saving and reduces smoke-related illnesses often associated with the use of firewood. If the majority of Ugandans adopted biogas, we would preserve our biodiversity. People should exploit decomposing raw materials, which are free. Biogas plant maintenance is not regular, constant energy, no load shedding, local technicians are available, appliances are now locally-made and there is no metering. Therefore, no monthly power tariffs," explained Patrick Nalere, the Heifer Project International country director.
In Uganda's Mukono district - where the technology is being used for cooking, lighting pressure lamps and in various engines - the residents are already reaping the benefits: Many are pulling themselves out of poverty and are using its byproduct, a "slurry," to enrich their soil, contributing to larger crop outputs.
Via ::The New Vision: Uganda: The Fuel in Human Excreta (news website)
See also: ::The Sucking Sound? Just A Little Biogas, ::Biogas-Powered Fuel Cell System Wins Big, Crowd Goes Wild, ::Everything Poops + Business Sees The Changing Climate = Crapitalism
Great news!
A lot of the eye disease is caused by burning dried cattle or camel (etc.) dung for cooking fuel. The dung smolders and never gets hot enough to kill off bacteria or parasites in the dung, which are then transmitted by the smoke to eyes and lung. nasty.
Similarly, manures that are flushed into water bodies are also an excellent vector for disease and parasite transmission, particularly into drinking water.
Since the methane is burned, it tremendously lessens the greenhouse gas signature of the manures. The fertilizer remaining after the biogas process can be better quality than straight manure, plus the heat of anaerobic decomposition sterilizes the manure, making it far safer for use on food crops. Human wastes, even put through biodigestion, should never be used on human food sources, however.
I think that this kind of initiations will rise up more and more in the near future, since we all came to realize that we should help the world to over come the environmental stress that he is facing now. Here in Israel we are working on producing biogas from Alga. Hopefully it will be a great resource of biogas in the near future.
hi! is there a possibility to get in contact with jeremy? write my diploma to the topic biogas plant in uganda and maybe he can give me some information to the biogas plant in mukono
regards olga