Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST“ - Ingenieure ohne Grenzen

Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST“
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. • Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST“
PROJECT HANDOUT
Development and construction of a decentralized energy supply
through small, adapted biogas digesters for use of fermentation gas
as cooking energy and for further energetic applications
The project Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST” was launched in
2008 by the non-governmental Tanzanian organisation MAVUNO
Project. The registered association Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V.
(Engineers Without Borders / EWB Germany) and MAVUNO Project
successfully cooperate since 2006.
Country: Tanzania
Region: Kagera/Karagwe
Partner: MAVUNO Project
Period: 07/2008 - 12/2012
Initial situation
Already today it is evident that the climate change particularly affects
many developing countries within the subtropical climate zone.
Especially the livelihood of the rural population is strongly
endangered.
By today, wood is the energy source number one in Tanzania as 93%
of the energy demand is met by firewood or charcoal. Meals are
traditionally cooked at open wood fires. The health risk imposed by
open wood fires indoors is immense. Cutting of trees and bushes as
well as collecting of wood for cooking or for selling it as firewood or
charcoal leads to considerable deforestation in Tanzania. Wood
consumption is higher than natural supply.
The effects are devastating since deforestation not only rapidly
worsens soil quality but also increases rainwater running off.
Rainwater can thus not seep into the ground and nourish plants. As
forests are multi functional this affects both, the direct habitat and
the global ecosystem.
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. Donations Account Office Management
Headquarter Subject: BiogaST Greifswalder Str. 4
Grüner Weg 11 IBAN DE89533500001030333337 D-10405 Berlin
D-35041 Marburg Bank: Sparkasse Marburg Biedenkopf Fon: 0049 (0)30 - 32 52 98 65
info@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org SWIFT HELADEF1MAR Fax: 0049 (0)30 - 32 53 28 55
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Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. • Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST“
PROJECT HANDOUT
Many people in Tanzania are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. The population has
to cope with these dramatic changes. Already today, the crop yields are hardly sufficient to
survive. Most likely, the yields will further decline in the near future. The basis of food security
is threatened. Migration movements occur since the population is compelled to escape from
such severe living conditions. This project provides an approach to mitigate these problems.
Objective of the project
Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST” helps to improve the rural population’s living conditions
in the Kagera region, one of the poorest regions in Tanzania. This is to be reached by the
development and construction of a decentralized energy supply through small, adapted biogas
digesters for the use of fermentation gas as cooking energy and for further energetic
applications. The sustainability of this project is ensured by accompanying training and
education in environmental friendly technology to assure the acceptance of this project among
the local population. The entire concept is implemented in a “help of themselves” manner
thereby fulfilling at least two of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG), in
particular Goal 7 (“Ensure environmental sustainability”) and Goal 8 (“Develop a global
partnership for development”).
A further objective of the project is to improve the health conditions of the people. The risk of
respiratory diseases and ophthalmitis through smoke exposure (indoor pollution) is mitigated
through the application of biogas instead of firewood. Life quality of the population is
considerably enhanced using gas lamps since they are a simple and safe source of light after
nightfall. In addition, collecting of firewood is no longer necessary: in the Kagera region an
average of 2 km walk everyday is necessary to collect firewood. This is mostly done by children.
Another by-product of the biogas plant operation is the opportunity to use fermented
substrates as fertilizer to enhance soil quality and soil fertility which in turn has a positive effect
on the local agriculture. Thus, application of biogas can help to promote regional economy by
substitution of resources and optimised use of nutrients in the life cycle.
Target group
Farmer households are the main target group for the implementation of biogas digesters.
Especially women and children benefit from the positive effects entailed by the use of biogas.
The promotion of the local economy through the plant construction and training and education
in renewable energies in general could help to improve the income situation of an entire
population. During the exploration (phase 1), the utilisation of residues (e.g. from agriculture)
was discovered as a potential for fermentation process.
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. Donations Account Office Management
Headquarter Subject: BiogaST Greifswalder Str. 4
Grüner Weg 11 IBAN DE89533500001030333337 D-10405 Berlin
D-35041 Marburg Bank: Sparkasse Marburg Biedenkopf Fon: 0049 (0)30 - 32 52 98 65
info@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org SWIFT HELADEF1MAR Fax: 0049 (0)30 - 32 53 28 55
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Course of the project
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. • Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST“
PROJECT HANDOUT
Phase 5 - Further development of plant technology and construction
of new digesters in Tanzania (phase in progress)
The ongoing phase 5 (11/2011 - 12/2012) compasses following goals:
• Education of an expert for the biogas lab and the plant operation
• Enhancement of the plant technology
• Optimisation of the heating system
• Construction of 14 new digesters for rural households
• Qualification of the consisting construction team
• Education of new construction teams
• Training of the residents
• Establishing a maintenance system for the digesters
Phase 4 - Evaluating and optimising phase in Tanzania (terminated)
An evaluation of the new pilot digester at MAVUNO Project site was
carried out in phase 4 (03/2011 - 04/2011). Subsequently, the plant
design was optimised in order to improve the plant operation prior to
the construction of further digesters within the region.
Phase 3 - Implementation in Tanzania (terminated)
Phase 3 (08/2010 - 11/2010) covered the construction of the pilot
digester at the MAVUNO Project site in Tanzania. Additionally, the
training and education concept was initiated covering the following
aspects:
• Basics of the biogas technology
• Construction of digester
• Commissioning of the digester and the plant operation
• Biogas usage
• Repair and maintenance
Experiences and findings of the first two phases were transformed
into the real plant design. An intensive communication with the local
partner MAVUNO Project was valuable to adapt the plant design to
the local needs and habits.
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. Donations Account Office Management
Headquarter Subject: BiogaST Greifswalder Str. 4
Grüner Weg 11 IBAN DE89533500001030333337 D-10405 Berlin
D-35041 Marburg Bank: Sparkasse Marburg Biedenkopf Fon: 0049 (0)30 - 32 52 98 65
info@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org SWIFT HELADEF1MAR Fax: 0049 (0)30 - 32 53 28 55
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Phase 2 - Research and development in Germany (terminated)
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. • Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST“
PROJECT HANDOUT
In phase 2 (08/2009 - 07/2010), two pilot biogas digesters were constructed in Germany
(Stuttgart and Berlin) in collaboration with the University Hohenheim and the Technical
University Berlin. The research was mainly focused on the gas conversion process itself as well
as the process engineering. Both plants were operated inside a green house in order to simulate
sub-saharan climate conditions. Phase 2 has been divided into a development and construction
phase on the one side and an operation and research phase on the other side.
A plant design which takes the local conditions in Tanzania into
account was the aim of this phase. The following main requirements
were integrated in the digester’s design: operation of the digester
using predominantly plant residues, minimum water consumption of
the digester compared to regular biogas plants and usage of local
resources and raw materials for the construction of the digester.
Parallel to this technically focused research, a training and education
concept based on ethnological aspects was compiled. Great efforts
were made to develop a concept that regards social and sociological
factors and educates local craftsmen in plant construction as well as
in plant operation.
Phase 1 - Feasibility study in Tanzania (terminated)
A feasibility study was carried out in phase 1 (07/2008 - 04/2009).
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. conducted an assessment in the
Kagera region focusing on the local conditions such as the climate,
the available building materials and substrates (feedstock for the
biogas plant) as well as the local energy needs. In addition, a biogas
lab was set up during a two month exploration trip to the partner
organization MAVUNO Project in Tanzania. The biogas lab was used
to analyze the available substrates.
Furthermore, the study showed that state-of-the-art biogas digester
design is not feasible for the Kagera region, as sufficient livestock is
rarely available. Instead, the plant has to operate with crop residues.
The second limitation is the high water consumption of existing types
of digesters. The newly developed small-scale biogas digester needs
to operate even during drought periods when no fresh water is
available.
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. Donations Account Office Management
Headquarter Subject: BiogaST Greifswalder Str. 4
Grüner Weg 11 IBAN DE89533500001030333337 D-10405 Berlin
D-35041 Marburg Bank: Sparkasse Marburg Biedenkopf Fon: 0049 (0)30 - 32 52 98 65
info@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org SWIFT HELADEF1MAR Fax: 0049 (0)30 - 32 53 28 55
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Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. • Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST“
PROJECT HANDOUT
The project Biogas support for Tanzania „BiogaST” is a joint project of the regional group
Berlin and the competence group renewable energies of Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. (EWB
Germany). It is carried out in collaboration with the Tanzanian partner organisation MAVUNO
Project as well as further cooperating partners.
Project leader competence group renewable energies
Gordon Appel
gordon.appel@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org
Project leader regional group Berlin
Philipp Becker (till July 2012 in Tanzania)
philipp.becker@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org
Karen Bremert (Substitute in Germany)
karen.bremert@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org
Documentation and public relations
Catherina Clausnitzer (till July 2012 in Tanzania)
catherina.clausnitzer@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org
Silke Bartlick (Substitute in Germany)
silke.bartlick@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org
Ingenieure ohne Grenzen e.V. Donations Account Office Management
Headquarter Subject: BiogaST Greifswalder Str. 4
Grüner Weg 11 IBAN DE89533500001030333337 D-10405 Berlin
D-35041 Marburg Bank: Sparkasse Marburg Biedenkopf Fon: 0049 (0)30 - 32 52 98 65
info@ingenieure-ohne-grenzen.org SWIFT HELADEF1MAR Fax: 0049 (0)30 - 32 53 28 55
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