Analysis of the Zimbabwe biodigester status

Abstract

A perfectly working biogas digester is an asset as it provides gas to the owner and also helps to save money and reduce overdependence on the national electricity grid for energy needs. A biogas digester, can be a multi-functional asset to its owner. Its purposes can include energy recovery, sanitation, waste management and fertilizer production. Equally important, is the fact that biogas is a high-quality fuel, which can be used for heating and vehicle power. This greatly reduces the overdependence on fossil fuel derived energy and ultimately results in the reduction in environmental impacts such as global warming and pollution, improve sanitation and reduce demand for charcoal for cooking. Moreover, this technology also produces a high-quality organic fertiliser. This study sought to understand the factors that affected the current status of disrepair of biogas digesters in Zimbabwe. 85% of the sampled digesters in Zimbabwe did not have the following: (a) temperature control and monitoring mechanism (b) proper gas pipes (d) gas detector sensors (e) flow meters (f) agitation mechanism (g) heating systems (h) water traps. Based on these findings, it became apparent that poor workmanship can be a major factor inhibiting digester performance.