Africa has vast, untapped potential for the utilisation of various different organic and inorganic materials for the production of renewable, decentralised power.
Fez in Morocco there are a number of sewage treatment works that process human waste for 5.4MW of renewable electricity. The African continent also has highly unusual, naturally occurring sources of biogas, such as that which occurs in the depths of Lake Kivu in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This lake produces biogas from the combined actions of anaerobic microorganisms at depth feeding off decaying organic matter, alongside processes associated with geothermal activity. In addition, other forms of naturally occurring biogas are present in mine sites in South Africa. Archaea are one group of microorganisms that are able to feed off inorganic compounds in the rocks in mine sites to produce high-quality biogas. industry can also be used in this manner. Tropical Power’s biogas plant near Lake Naivasha in Kenya is able to produce 2.6MW of power from agricultural materials for local utilisation. In the case of human waste, its utilisation for the creation of sewage gas typically relies on the centralised collection of the material through a sewerage system. As human waste has already been digested by a person, a large amount of the carbohydrates and fats have already been utilised.
This gas is typically extracted by ventilation systems, but has also been flared to help ensure worker safety. It can also be used as a valuable source of fuel for power generation. In summary, Africa has vast, untapped potential for the utilisation of various different organic and inorganic materials for the production of renewable, decentralised power. In the coming years, biogas will be a significant component in the continent’s power generation mix. ASPIRE
There is also a high water content. This means you need a large amount of human waste to create biogas. Centralised collection and treatment of human waste has the added benefits of improved sanitation and reduced pollution. If the waste water treatment plant includes anaerobic digesters, the biogas formation processes can be artificially harnessed in order to capture and utilise the gas for power generation. In Marrakesh and 20 Biogas Power in Africa - An Under-Utilised Resource by A. Marshall
Alexander Marshall Alex has the lead international role for marketing and compliance for Clarke Energy. Clarke Energy specializes in the supply, engineering, delivery and maintenance of enginebased power plants.