Potential of biogas production from biowaste in Kenya and its contribution to environmental sustainability

Abstract

In the modern energy-demanding lifestyle there is an overwhelming need for exploring and exploiting new sources of energy which are renewable as well as eco-friendly. In Kenya, typical to many developing countries, various industrial waste streams and residual biomass that have a good potential to cater for the energy demand are available in plenty though rarely utilised efficiently. Bioconversion of selected residual waste streams for energy production is a promising option for exploiting the huge potential offered by the underutilised residues in the country as well as in many other developing countries. Biogas technology offers a very attractive route to valorise various categories of biowaste and offers multiple benefits to the users and community besides meeting the energy needs, resource conservation and environmental protection. However there are challenges in sustainable implementation of biogas technology. The topic of the dissertation has therefore covered investigation of the potential of biogas production from biowaste in Kenya and how it influences environmental sustainability. The evaluation of biowaste energy potential in Kenya and the development of a simple methodology to assess its sustainability are the main challenges covered in the dissertation. In addition, the presentation also incorporates an analysis of the potential contribution of biowaste-based biogas energy to environmental sustainability from an integrated industrial and domestic case study perspective.