WO46 FINAL REPORT Feasibility Study Ghana Biogas

Climate Support Facility – WO46 – Feasibility Study of Ghana Institutional Biogas ProgrammeWork Order 46Technical assistance to the Ghana Energy Commission to develop a dedicated programme toestablish institutional biogas systems in 200 boarding schools, hospitals and prisons, and toprepare for CDM applicationFeasibility StudyEmiel HanekampJulius Cudjoe AhiekporQuality control: Manuel HarchiesConsortium SAFEGE-Prospect-ADETEF-Eco – Gulledelle 92, 1200 Brussels, BELGIUM

Climate Support Facility – WO46 – Feasibility Study of Ghana Institutional Biogas ProgrammeAcknowledgementsThis report was researched and written by Emiel Hanekamp from Partners for Innovation and Julius CudjoeAhiekpor from the Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development.We would like to thank the Energy Commission of Ghana for their support. Especially we are very grateful for thesupport from the SE4ALL Coordinator Ms Paula Edze, Dr. Nii Darko Asante, Director, Technical Regulations and MrKwabena Otu-Danquah, Director Renewable Energy. They have done a lot of work making the two stakeholderworkshops a great success and provided the researchers with practical guidance in executing the work.Also we would like to thank all people that have been involved in the research executed, especially all the peoplethat made time for us (many more than once) to provide us with their insights and feedback on the subject ofinstitutional biogas. Without this input it would not have been possible to do the research.The researchers are grateful for the financial support from the European Climate Support Facility and the guidanceprovided by the CSF coordinator Mrs Pendo Maro and the CSF Administrator Mr Manuel Harchies, in drafting theproject proposal and handling the administrative issues.The views and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the researchers and do not reflect opinionsof the individuals and organisations that have sponsored and supported the work.The authors welcome any feedback or suggestions for improvement. The corresponding author is Emiel er photos, top row: ‘Construction of brick biogas domes’; left photo SNV, middle and right photos projectsfrom Biogas Technologies Africa LimitedCover photos, bottom row: Gas holder at KITA (Kumasi), programme against using wood fuel (Anglican School,Kumasi) and biogas installation at Wisconsin University (photos E. Hanekamp)2

Climate Support Facility – WO46 – Feasibility Study of Ghana Institutional Biogas ProgrammeDefinitions and abbreviationsABPPAfrica Biogas Partnership ProgrammeACPAfrican, Caribbean and Pacific countriesBCELBeta Construction Engineers LtdBELBiogas Engineering LimitedBTALBiogas Technologies Africa LtdCAPCountry Action PlanCEESDCentre for Energy, Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentCSFClimate Support FacilityCO2Carbon dioxide ( a greenhouse gas)CSIRCouncil for Scientific and Industrial ResearchECEnergy Commission of GhanaEPAEnvironmental Protection AgencyEUEuropean UnionGEFGlobal Environment FacilityGESGhana Education ServiceGHSGhana Health ServiceGPSGhana Prisons ServiceGHCGhana CedisGHGGreenhouse GasGIZGerman Development OrganizationGSGDAGhana Shared Growth Development AgendaIIRInstitute of Industrial ResearchKISTKigali Institute of Science and TechnologyKITAKumasi Institute of Tropical AgricultureKITEKumasi Institute of Technology, Energy and EnvironmentKNUSTKwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technologykt1,000 kilograms3

Climate Support Facility – WO46 – Feasibility Study of Ghana Institutional Biogas ProgrammeKVIPKumasi Ventilated Improved PitLPGLiquefied Petroleum GasMESTIMinistry of Environment, Science, Technology and InnovationMoPMinistry of PowerNAMANationally Appropriate Mitigation ActionNGOsNon-Governmental OrganizationsNIBPNational Institutional Biogas ProgrammeSE4ALLSustainable Energy for AllSGPSmall Grant ProjectSMEsSmall and Medium Scale EnterprisesSNVNetherland Development OrganizationUNDPUnited Nations Development ProgrammeUNEPUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeUSDUS Dollars4

Climate Support Facility – WO46 – Feasibility Study of Ghana Institutional Biogas ProgrammeSummaryThe promotion of small and medium-scale enterprise (SMEs) participation in institutional biogas technologypenetration has been identified as one of the five key priority energy related Nationally Appropriate MitigationActions (NAMAs) in Ghana. This is in line with the country’s pursuit for low carbon development options which isidentified in the national climate change policy (2014) as well as the sustainable development objectivesarticulated in the Ghana Shared Growth Development Agenda (GSGDA).To bring biogas as a low carbon energy source to a significant higher level in Ghana, the Sustainable Energy forAll (SE4ALL) action plan intends to promote the establishment of institutional biogas systems for up to 200boarding schools, hospitals and prisons.This report presents the feasibility of institutional biogas systems in Ghana and provides input for the set-up of anational biogas programme for institutional biogas.Biogas systems are technically feasible in GhanaAt least 400 biogas systems have been built in Ghana, pre-dominantly using the fixed-dome, floating drum andPuxin technologies. The main reason to build a biogas systems is to improve the sanitation situation. Althoughthere are several issues with existing biogas systems, many of these systems are functioning well. To ensure longterm sustainability, specific attention needs to be paid to: Development and enforcement of standards for biogas digesters and quality control of system design,construction and maintenance; Financial commitment from buyers / beneficiaries throughout the system lifetime, ensuring both maintenanceand proper operation.Biogas-sanitation systems provide many social and environmental benefitsImplementing biogas systems for sanitation purposes and in addition use the produced biogas for cooking andthe effluent for irrigation and fertilising creates a range of social and environmental benefits for institutions andthe society as a whole. The challenges and risks that need to be addressed when implementing institutionalbiogas on a large scale are: Education of users (use of biogas and use of the system) Ensuring no harmful pathogens are in the effluent Ensuring the biogas is used and not emitted without flaringBiogas systems seem economically viableThere seems to be a business case for biogas digester systems as an alternative for the currently used septic tanksystems for prisons, hospitals and boarding schools. This is especially the case if a new system has to be built(“Green Field”). The payback period for such systems is less than 2 years. For institutions that wish to substitutetheir septic tank with a biogas system, the payback period ranges from 1-6 years for the best case scenarios.The following table summarises the current price ranges (based on private sector quotations) and estimated costsavings for institutional biogas systems for boarding schools and prisons. For hospitals the researchers have notbeen able to collect this data.5

Climate Support Facility – WO46 – Feasibility Study of Ghana Institutional Biogas ProgrammeTable 1 Summary of data used for cost-benefit calculations1000 people4000 people100,000 - 315,000350,000 - 1,000,000Annual maintenance costs (GHC)*10,000 - 15,00030,000 - 40,000Annual savings (GHC)25,000 - 35,000130,000 - 200,000Investment (GHC)* After three years of operationTo improve the reliability of the cost-benefit analysis, additional data gathering is needed.The biogas private sector is ready to implement biogasAbout 10 companies and organisations in Ghana have experience with the design, construction and maintenanceand operation of biogas systems. At least six private companies have a good or very good knowledge base andtechnical experience, having built 10-100 systems each in recent years. These six have expressed their interest incooperating / participating in a national institutional biogas programme and were present at both stakeholderworkshops.A National Institutional Biogas Programme (NIBP) is desirableThere is an urge felt by all relevant stakeholders in Ghana to take institutional biogas for sanitation a stepforward. An inter-departmental approach targeting sanitation, renewable energy, private sector developmentand securing agriculture benefits is most likely to succeed. The Energy Commission is committed to lead thisprocess in close collaboration with MoP, MESTI, EPA and other relevant stakeholders.Figure 1 The proposed three phases of NIBPA phased National Institutional Biogas Programme is advised, with the objectives to Implement 200 biogas digester systems in public boarding schools, hospitals and prisons Kick-start the further development of a biogas market in Ghana.6

Climate Support Facility – WO46 – Feasibility Study of Ghana Institutional Biogas ProgrammeActivities structured under 6 activity linesBased on other National Biogas Programmes in both Asia and Africa and the barriers to be tackled in Ghana tofurther the development of a well-functioning biogas market in Ghana, six activity lines are proposed for theNIBP. The following figure presents these activity lines and their interrelations with the three phases.Figure 2 Structure and timing of major activities for the Ghanaian NIBPTable 2 First-mover institutions for phase 1 of the NIBPProgramme activity1) Program Management Unit &Steering Committee (including policydevelopment and enforcement)2) Program funding & biogasfinancing schemesFirst-mover institutionsEnergy Commission (lead organisation), MESTI, MoP, EPA, Ministryof Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of InteriorFinancing organisations, donor and international developmentorganisations (AfDB, WB / GEF, Danida, USAid, SNV, GIZ and UNDP)3) Awareness raising & MarketingEnergy Commission, GPS, GHS, GES (and related Ministries)4) Training program & Private sectordevelopmentDonor and international development organisations (see above),national Research Institutes (CSIR-IIR, KNUST, Kumasi Polytechnic,Valley View University) and private biogas companies5) Standard setting & Quality controlResearch Institutes (see above), MESTI, MoP and EPA6) Research & Technologicaldevelopment (including impactmonitoring)Research Institutes (see above) and local NGOs (KITE, ABANTU,CEESD, Friends of the Earth Ghana, and NCRC West Africa)7

Climate Support Facility – WO46 – Feasibility Study of Ghana Institutional Biogas ProgrammeTo be able to set-up and implement such a National Institutional Biogas Programme (NIBP) the followingactivities need to be carried out:1.2.3.4.A more detailed inventory of user needs and a cost-benefit analysisFinancial analysis and structuring of the NIBP in parallel with institutional structuringDraft a detailed programme plan and secure fundingSecure potential funding and support for biogas from organizations such as UNDP and GEFAll the above recommendations have been confirmed by the relevant stakeholders during the stakeholdermeeting of 8th October 2014, as organised by the Energy Commission.8