Using Agricultural Waste for Biogas Production as a Sustainable Energy Supply for Developing Countries

Abstract

The paper focuses on the research, development, and application of simple, reliable, efficient, and low maintenance technology for the production of biogas from local organic agricultural wastes in the Republic of Togo. This technology is intended as a sustainable decentralised energy supply, which should meet the economic and social conditions of developing countries in the West African region. The paper briefly outlines the current state of small-scale biogas production in Africa. Several reviews of the already existing and operated facilities in the mentioned area are named and evaluated. Specific opportunities, limitations, and experience are discussed and the results of the biogas production studies using pineapple waste, carried out at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences and at Brno University of Technology, are presented.