Low-cost biodigesters are more than biogas producers – they hold tremendous untapped potential for wastewater treatment. Jaime Martí Herrero reflects on a project that took him from a metropolitan slaughterhouse in Ecuador to Indigenous communities in the Amazon.
Reactivation of domestic biodigesters in Yunnan, China
In China, high numbers of biogas digesters have been constructed, though the long term use of the technology is often uncertain. The goal of this project was to develop a system for after-installation services in the region, which contribute first to reactivate dysfunctional digesters and to provide adequate technical assistance to users of biodigesters, in a sustainable way.
The project was coordinated by the Center of Biogas Engineering and Technology (CBET) in Kunming, Yunnan, China. A baseline survey was conducted in 8 counties (mainly from the Yuxi region). The results of this survey suggest that around 60% of the biodigesters were dysfunctional, i.e. they were unable to produce enough biogas to boil one bottle of water.
The main objective of the project was to develop and establish a post-installation service system which can attend the needs of biogas users of the region. The project strategy comprised several stakeholder meetings, consultation and dissemination seminars, demonstrations and trainings for users, as well as capacity building for technicians covering not only technical issues but also to improve communication skills.
During project implementation, 2003 dysfunctional biodigesters were reactivated. This is a lot more than the previously proposed 200 sets. Furthermore, four post-installation service teams are now on duty to keep the renovated biodigesters up and running and to maximize the benefits of Chinese biogas in the future.
The project coordinators have also published the results of their work in a scientific paper that you can access online here.
