Sustainable biogas production potential in Nepal using waste biomass: A spatial analysis

Authors: Sunil Prasad Lohani, Renisha Acharya, Poushan Shrestha, Sundar Shrestha, K. C. Manisha, Prajal Pradhan

Journal: Sustainable Development

Abstract

Biogas plays a significant part in replacing solid biomass and fossil fuels for cooking. However, the implementation of appropriate policies to promote the development of biogas plants is hindered by a lack of adequate assessment of the biogas potential in Nepal. Thus, we estimate the potential of biogas production at the district level of Nepal from available waste biomass, including livestock manure, agricultural residues, and organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). Our estimates show the theoretical potential of biogas production from livestock manure of 1890 million m³ year⁻¹, agricultural residues of 2290 million m³ year⁻¹, and OFMSW of 234 million m³ year⁻¹. The total biogas production is 4412 million m³ year⁻¹, equivalent to 153 million liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders yearly. Using this biogas potential to replace LPG and solid biomass for cooking could result in avoided CO₂, CO, and PM_2.5 emissions of 6.3 million tons year⁻¹, 0.4 million tons year⁻¹, and 0.04 million tons year⁻¹, respectively. Our findings suggest that the Terai districts of Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, and Banke, as well as the Hilly districts of Kavrepalanchok, Dhading, and Nuwakot, have a significant amount of biogas-producing potential. Utilising this potential could also contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals and a clean cooking energy transition in Nepal. For this, governments need careful planning, designing, policy support, and facilitation on bio-resource management and utilisation at the local level.

Read the article