Project details
1467 · Biogas
  • Countrywide, Nepal
From cattle dung to renewable energy with biogas

To many known as the home to the Mount Everest, Nepal is characterised by rural and farming regions. Hence, many Nepalis live in rather remote areas, relying mostly on firewood for cooking. Especially for families with farms, this project provides a good opportunity to replace the traditional way of cooking – which releases high amount of CO2 emissions – with modern biogas technology. By feeding cattle dung mixed with water into the biogas digesters, biogas is produced through anaerobic digestion and directly fed to the stoves.

In 55 districts of Nepal a total of 9,688 small biogas digesters have been installed and supply affordable and renewable energy to rural households. With needing less firewood the project helps to decrease deforestation and saves about 35,350 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Families also save time for wood collecting, benefit from less smoke inside their homes and can use the residual biological slurry from the biogas unit as organic fertilizers.

How do biogas projects help fight global warming?In biogas facilities, biomass is fermented into biogas in sealed digesters. Biomass may consist of organic waste or dung from cows or other animals. In countries like India or Vietnam, families use the gas from small biogas plants for cooking. This reduces CO2 emissions that would be produced by cooking with wood or charcoal. Biogas plants also prevent methane from escaping into the atmosphere, as is the case when organic waste is stored in an open pit. Instead, the gas is fed from the closed digesters to specific cookers and thus provides an independent and renewable source of energy.
Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Good Health and Well-BeingBy using biogas instead of firewood, families are no longer exposed to indoor smoke pollution and benefit from better health. Also, latrines attached to the biogas units provide better sanitation.
Affordable and Clean EnergyThe project improves access to clean and affordable energy for poor rural households.
Decent Work and Economic GrowthThe construction, maintenance, marketing, and financing of biogas units provides job opportunities for skilled people.
Climate ActionThe project saves about 35,350 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Project standardClean Development Mechanism (CDM)TechnologyBiogasRegionCountrywide, NepalEstimated annual emission reductions35,357 t CO2Validated byKBS Certification Services Pvt. Ltd. (KBS)Verified byKBS Certification Services Pvt. Ltd. (KBS)