Challenges for biogas commercialization in Nigeria

BSc. Victor Adedeji Abiodun

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Energy is a daily touchstone for every individual in the world. With the world shifting toward sustainable living, sustainable renewable energy is the order of the day. One of the significant advancements in sustainable renewable energy is generating energy from organic matter decomposition under anaerobic digestion; biogas technology. Biogas technology addresses both waste and energy challenges in the world and still increases agricultural efficiency by using biogas residues as fertilizers and conditioners. Nigeria is a developing country with a wide gap between the energy supply and the energy demand of its citizens. A chance to complement this gap is the adoption of biogas by citizens. This study examines the factors that influence the commercialization of the novel technology and possible solutions to the problems. 238 households and 35 energy retailers were sampled using the purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using distinct structured questionnaires for household and energy retailers. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression (Logit) were the analysis used for the study. A significant omnibus test (p<0.05) revealed that the models fit the variables in the equation well. Education levels of graduates and postgraduates show a negative regression with the adoption of the technology. The results of the study showed that socioeconomic factors (except education) do not influence the willingness to adopt the technology among the tested samples. This could result from the dire need for energy in the country. Although more than half of the sampled population (58.8) are aware of biogas and are willing to adopt the technology, only a tiny percentage (5.5%) currently owns the technology; citing lack of adequate funds, inadequate information, poor infrastructure, inadequate skilled disseminators, community negative attitude towards biogas energy, and lack of interest as significant challenges to the commercialization of the technology. The respondents believed that providing micro-finance or loans, increased awareness, increased government will and support, increased training programs for disseminators, community leadership programs in renewable energy, and establishing demonstration centers would go a long way in solving the issues of commercialization. Partial introduction of the technology into the country and further study of the energy need or deficiency of the country will provide more assertions on the findings of this research as the energy needs of the country could be underestimated.

Keywords

Biogas, Commercialization, Renewable energy, Challenges, Nigeria

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 22. 4. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Hynek Roubík, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme:
Tropical Crop Management and Ecology