Small-scale biogas technology and clean cooking fuel: Assessing the potential and links with SDGs in low-income countries - A case study of Nepal

Small-scale biogas technology has been instrumental in providing clean cooking fuel in several low-income countries. This study investigates the role of domestic biogas technologies in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7.1, i.e., the share of the population using modern cooking solutions, considering a case study in Nepal. The country has an over 60 years' successful history in the development of household biogas technologies with more than 431,000 biogas plants installation in close co-operation with different stakeholders including government, international development agencies, and private companies. There has not been an appreciable technological development over several decades of biogas promotion in Nepal, nonetheless, there is a need for indigenous technologies that can cope with multi-feedstock and fluctuating ambient temperature. Household bio-digester is one of viable options for simultaneously producing clean energy source (i.e. biogas) and nutrient-rich digestate (i.e. bio-fertilizer). In Nepal, less than one percent of the total biogas potential has been harnessed despite the government's support and financing schemes. The total potential of biogas production from livestock manure is estimated to be about 3043.58 million m(3)/year when the full potential will be utilized. The corresponding avoided emissions would be 4.35 million tonnes CO2eq/year. Clean cooking fuel from domestic biogas technology could help in achieving SDGs in low-income countries when plans and policies for promoting robust small-scale biogas technology are in place. This study also explores the complementarity and synergies of biogas development and their interlinkages with other SDGs.