Indeed a lot is still needed for people to know how, when and why is bio-gas relevant and who should use it, who can install it and where can be installed and how it can be maintained.The goodness of bio-gas systems must be taught to many communities in Africa relate between bio-gas and environment mitigation and proper sanitation management.

canaday wrote: As I understand it, urine does not contribute significantly to biogas production (correct me, anyone, if I am wrong).

There are benefits of including urine in the substrate.
- Depending on the composition (the C/N-ratio in particular) of the substrate urine can have a significant impact on the biogas yield.
- Another point is that by using urine, the need to add water to achieve suitable dry matter content decreases or in some cases there is no need to add additional water at all.

Lea, see interview in German language from 2009 (old & still good) www.taz.de/!39519/

Wenn Kommunen keinen Eigenanteil organisieren können - super Indikator, Finger weg! Den Leuten etwas aufzuschwatzen, worin sie keinen Sinn sehen, bringt nichts.

New publication on biogas sanitation <> FAQ sheets <> Wiki format?

Using a wiki format to draft FAQ sheets or article pages on biogas sanitation is a logical choice in my view. A wiki is generally easy to use and to maintain both itself and the information flow. It can be more thoughtfully edited to create “best of” ideas, communications or other content. And it encourages people to contribute in their own way, on their own time. So in the end it adapts quickly to changes of information and yet keeps a history of it.

At this moment I’m working within Akvo on finalizing some new features within Akvopedia that will support new content generation by content partners. Two examples:

· A “WhatYouSeeIsWhatYouGet-editor (WYSIWYG), is being extended with new functionality like embedding photos and video and is built into Akvopedia. This editor really supports easy content generation: no coding necessary anymore

· Sections within Akvopedia can now be embedded into other platforms, see www.rain4food.net/wiki/#akvopedia:Rainwater Harvesting . On the rain4food.net website we’ve embedded the Akvopedia section on Rainwater Harvesting, any content changes in this section within Akvopedia, are immediately also published on this website.

So yes: joining forces in extending Akvopedia's Sanitation portal (www.akvopedia.org/wiki/Sanitation_Portal) would be great.

Kind regards,

Hans Merton

Dear all,
In reply to Christian's suggestion of a new publication on biogas sanitation (see above on 3 Feb 2014):

1. I wonder if we really need another publication on biogas sanitation - I have the feeling there are already so many out there. The one that you mentioned by Heinz-Peter Mang and Li Zifu is already very good (yes, we have called it "draft", but that's because at the time we didn't find the time for our usual rigorous peer review process; this could still be done).
2. If anything, I would find a publication specifically for "Biogas sanitation at schools which run kitchens" might fill a gap. Mind you, this may also partly be covered in that other publication on "Sustainable sanitation at schools" that Working Group 7 is working on? I had asked about its progress here on the forum: forum.susana.org/forum/categories/60-wg-...mit=12&start=12#7011. It is a pity if new publications get started but not finished in due course.
3. Or maybe we rather need some simple, easy to understand FAQ sheets (frequently asked questions)?
4. And maybe this could best be done in a wiki format? I am personally a great fan of Wikipedia but I am open to the idea of other Wikis if I can be convinced why they are better than Wikipedia. E.g. if we had a Wiki on Akvopedia.org linked with the SuSanA page, then anyone who knows something about school biogas systems could contribute. We could start with converting information that has been made in the forum in various threads into that Wiki style document.

Just an idea. What do you think?

Regards,
Elisabeth

I have some experience with rainwater harvesting. In my home I use a 50,000 L tank and it is capable of meeting all household water needs through the year. If my experience can be useful in your work in Rwanda I am willing to share it.

James

Dear Lea,

I was thinking about, how I could be progressive helpful to you...
Just let me be more short and strongly remind you to start on your self chosen project people orientated and in their interest, rather too much technology orientated!

I regret, your friend will not "be able to ensure the functionality of installed systems regularly" in the longer term. If he and you are settling down in the village and take part of the daily normal life around project it would be very different.

People in Germany and Rwanda are not different by having their own personal interests first. Just apply your commonsense. If interests of people and original wanted protection of forest will come together and finally applied, you are on a good way. Give your self enough time to understand peoples interests first, try to imagine often, e.g. you are born in Rwanda and do not have a ticket and visa for Germany...

I hope I am not to much cryptic to you on issues involved.

I wish you success and a good time
Detlef

Dear all,

thank you very much for all the comments. I will have to check all the links and details and then I will let you know my plans.
By the way my friend is moving to Kigali/ Rwanda and he will be able to ensure the functionality of the installed system regularly, that at least will be an advantage.

Kind regards,
Lea Stanke

Dear Christian,

Good idea.
I hope you will stress more on how to run (O&M) systems successful from a business point, "as a small business for profit", them again on mainly technology issues ( see Florian's made comments... ), as many different pre-fab systems and local biogas experts are more and more available. For sure Heinz Peter MANG can support you on "software"-issues too.

Please use a kind of Plain-English so I and others could understand too

Regards,
Detlef

Dear Christian,

I think it would be very good to have some sort of a publication on the role of biogas in sanitation. I can not take a lead role time-wise, but would be happy to help review drafts.

Marijn

Dear all,

I totally agree with the points raised by Marijn, Chris, Julius and Detlef. There were so many fruitful discussions about it on this forum and beyond with a wealth of knowledge.

In my point of view it would justify a SuSanA publication about Biogas Sanitation Systems. Some years ago Elisabeth and I had started a publication with GIZ on this topic but it was not followed up later on. Maybe it is now time to give it another shot with SuSanA and its working group on energy. If there are any interested authors the WG could coordinate this, currently Rahul Ingle being in the lead. Here is the draft publication for your info, which can be used as a starting point for an autonomous SuSanA publication:
www.susana.org/lang-en/library/library?v...peitem&type=2&id=877

Cheers
Christian

Dear Lea,
I just agree to the above mentioned good points and would like to add some other aspect: Who is profiting very direct?

I do not know about Rwanda much, but you already located in Kenya good technology and local experts who could deliver and support you during implementation, nearby in Zambia and Tanzania you will find good people too. Additional you might see
- Open Source manual of Christopher Kellner at: www.ted-biogas.org/assets/html_standalon...odigester_Lesoho.htm
- energypedia.info/wiki/Portal:Biogas

Aldo the technology and practical implementation issues are important, but not the most important issue in a project like this!

You may stress more on "Who will have the most profit out of this possible biogas system in order to keep it running/alive?"

copy of former contributions to the most important issue: "To run O&M without permanent external supports like external "capacity buildings" is to my understanding very important and to be very clear on profit and personal interests of people involved, not expecting people working just for the merits for free for the community or the local school. E.g. just maybe stating "Community should be involved in O&M process for sustainability" is not enough. Without going too much in very scientific research, organizational and HR details. In my educated guessing, it is very simple: If O&M staff is very direct connected/benefiting from the results of their daily work, you can skip many capacity building projects, quality control measurements, management information systems and scientific researches to keep decentralized or centralized systems running. In comparison, even with a good and permanent monthly salary you can neglect what ever wwtp and biogas system, in north or south does not matter. Good example from Indonesia: small entrepreneurial use of produced DEWATS-biogas by O&M staff to sale cooked noodles to passerby's."

I and others stressed on this important issue several times in the susana-forum, last example:
- forum.susana.org/forum/categories/10-by-...om-switzerland-#7060
- forum.susana.org/forum/categories/53-fae...al-sludge-management
and
- forum.susana.org/forum/categories/35-bio...-fall-into-disrepair

Let me suggest to you a combination of all the valid points made by Marijn, Chris, Julius and by my self:

Again I do not know the local condition, but still let me try. You may not catch all the fly's at once at all for the "only" benefit of that particular school via a biogas system to sanitize toilets, reducing firewood consumption to protect the forest and irrigate trees with effluent at once. A jack of all trades?

How about splitting tasks and benefits?

- School gets their own biogas plant, but running their kitchen on suggested fuel efficient cook stoves, e.g. wood-gasification using "agricultural waste products like maize cobs and so on" producing as by effect charcoal to improve soil condition (see black soil).
- Biogas plant is just sanitizing for the school their toilets and delivering effluent for irrigating to school trees as a service.
- Biogas plant and biogas stoves are "driven" (O&M) by a small group, who see them self as local small entrepreneurs, they "renting" for a small fee the school biogas plant. They are producing biogas via sanitizing (servicing the school) for their own benefit and based on own business ideas e.g. local food processing, cooking and so on. Through this approach they will be inventive and keep the system running and in my opinion even keep better running even during school breaks, as they will look for the right biomass's by them self and may starting business with cattle farmers too.
- This will reduce in the area general wood consumption, not alone for the school.

If not driven by local profit interests, a system like this will fall into disrepair very soon and people will turn on you to fix "YOUR" biogas plant. Be aware, if not fully in the hand of very direct beneficiaries, it will remain "YOUR" biogas plant!

Good Luck with your plans. Let us know how it goes on.

Detlef SCHWAGER