Das Biogas, a GCIC Cohort 1 alumnus, recently commissioned a biogas plant in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), to process organic waste into energy. This innovative facility will transform Accra’s growing organic waste into valuable resources like cooking gas and fertilizer, aligning with sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
In 2007, a study by the government of Ghana showed that there is limited domestic experience with biogas plants in the country, as most existing installations are bio-sanitation projects concentrated in urban areas. Also, the supply chain for biogas digesters remains underdeveloped, with only a small number of entrepreneurs operating primarily in two major cities. Additionally, the workforce capacity, including trained technicians and artisans, is insufficient to meet significant demand for digesters.
Organic waste left unmanaged is a significant environmental challenge, contributing to methane emissions that are 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat. Municipal solid waste in Ghana contains up to 60% biodegradable organic materials, offering significant potential for biogas production. This biogas can be utilized for cooking, lighting, or electricity generation. Additionally, the resulting digestate can be composted to produce a nutrient-rich fertilizer for agricultural use. A biogas plant offers a practical solution, converting waste into clean energy while mitigating these harmful effects.
The biogas plant commissioned by Das Biogas in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is designed to process up to 180 tons of organic waste daily into renewable energy and bio-fertilizer, thereby reducing the volume of waste directed to landfills and mitigating associated environmental issues. The biogas plant commissioned in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), can transform approximately 65,700 tons of organic waste annually equivalent to @ 62,000 to 98,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually and enough power to supply 217,544households with electricity annually, depending on the specific waste composition.
At the commissioning event, Ali Nuhu Abeka, Deputy Director of Petroleum Downstream at the Ministry of Energy, highlighted the plant’s alignment with Ghana’s renewable energy strategy, which aims for renewable sources to constitute at least 10% of energy consumption by 2030, to reduce fossil fuel dependency, support agricultural activities, and promote economic growth.
As one of the 196 green businesses supported by GCIC’s incubation program, Das Biogas received tailored business and technical advisory support, mentoring, and financial grants that helped refine its operations around development, testing, and optimization of its biogas systems, to build the capacity needed to scale its solution.