Title : Waste a resource rather than unwanted and unusable commodity.
Abstract:
Waste is not Waste, but a resource at the wrong place. Renewable energy sources have become an essential commodity since the beginning of modern human civilization. Renewable energy sources such as biomass or biogas have been used mostly in heating and cooking to support traditional means of energy sources all across the world. Ghana’s energy sources are mainly dominated by hydro generation and thermal generation fuelled by crude oil, natural gas and diesel. According to the Energy Commission of Ghana, as at 2021 Ghana has a total installed capacity of 5,134 megawatts (MW) of electric power. Thermal generation accounts for 66% of energy need in Ghana, whiles hydro energy accounts for 33% of the Ghana’s energy mix. Total electricity access rate in Ghana stands at 86.63% as at end of 2021 according to Ghana’s Energy Commission. Obviously, the burden on the environment (air pollution) and economic impact of these means of energy generation calls for alternative means of energy generation for Ghana and Africa at large. Biogas energy is one of the most sustainable and environmentally acceptable alternative means of renewable energy sources Ghana and the rest of Africa can take advantage of. Biogas generated through onsite sewage treatment plants which uses natural means to turn faecal matter or food waste into energy and clearodourless recycled water for reuse (landscaping, washing of vehicles, flushing of toilet or further treated for drinking purposes). Our Biogas Sewage treatment plants (Biogas STP’s) are gravity-based systems that uses natural processes to treat sewage underground without chemicals, electricity, or mechanical parts. The system however requires minimal maintenance through little human interventions. The biogas STP is developed to ensure reduced carbon emissions, conserves water, saves cost of maintenance and operation and requires only small space for installation. The Biogas STP systems are ideal for apartment buildings, schools, private homes, hospitals, hotels, estate, public toilet, offices, factories etc. There are enormous potentials in biogas energy sources in Ghana to help reduce the country’s dependency on wood fuel and fossil fuels which has the ability to reduce the country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions thereby directly leading to combat climate change. Ghana is expected to possess the technical ability to develop at least 278,000 biogas plants to generate biogas energy sources. However, only about 100 biogas plants has so far been developed according to anecdotalsources. It is our hope and strategic objective that Duraplast Limited in collaboration with DAS Biogas STP technology helps breach this gap by accelerating the provision of easy to reach and affordable biogas technology to the remaining 13% of Ghanaians without any source of generated traditional power.
