With all the chatter of impending doom from global warming reaching a fever pitch, global leaders can agree on one thing, sustainable and clean energy sources not only present an incredible economic opportunity, it can also alleviate energy poverty and save the planet. Biogas is a sustainable energy source which has the potential to reduce climate change and agricultural losses, increase energy access in rural or poverty affected areas. Biodigesters biologically digests (using microbes) organic waste like cattle dung, crop residue or food waste that would otherwise decay in landfills. Additionally, as it’s a closed system no odor from waste is released which ensures pests like flies or rodents aren’t attracted. Since roughly 1.1 billion people live without electricity small-scale rural biogas digesters increase energy access making a remarkable improvement in living standards. However, there are challenges like lack of technical skills, awareness, and education which obstruct biogas’ full potential.
The YSEALI Summit emphasized the importance of career fellows exploring renewable energy themes with host organization Yayasan Rumah Energi (Rumah Energi). Rumah Energi is an Indonesian NGO supporting grassroot communities in poverty alleviation, climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction since 2012. Their programs focused on renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and social entrepreneurship. Career fellows got to work in their Indonesia Domestic Biogas program which facilitated the installation of 26,247 biodigesters across 14 Indonesian provinces. The career fellows got to experience how small-scale renewable energy works from business models, technological innovation and marketing strategy.
The career fellows that worked with Rumah Energi were Andy Copada Alegre, Gloria Morgen, Jason Occidental and Meidina Mustikaningrum Amarsa. They worked under the guidance of their mentor, Chabi Batur Romzini, program manager at Rumah Energi. The career fellows worked collaboratively to come up with innovative ideas on tackling issues like gas storage options and low-water reliant biodigesters. Throughout their fellowship they’ve found important findings from the biogas user survey analysis and developed seven new promotional materials for the marketing strategy. It was understood that the majority of biogas users are male (70%), have mainly primary school education and are in the livestock farming sector. The majority of users were satisfied with biogas although certain issues like pipe breaking or limited biogas amounts caused dissatisfaction. To facilitate the adoption of biogas, career fellows planned to utilize infographics on biogas benefits to be shared on WhatsApp, testimonial videos, webinars and posters encouraging women to register for biogas training. Additionally, a partnership was formed between bioslurry users and biogas users to increase awareness on bioslurry benefits to encourage farmers to sell it more.
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