PRELIMINARY ENERGY SECTOR ASSESSMENTS OF JAMAICA, V. 3, RENEWABLE ENERGY : BIOGAS APPLICATIONS

Technological studies were published in three volumes (with volume three being in four parts, for a total of six volumes), to which two introductory volumes were added, providing, respectively, an executive summary of the entire assessment and an economic assessment of the individual areas. This study, the third part of the first technical volume, considers the feasibility of biogas generation and applications. Biogas is a high grade fuel produced by anaerobic digestion of organic matter such as farm crops or animal manure and is useful for cooking and other purposes. The Jamaican Scientific and Research Council (SRC) has developed and tested a family-size biogas plant and is currently designing a medium-size plant. A climate eliminating the need for costly digester equipment, the lower cost of biogas relative to imported oil, and widespread enthusiasm for biogas lead to the conclusion that a national biogas program would be successful. Recommendations for implementing this program are: select one of SRC"s family- and medium-size biogas plant designs for large-scale implementation; implement a 5-year plan to deploy 2,700 family-size and 41 medium-size biogas plants; determine the feasibility of a large-scale biogas unit to generate electricity and the possibility of constructing more family- or medium-size biogas plants; assess the commercial potential of the biogas plant design in Jamaica and other countries and decide on the basis of this assessment whether to implement an accelerated biogas program; establish a national biogas program organization; and begin a comprehensive training and public awareness program. Installation of a biogas collector at the University of the West Indies" Mona Campus sewage treatment plant was rejected as uneconomical due to the plant"s small size. Appendices include a five-item bibliography (1975-79), data on other biogas programs, lists of the study"s information sources, a biogas survey questionnaire, and a summary of a splinter group discussion.