« We have reduced our energy costs by 90% and our fertilizer costs by over 80% », explains Maria Villada, as she watches workers converting local milk into cheese for sale in regional markets of central Mexico. Five years ago, these costs, and potential environmental fines from the local government, were at the point of putting the medium-­scale dairy producer out of business. Maria Villada, however, was offered a biodigester system including a biogas motor and cheese making equipment alongside a 12-months financing package by a local productive biogas company. By treating waste, producing energy and fertilizer, and reducing its production costs, the system has been paid off in just eight months and the business’s challenges have been converted into opportunities for growth. Maria’s story provides one example of the many applications of productive biogas. This document, published in collaboration by the Fact Foundation and SNV, will outline five case studies of projects developed in Mali, Uganda, Honduras, Vietnam, and Peru, casting a light on how biogas can be a critical enabler for small businesses and institutions globally. Through this work, SNV and FACT aim to consolidate the existing knowledge on productive biogas and its various applications, and thereby contribute to the expansion and the advancement of productive biogas sectors worldwide.

Bibliographic information

SNV & FACT Foundation (2014). Productive Biogas - Current and Future Development Five case studies across Vietnam, Uganda, Honduras, Mali and Peru SNV & FACT

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