Current understanding and perspectives on anaerobic digestion in developing countries: Colombia case study
ELSEVIER, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 173, 113097, March 2023
Authors: C. Tavera-Ruiza b ; J. Martí-Herreroc d; O. Mendietaa e; J. Jaimes-Estéveza; P. Gauthier-Maradeia; U. Azimovf; H. Escalantea; L. Castroa
a Grupo de Investigación en Tecnologías de Valorización de Residuos y Fuentes Agrícolas e Industriales para La Sustentabilidad Energética – INTERFASE, Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Industrial de Santander – UIS, Carrera 27, Calle 9 Ciudad Universitaria, Bucaramanga, Colombia
b Grupo FIELDS, Universidad de Investigación y Desarrollo – UDI, Calle 9 # 23 – 55, Bucaramanga, Colombia
c Biomass to Resources Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Vía Tena-Muyuna, Km.7, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
d Building Energy and Environment Group, Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numérics en Enginyeria (CIMNE), Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
e Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria – AGROSAVIA, Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá, Km 14 Vía Mosquera Bogotá, Mosquera, Colombia
f Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Type, NE1 8ST, UK
Abstract:
Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology has become increasingly important due to its contribution to sustainability and a circular bioeconomy. While AD technologies are widespread in developing countries, developed countries have mainly driven research. The aim of this research is to analyze the biogas sector development from the point of view of a developing country like Colombia. AD research ranges from laboratory mesophilic AD to psychrophilic full-scale digesters, which are intergrated with household farms as a thermal energy source for cooking, nutrient recycling for agriculture, and waste management. Research on agricultural waste substrates, inocula, and co-digestion has dominated the Colombian publications, while full-scale digesters performance research is incipient. A survey of installed digesters collected information about 996 systems and found that 79% were psychrophilic low-cost tubular digesters. Regulations for biogas were reviewed, and it was found that they are not adequate for low-cost digesters and are inherited from developed countries, ignoring the national context. Five case studies are presented on the characterization of AD technology experiences, analyzing barriers and opportunities for the technology. National networks that include farmers, NGOs, and academia are driven slowly by Colombia’s widespread AD technology, mainly on small-to medium-scale farms.
