Biogas-Based Decentralized Power Generation for Rural Electrification

Abstract

Reliable electricity access remains a major challenge in many rural areas due to frequent load shedding and limited energy infrastructure. As such, this study presents a decentralized biogas-based electricity generation system designed for rural communities using locally available organic waste. A community-based model with 20 cattle is analyzed, which is capable of producing approximately 39.6 kWh of electricity per day, corresponding to 14,454 kWh annually. The electricity demand of multiple households is evaluated using real consumption data, and the results show that the generated energy is sufficient to meet demand while providing surplus energy. The system demonstrates consistent performance across seasonal variations, with higher energy production during summer. Economic analysis indicates a total installation cost of approximately 5,000 USD, an annual saving of about 1,445 USD, and a payback period of nearly 3.46 years, confirming the financial feasibility. Furthermore, scalability analysis indicates that a larger system with 100 cattle can generate approximately 198 kWh per day, highlighting its potential to support multiple households and reduce reliance on centralized grids. The proposed system offers a sustainable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly solution that can help reduce load shedding and ensure a continuous electricity supply in rural areas.