The Use Of Biogas By Households: A Case Study In Akwatia, Eastern Region, Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to examine the use of biogas among households in Akwatia. It assessed the extent of household willingness to adopt biogas as domestic fuel, identified factors influencing its adoption and evaluated the influence of the use of biogas in the home on household finances using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The mixed-methods approach was used to collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data, using a sample size of 357. Stratified and convenience sampling were used for the quantitative phase while purposive sampling was used for the qualitative study. Questionnaire and interview guide were used for data collection. Quantitative information collected were analysed with SPSS version 20 and presented using descriptive statistics. Descriptive analysis was used to present the qualitative data obtained. There was some level of awareness (more than 77.6 %) on the use of biogas as a domestic fuel source among households while most households (89.5 %) in the study area were willing to use biogas as their domestic fuel source for economic reasons. The cost of installing biogas plants, lack of adequate knowledge on biogas, inadequate substrate to fuel digesters, lack of technical services, and difficulty in operating biogas plants were identified as factors negatively affecting the use of biogas as a domestic fuel source. The use of biogas as domestic fuel was seen to influence household finance. It reduced household expenditure on fuel by 65 % as well as the cost of healthcare and waste management, as well as aided income generation among households. There is the need for government to subsidise household biogas construction costs and invest in the adoption of biogas technology to address some of the challenges faced by households.