Techno-Economic Sustainability Of Household Biogas Systems In Rural Northern Nigeria: A Case Study Of Bomo Community, Kaduna State
Paul-Jazom, Felicia Friday
Energy Technology Institute, Faculty of Engineering, University of Port Harcourt
Ifeanyichukwu Edeh
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Keywords: Biogas, Techno-economic analysis, Clean cooking, Aspen Plus, Rural energy, Financial feasibility, Energy stacking
Abstract
Biogas is frequently presented as a technically viable and economically attractive clean cooking alternative in rural sub-Saharan Africa. However, techno-economic assessments often overlook financial feasibility, substrate competition, and structural livestock management practices that condition long-term sustainability. This study evaluates the technical performance, economic viability, and financial feasibility of household-scale biogas systems in Bomo community, Sabon-Gari LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Methane generation from cow dung and rice husk co-digestion was simulated using Aspen Plus v14 under thermophilic conditions (55 °C, 1 atm), while household energy demand modeling, cost–benefit analysis, affordability assessment, and regression modeling of adoption likelihood were conducted using primary field data. Simulation results indicate methane yield of 0.0623 kg CH₄/kg feedstock at 15 kg/day substrate input, sufficient to offset approximately 20 kg of weekly firewood consumption under controlled feedstock availability. Economic analysis reveals a positive Net Present Value (₦2,921,699) and Benefit–Cost Ratio of 3.29 over project lifespan, suggesting theoretical profitability. However, the initial capital cost (~₦391,500) exceeds three times the annual affordability threshold of most households (≤₦120,000), and 97 % of respondents express unwillingness to adopt loan financing. Moreover, open grazing systems, competition for cow dung as cooking fuel and fertilizer, and persistent energy stacking behaviors significantly undermine substrate reliability and sustained adoption. The study concludes that while biogas systems are technically feasible and economically viable, they are financially inaccessible and structurally constrained under prevailing rural conditions. Sustainable deployment, therefore requires institutional restructuring, livestock management reform, and capital subsidy mechanisms.